Wander Susan Wonder

Yall….we made it! And we hit country #50 with a big ole bang…cuz it involved my people!!

I cannot adequately describe what these people mean to me in a small paragraph on a blog….it’s just impossible. They are the people that I’m the freest around, the people that have seen the highs and lows, and have stuck around. We have been meeting up in really fun places every year for a while now, and it’s one of the best traditions I have ever been a part of. This year was an “International Year,” so we headed to Grand Cayman!!

Obviously it was beautiful. Our biggest decision everyday was whether to start out at the beach or the pool…I know…rough.

We always make a bucket list for the week…that mainly revolves around popular things to do wherever we are. One of those items was the Turtle Center. There were different pools with different types and sizes of turtles…yall, they get big! They let us hold the little guys, which was obviously a highlight. We also got a chance to snorkel with them! There was a moment when I swam around the bend of this lagoon and all you could see in the distance was turtles and fish…it was so cool. The turtles would just cruise past you and looked so graceful in the water. We talked in surfer dude voices all day because that’s what turtles sound like, thanks Finding Nemo.

After a couple more beach days, we rented a jeep for the day and explored the island. The stops were fun, but just being in an open air Jeep was my favorite….kinda made me want one.

Every year, it’s one of those weeks that I dread ending before it’s even starts. The dream of all dreams is for all of us to live in the same place, but that hasn’t happened yet. Until next year. #715 Forever!

I spent the shortest amount of time in country 49. My rule is if i leave the airport, I can count it as new country…so that’s what I did in South Korea.

The Incheon Airport in Seoul offers free tours for people with long layovers…and they are awesome. I booked it through the airport website. They offer multiple tours based on how long your layover is. I went for the traditional tour.

Our first stop on the tour was  the Changdeokgung Palace. If you dress in traditional clothing, you can enter the palace for free. I did not take the up on this offer, but as you can see from the pictures above, lots of other people did.

The next stop was a traditional lunch and some time for shopping (thank you very much). We had a great tour guide who explained some history and attractions as we were traveling to and from our stops.

The tour length was advertised as 5 hours, and we made it back to the airport right on time. In other news, Seoul’s Incheon airport is amazing! There are free showers to use, nap area, and very comfortable seating everywhere. I’ve never felt better during a long layover. It was a very short, but highly recommended, visit.

Part 2 takes me to Asia. I had a work meeting scheduled in Bangkok (yeah I don’t understand my life either), and when booking flights, I noticed a possible connection through Tokyo (a Bucket List location). I decided it was the perfect time to extended that connection to a few days and see what happened.

Here’s a very important fact about me (that I’ve probably already covered, but bear with me)….I hate being alone. I don’t understand people who need a lot of alone time. I’m the puppy scratching at the door, begging for someone to play with me. The only time I really overcome this fear is if a new country is involved. I knew this was the only way to see Tokyo at the time, so I took a deep breath, told myself I would hang out with all the people when I returned, and booked the flight.

ramen!

7/11 snacks

Everybody needs to go to Tokyo now! It is such a fun city. There are so many things to do, and all signage includes English so it is pretty easy to get around. There are multi-level stationary stores everywhere!! I already regretting not getting 395702 of the favorite pen I found. I’ll just have to go back.

The highlight of the tour was this go-cart tour! Yes, we are in onsies….why are you asking so many questions?? This tour takes you to all the sites in Tokyo. It was so much fun! You become really popular among people you pass as well. There was lots of waving. We were literally driving in everyday traffic, but our guides were amazing. We even drove through the busiest intersection in the world (see below). I would take this tour over and over again.

I also stopped by the world’s largest Starbucks. Was it worth the 30min wait to get in? Sure was (even though I was a little doubtful at first). Every wall was worth looking at, and most counters looked like science experiments were happening.

It’s an exciting city that made me wish I had more time there. It is very clean and easy to get around. I want to explore more of Japan, but this was an awesome first visit. 48….you were GREAT!!

So it’s been a long time, and I tend to give empty promises of posting more….but let’s just ignore that for the moment. Now that Summer is pretty much over (Fall…I see you coming, and I’m pumped!), I wanna tell you about mine through a little blog series.

No, the 50 does not stand for number of ice cream cones eaten in the past few months, but rather the number of new countries I’ve hit in my lifetime. You can imagine my excitement when I realized I would hit countries 47-50 before college football started. Yall, I’m a broken record: The more I travel, the more I love it, and the more I feel the need to go….everywhere!!

The first stop was Belize….this was all my co-worker’s fault. There are certain events throughout the year at my workplace that require me to be there. On of these events got cancelled, which meant we were going to have an unexpected couple of weeks with a lighter workload. Very casually, my office neighbor asked, “So where are you gonna go during the break?” My eyes got the size of a cartoon character and I said “I don’t know…..yet!”

I immediately called my dad. We hadn’t been on an adventure recently, and since he just retired (Congrats Dad!), I figured his schedule was pretty flexible. After some research, he figured out that the best fishing for that time of year was in Belize. Belize!!! He said, “I’ve never heard of it, ” and I said, “Let’s go!!”

Yall!! This place was awesome. Above covers our first hour there. Our last flight, my seat (when you’re asked to sit by the pilot…always say yes!), and our first meal at the lodge. The people were so nice and the ocean was the most beautiful water I have ever seen! It was almost clear!

The fishing was a lot harder than anticipated. Turns out saltwater fly fishing is crazy harder than freshwater. Thankfully, our guide was patient with us, even when I said, “I hate fishing” multiple times. Guys, I’m competitive and slightly dramatic so words just happen sometimes.

It’s hard to stay negative in a place like Belize (even when the fish aren’t biting). We saw dolphins and manatees, stayed out all day on the best water ever, and got to hear all the fish stories from others at the lodge every night over dinner. They also gave us some new ideas for other fishing spots so stayed tuned for that.

Clearly, this was the best part. I am fully aware that way too many people never had a dad who was around, or if he was, he was interested in them. I am so so thankful that I do not know what that is like…..I’ve never known. It’s not because I’m better or more deserving…I just got a good one. Praise Jesus I got a good one. I’m not 8 anymore…but I still think he can do anything.

Guys…this is just the first stop on the summer series! Get ready! And I know what you’re thinking….we’ll never see the other 3 stops with the way this girl posts. Fair, but just so you know, the other posts are already scheduled and coming soon. Look at me evolving!

A few years ago I started collecting plates from every country I visited. I challenge anyone to visit the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul and NOT develop a love for plates. Needless to say, the nomadic lifestyle of packing and re-packing can be hard on pottery and not everything survived. I guarantee if my mom is reading this, she is shaking her head and sighing because a couple of the plates happened to be in her suitcase when they broke.

We tried to salvage some of the broken pottery, but being elbow deep in Gorilla Glue will make you think of new ideas for old broken pottery. My granddaddy made a plain serving tray, so I decided to make a mosaic of the broken plates.

Disclaimer: I talk a big crafting game, but I am not a professional or a perfectionist, so just take this craft for what it is, even if it looks like a kindergartner did it. Just think about the deeper meaning of something broken being re-purposed to something better…or whatever.

Here is how most of my projects start….just a pile on the floor, but I had looked at about 5 pinterest photos before I started…so I felt super informed already.

I took the semi-broken plates, put them in a plastic bag, and then took a hammer to them. I had to take a deep breath before I completely shattered these plates connected to so many memories of different markets across the world….but I also got some frustration out…so that’s something.

I grabbed my grout and spreading tools (thanks so much Hobby Lobby) and started putting the pieces together. Now if you like symmetry and things fitting together perfectly (looking at you Brittany), you may hate this, but for the girl who kinda likes to throw things together with no rhyme or reason….this was the craft for me

The surface of the tray turned out to be pretty uneven because the pieces were such different sizes, but it sure did look cool…

So there she is….not completely perfect, but the broken plates are not sitting in a box in the corner of my room anymore. Victory!

At the end of this month, I will have been back in the States for a year. That is crazy to me. There are days when if feels like I got back yesterday and there are days if feels like I’ve been back for 10 years. This year was nothing that I pictured. If you would have asked me a couple years ago what my life would look like I would have gone into this long description of walking along the South Bank in London and not being able to believe my life had led me to one of the best cities in the world.

I am not walking along the South Bank in London. I am sitting in a coffee shop in Richmond, Virginia. The view along the South Bank is hands down better, but this coffee shop is fun and the weather hit 70 degrees on my day off and it is making me all kinds of happy. This first winter back in the States has seemingly lasted years (not because it was such a severe winter, but because I’m pretty much a wimp), so when the skin just behind my sunglasses lenses started to sweat from the heat today…it just made me smile.

My life has been characterized by big transitions for a while now, and if I’m honest….I kinda love it that way. The thought of staying in one place forever has always made me feel a little itchy. That doesn’t mean I always handle the transition perfectly. In my experiences, the biggest transitions in my life happen because something else doesn’t work out…and that can be really hard.  I have learned a few things along the way, not because I’m super wise or a great human, but because eventually I get it after being put in the same situation over and over again. Here are the biggest lessons:

1. Live like you’re never leaving. It never fails. Whenever I start out in a new place, I think, “Why put the effort in of trying to get to know people? I don’t even know how long I’ll be here.” That kind of thinking can get lonely really quickly. We all need people and that means putting yourself out there and digging deep. It’s definitely going to make leaving harder if another transition ever comes up….but the “meantime” is going to be way more meaningful…and fun!

2. It’s all going to be ok. Yall, I usually hate it when people say that…but it’s true. Richmond has become this magical place where friends from all over have to come through very often….and you know where they stay? That’s right, my apartment. This has been a very sweet year of seeing friends from all over the world…more than I usually would. I like this city and the people in it way more than I thought I would. They do not have lovely British accents, but if everyone did…it wouldn’t be as special I guess.

3. Right now does not mean forever. There is no reason for me to be freaking out about how long I may stay in RVA. The important thing is to be faithful where I am for today. If my life continues like if has for the past few years (and I pray it does), there is no telling where I will end up, the friends I will call my own, or the places I will get to see along the way. I am super excited about all those possibilities. Here we go!

My days in Chad feel like another lifetime for the most part. It has been over 10 years since I lived there…WHAT IS HAPPENING?? I developed many skills living in a small African town. I could drive a stick shift, change the oil in a generator, cook from scratch, ride on the back of a motorcycle in a long skirt, change a gas tank on the stove, light a gas stove without killing myself (more of an accomplishment than you might think), and chase donkeys off the airstrip (see post) among other things.

In the years of living in more developed places, I’ve lost some of my Chadian skills as well as some overall African toughness. There have been multiple times where I think, “Chad Susan would punch current Susan in the face.” One of those moments came the other day:

I was sitting in my apartment and the power went out. It was still light outside, but I immediately started thinking, “what am I gonna do?!?!” I peeked my head outside to realize the whole complex didn’t have power, I went back in my apartment….and started pacing. I looked up the power company online and it said an accident had caused the outage. It also said that they would probably have it fixed within 1-8 hours. Wait, this could take up to 8 hours??

I’d like to remind you that it was still light outside…darkness was hours away. Did that stop me from texting a friend to ask if I could stay at her house if the power didn’t come back on….it sure didn’t. I sat on my couch staring at my phone, which had full power, thinking, “what am I gonna do?”

At the most, the power was out 45min. As soon as the lights came back on, I could see Chad Susan in my head, rolling her eyes and shaking her head at the wimpy kid who was pacing her apartment because the power went out. Here’s to remembering Chad Susan, and maybe not freaking out the next time the power goes out.

I have been known to describe myself as a fluke of genetics. It has never come from a place of sadness or complaining…just an observation. My parents are quiet people for the most part. My dad is a man of few words, and doesn’t waste any until he has something to say.  My mom is reserved in most situations. I am not these things. I’m loud and thrive on “performing” for a crowd. I’ll do almost anything for a laugh. I have a lot of memories of me dancing in the kitchen and my parents giving that “oh she’s doing it again” look,  and moving on with their day.

My mom’s side of the family makes me look like a circus performer. They are hard working farmers who will do anything in the world for me, except answer questions with full sentences. One word answers, grunts, or just looks are their favorite ways to communicate. I am not bad mouthing my family…just trying to give you an adequate picture. Family dinners are practically silent except for forks scraping plates, and mom and I quietly whispering how nothing has changed.

Even among the quietest families, there are traditions. On Christmas day, we all sit in a circle of furniture in my grandmother’s living room and exchange gifts. We all have our assigned seats that were never officially assigned. We open gifts simultaneously and there’s a lot of eyebrow raises and head nods.

As you know, I lived overseas for several years and missed multiple Christmases with my family. The new tradition during this time was skyping with the whole family, which meant they said hello, and then mom and I talked in front of them. In the moment, it can be frustrating, but looking back, the little quirks of my family bring a smile to my face every time. A couple years ago, I was able to be home for Christmas which was such a treat. Overseas, I longed for that quiet room full of people answering questions with single words and grunts. Nothing had changed. We made our way to our seats in the living room for the gift exchange. I was in between my mom and my uncle, which looking back, was not my usual seat. Mom leaned over right before everything started and said, “It’s good to be back in the circle, huh?” Before I could respond, my uncle said, “You never left the circle.”

Good grief! Talk about almost coming undone in front of my whole family. It was the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard him say. In that little sentence, he told me how much my family loves the people in it, even though  deep down, I already knew. It was something about those out loud words that I needed to hear. Those words still make me feel so loved…. and tear up in this public coffee shop where I’m writing.

This last Christmas the circle looked different. We were all there, but it was in a nursing home, where we all expected it might be my grandmother’s last. She was in a lot of pain, but mustered up the strength to sit in the circle and open some gifts. We all tried to be really strong, but I could tell we were all trying to remember past Christmas circles instead of the current one where we were sitting.

Last night, mom called me with the news we all knew was imminent. Grandmother had passed away. She is no longer in pain and she’s getting a personal concert from Johnny Cash, but the loss is still felt. Time teaches you hard lessons about life, aging, and people coming and going. We’re all gonna get together in a couple days. It will be quiet again, mostly because my family is quiet, but also because who knows what to say at those things. One thing we all know…she’s never gonna leave the circle.

Dear London,

I’ll never forget the feeling I had when I walked from St. Peters across Millennium Bridge for the first time. I thought I loved you before, but this was different. There was such a deep sense of knowing I could live here, I had to live here! That one summer was unforgettable. I tried to learn everything about you….and just like any good summer love, I never wanted it to end. I knew real life was lurking around the corner, but I ignored it with all my might.

I quickly had favorite places. I imagined where my apartment would be. I made a shopping list of all the things I would buy my first official week as a resident. Just like that…I knew the summer would last forever. It felt so right….like it was supposed to happen all along. And just like every summer…it ended, in a more permanent way than I ever imagined.

I found out a few months later that it would not be possible to live with you, to  experience even more, to become a Londoner. There’s no need to talk about all the anger and grief that came about in this letter…but just know it was there. Just like any relationship that doesn’t go as planned, I needed some kind of closure.

I stopped by about a week ago. You were still charming and unforgettable and my favorite, but different at the same time. I went back to Millennium Bridge and crossed it several times, but it wasn’t exactly the same. My onward ticket kept reminding me that these few days were moving quickly. I was sad, but mostly thankful. Thankful that I got to spend one of the best summers ever with you. Thankful that you changed me for the better. Thankful that you play a major role in some of my fondest memories. And mostly thankful that even though you and me are not together right now…..who knows what the future holds.

Sincerely,

Your Friend Susan

The interwebs define transition as, “the process or period of changing from one state or condition to another.” Sometimes I think I live in a constant state of transition. I am not complaining about this at all. I like my days to look different and the fear of settling in one place forever is always in the back of my mind. Usually the transitions I experience are in the form of physical locations. I’ve probably moved around more than the average person and those moves usually mean different countries around the world. Let’s add one more transition to this list. That’s right people….I’m leaving the desert and heading back to the States! In the midst of this current transition…..I’ve been thinking about how to make it as seamless as possible. So whether you’re changing jobs, life stages, or countries….hopefully these tips will help.

• Find those positives. I am pretty excited about this transition, but I know at times they can be down right unwanted. They can certainly be a curve ball…but seriously, look for some lemonade. It’s a new adventure and maybe an opportunity to make new friends (always a plus for this ennegram 7- you’ll understand in a future blog post).
• Play in between the transitions. You best believe I’m stopping in a couple places before that long haul flight over the pond. One of those countries I’ll be by myself, which isn’t my ideal- but it’s a least a new place to explore. So take a few days off, or a break of some sorts….and freaking play. It’s the perfect time to treat yo self!!

• End the old stage well. There are goodbyes to be said, and final memories to make. Don’t let the stress of transition keep you from those things. You might not sleep quite as much, but it will be worth it.

I don’t have that many tips, but I think these will help. Times like these still make me think of my favorite quote from the deep, thought provoking movie, Hope Floats. “Beginnings are scary, ending are usually sad, but it’s the middle that counts.” There is about to be some sad and scary coming, but hopefully the middle will always stay with you. Hopefully there will be days in the new stage that bring you back to the old middle, because that particular middle counted so much….and you know that middle helped make you the person that you are today…ready for the next transition.