Tada!

Well, I will be an official college graduate in two hours. Crazy.

I've been chatting with many mentors lately, and sold FOUR prints within the past month- most of that money went straight into my "Travel Funds" account... of course. It's strange, selling a piece of your work, I feel almost dirty, like I'm giving a private piece of myself away.

Italy. So soon...

Random Thoughts

So I may have found my first couchsurfer when I first arrive in Dublin!! Her name is Berenice and she grew up in Miami, but moved to Ireland when she was 13. She's into art therapy, which originally caught my eye. It's been too early to continue asking for more hosts in different areas, so I'm waiting until after the holidays. :)

I've also been thinking about hiking / camping in Ireland here and there. I've been looking at backpacks, and realized that I don't want anything too big, because I would rather not check my bags if I have to take a ryanair flight. And the less I have the better, right? Any thoughts?

Comfort

Final exams and papers are vastly approaching, and I am distracted by final ideas (instead of writing a paper) for art projects. Now is the time!! :) I got up at 7:20 this morning, and made my way to join some friends for coffee and an epic pancake at a local restaurant.

The company is so vital, and was well worth getting up at 7:20 on a Saturday morning for. I have come to realize that these are the people I desire to be surrounded by: passionate, intelligent, well read, creative, spontaneous, helpful, honest, appreciative, present. I really wouldn't be the person I am today without their insight and time.

My travels are vastly approaching, and I am becoming more aware of the actuality. I think I have been wound up too tight with planning, and budgeting. I know my plan, I know what I want to do, but the money thing has put a damper on time. Since I am still in school, its been hard to save as much as I wanted, but I am quite proud with the amount (so far) that I have been able to accumulate and put away. My friend Saša (who is pictured in the funny glasses) is from Croatia, so his input has been much appreciated. He knows I am anxious and worried, etc, and said, hey, you can find ways to make money here and there along the road if you need... teach English, figure model again... etc. He's right. Everything will work out, and I know that it well, its just becoming a bit intimidating.

Now, off to writing a paper about the Greek Polis... woo

Anticipated Route

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

"The Plan":

* Celebrate the holiday with family. Back to St. Cloud until the 7th of January, and see if I can get a few hours in at Cub Foods to get a bit of cash before I leave the country!

* Thursday January 8th: MPLS via San Francisco If anybody is in the San Fran area from the 8th-17th of January, let me know so we can hang out!! :)

* Leave from SF Airport on 17th --- Fly to New York on Sunday the 17th of January to hang out with my sister, Nicole until Tuesday 26th.

* Tuesday Jan. 26th Arrive MPLS

* Monday February 8th 4:10pm Leave MPLS via Dublin!

Long awaited entry

It has been eight months since I last wrote. Getting the motivation to do so is somewhat challenging since I have been trying to figure out what I exactly want now that my plans have changed and I am a solo traveler. The Trans-Siberian Railway is mostly out of the picture, although St. Petersburg and Moscow are not!

After a long summer at Girl Scout camp, I realized a decision needed to be made. I could oooo and ahhh at the infinite number of routes, contemplate if trains were better than planes, if tickets were cheaper now, or in two months. So I became a member of WWOOF Ireland http://www.wwoof.ie/ made myself a profile, and purchased a one way $230 ticket to Dublin for the 8th of February. The date seemed as good as any, and exceptionally cheap!

School has been winding up and down for the past few weeks, and ends on the 22nd of December. One month. I had my BFA student exhibition, sold a print, received an A-, and couldn't be happier. I have two papers and three more prints to complete, and then I am home free.... after five and a half years. Whew....

No gear has been purchased, as I am not near an outdoor store; it would take a few hours (including shopping) round trip with the city buses. Since all my friends with cars are in school, or really busy, asking them is pretty much out of the question... especially since I want to take my time. This will be done over December-January break.

To be frank, I have been fairly unenthusiastic about my upcoming travels. I miss sharing discoveries, and not being able to share my excitement with someone else has become somewhat claustrophobic. Its been fun reading about the places I will go, but its too internalizing with no one else to bounce ideas off of. Speaking about this trip with international friends has been more reassuring, but the constant reminder about graduating, "being done," and "upcoming travels" has grown annoying. Looking at possible couchsurfing hosts (www.couchsurfing.com) has brightened my spirits, but I can't help but think to myself: "What if I get tired on a train in Croatia, but can't fall asleep because there is a dodgy looking person behind me? What if I become exhausted, lost, frustrated, and can't bring myself to my senses?" I suppose I will cross those bridges when I come to them. Everything usually works itself out in some way or another.

Everyday I see the map on my wall, and know its true, that I will be out there soon enough. I am most anxious to get to Italy... to feel the cobblestones under my feet, drink fantastic wine, sit under the Tuscan sky, and catch up with old friends. I left my heart there three years ago, and frankly, one can never go wrong with Italia.

The journey will begin in Ireland on the 8th of February, from there I will continue to France---- I will then break to Italy via Moscow or Brussels via Italy.

The issue I have on hand is this: As an American traveler I am allowed up to 90 days visa free (three months) TOTAL in the EU, and since my travels are longer than three months, I don't really know what to do. Some people have been telling me that it's not a huge deal, and I may only get a slap on the wrist when I return home if I exceed my 90 day allocated time. Some also said to be aware of specific countries, like Germany, who tend to strictly follow this rule, and that when I exit, I should do so out of Italy, where its more relaxed. Any ideas? I need to do more research.

Anyway, I hope to post a map of my tentative destinations very soon!

The image at the top of the page is one of the possible farms I will be WWOOFing at while in Ireland; her profile message states:

"I am an artist/sculptor/gardener,(a female Charlie!) living in a warm, self built timber home, halfway up a small mountain in an extremely peaceful,meditative setting.I have an extensive organic flower and shrub garden with many unusual plants, and a polytunnel,and I'm developing an "edible forest" woodland on permaculture principles. Work is varied, depending on season and need, from tree planting,land clearing, weeding,making preserves and chutneys,making compost,shredding brambles....and lots more...Opportunities for artistic pursuits abound. Woofers would also have lots of free time to explore this strikingly beautiful area of Eire. I am currently involved in Transition Town training, to develop local resilience,community and co-sufficiency for Post Oil times."

California

Well, I am off to California in less than a week for a week! Nice weather, and fantastic company (namely Jason and Edan)! can't go wrong.

Things have been picking up in the studios, but I can't help but think of travels and concluding my studies in December! I will be moving out of my male-infested house this May and couldn't be happier. I am waiting on an official "OK" from a woman my age that wants to share a one bedroom apartment; it is a month to month lease at $240 including utilities! Penny pinching, yeah!!

This summer I will be working, living, and eating at girl scout camp. They hired me back as the Business Manager/CIT director. Most of my travel funds will come from this. But for now, California will be about what the bleep is exactly going on for travels next winter.. until then!

And the winner is...

The Trans-Siberian Railway.

Details are vague, but I am pumped to get the ball rolling in-between classes and whatnot.

www.seat61.com is where I have been finding most of my information as far as options go--- there are many. I also have a book on the way from half.com. Can't wait to get some mail! hehe...

Until next time...

-Naomi-

Randomness

My sister left a few of her Cd's here when she moved to Minneapolis a few weeks ago. I was listening to a particular compilation on which the following song made me melancholic for some reason. I suggest downloading it if you have the capabilities.

"Lets get out of this Country" - Camera Obscura

Let’s get out of this country
I’ll admit I am bored with me
I drowned my sorrows and slept around
When not in body at least in mind
We’ll find a cathedral city
You can convince me I am pretty

We’ll pick berries and recline
Let’s hit the road dear friend of mine
Wave goodbye to our thankless jobs
We’ll drive for miles maybe never turn off
We’ll find a cathedral city you can be handsome I’ll be pretty

What does this city have to offer me
Everyone else thinks it’s the bee’s knees
What does this city have to offer me?
I just can’t see
I just can’t see

Let’s get out of this country
I have been so unhappy
Smell the Jasmine my head was turned
I feel like getting confessional
We’ll find a cathedral city you can convince me I am pretty

What does this city have to offer me
Everyone else thinks it’s the bee’s knees
What does this city have to offer me
I just can’t see
I just can’t see

First Post- "Why NOT?"

Four years ago I was a woman on a mission... vaguely. It felt wrong stewing within the walls of my middle-class, mid-western university merely THINKING about "you know what would would be really cool?" My "what-if" list accumulated, and near the conclusion of my freshman year it was quite extensive.

I'd always entertained the notion of studying abroad, so when I walked into the study abroad office my second year of university, I had no preconceived notions of where I "ought" to go. "If I can study art, I'm in," was my only requirement. Italy was the only country that came up several times, so Florence, Italy it was. For the next eight months I would live, breathe, bathe, shop, walk, eat, and (try) to speak Italian.

It all began there.

I met Edan around November of 2006. We randomly were introduced through www.couchsurfing.com when Edan was spending a few nights at a classmate's apartment. He called me one evening for fear of being included in an undesirable round of beer pong. "I'm just tired and want some peace and quiet," he said. My couch was open, so as participating couchsurfer, I accepted the guest.

I finished my remaining months in Italy studying photography, ceramics, figure drawing, art history, and all the while growing to understand what it really meant to be with one's honest self. It was the frustrations of being away and encouragement from classmates in Italy that enabled me to to return to Minnesota and have friends comment, "I don't know what happened, but you've changed, and I like it." Growing to appreciate culture and living among a different soil is when we truly begin to dig further within ourselves, meet fabulous humans, keep their friendship, and discover something brand new about life.

With Italy as our connection, Edan and I remained in contact, and were able to re-united this past summer (was it July(?) 2008) in St. Cloud, Minnesota; my lonely home town during his train trek across the U.S.

I am officially concluding my undergraduate studies in studio art/ art history December 2009, and as a plea to my sanity, I have remained unofficial with my plans... until today. After an hour and 45 minute telephone conversation, Edan and I have decided to travel the world in each other's company. No more what ifs this time.

Although I say, "I'm dead set on this happening," I still remain a bit apprehensive of the follow through and transformation of a fantastic dream into a reality, as I know I (and a lot of student artists), can be flighty at times. My tentative trip via California to see some old friends for spring break in March is now a "must", and will include some goal setting with Edan. A plane ticket will be purchased in February.


Quote: "Don't give up! Figure out what you want to do, figure out the steps to accomplish it and then keep going until it's done"- Tyler

Something new: I bought a map of the world (to start a journey), and a book about world travel at Barns and Nobel tonight with a holiday gift card from my father.

Next: Goals, and possible destinations.

Check out: my friend Tyler and his partner are departing in April for their own world trip check it out www.goingslowly.com

In A Year From Now

We're going on a trip. We aren't sure where yet, but as of 1/7/2010, eff this place, Naomi and I are out of here.