Tuesday, November 3, 2009

It's a Big World, After All

For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by the world.

For Christmas one year, my parents bought us (among other things) a globe. My brother and I (but mostly I) spent hours spinning the globe on its axis, sticking our fingers on a spot and determining that THAT was the place we were going next.

(I can't tell you how many times my next vacation was going to be smack dab in the middle of the Indian Ocean.)

I made my first international trip at age 20. I was all alone and flying to the vast and terrifying land of...Toronto. I was there as a California representative for Job's Daughters and some friends I had only previously spoken with by phone picked me up at the airport to escort me through a week of pig farming, miniature golfing, and gazing at Niagara Falls. But successfully navigating customs all alone for the very first time was one of the first moments in my life where I felt like a "grown up."

A year later, I was living in Montreal and declaring that EVERYONE should move FAR away from home at some point in life.

I've been to Alberta, Ontario and Québec (and technically British Columbia). I traveled twice to Baja.

(Yes, I realize one of those two trips went no further than Tijuana, but it still counts!)

I got college credit for the three weeks I spent in Germany and France.

I've been to 15 of these United States.

I want to do more. To see more. I know that, compared to a lot of people, I have been ALL OVER. I'll admit that I've been blessed. Seeing the Eiffel Tower was a dream come true. Standing at Ground Zero was sobering. And touring a crab boat in Seattle left me just a bit star struck.

I have had amazing opportunities. I was born in Idaho. Raised in California. Spent a year and a half in Canada. Six years in Utah. And in between, I've done and seen more than I ever hoped I would.

But I've got this travel bug, you see. And there are at least a thousand more places I really want to see:
  • Mt. Everest and Lhasa, Tibet
  • Hawaii
  • The Kennedy Space Center
  • Red Square
  • The Forbidden City
  • Kiev
  • Costa Rica
  • Antarctica (Yes, really.)
  • Dutch Harbor, Alaska
  • Florence and Rome
  • Jerusalem
  • Sydney
Okay, I'm not really going to name a thousand. But the point is, there are a lot.

The problem is that it costs a lot of money just to drive my car to work every day, let alone to fly off to the other side of the world.

I'm working on a game plan. I'm trying to figure out how I can get to all (or even some) of the places on my list and actually get paid for it.

Have any great ideas?

Where would YOU like to go?

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Posted by Karen Peterson
This post is: 
at 9:19 AM
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54 comments:

  1. I've always wanted to visit Rome, Milan, Pompeii and YAY! I'm going in December!
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  2. I'm loving your blog background btw!
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  3. I would love to visit Australia, Greece and some tropical island where I can lay on a hammock and sip a cocktail from a coconut!
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  4. My step-sister-in-law actually lives in Antarctica. She works for Raytheon down there. The photos are simply breathtaking. It's truly gorgeous there. Everything seems so pristine.

    I went on a European tour before my senior year of high school. I've always wanted to go back to Italy since then. There's tons of other places I'd like to see as well. Too many to list!
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  5. I want to visit Australia, just to name one. You've got a great list! I always wished I had a job that required non-stop travel when I was in my 20s....
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  6. You have been to a lot of places! I would love to go to Australia. Did you see Oprah the other day when she had on the guy whose job it is to be "caretaker" of the Great Barrier Reef? He has his own schedule, does what he wants, has a house provided and a six-figure salary. Just has to look after the reef and blog about it. So, there ya go!
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  7. Even though I've been to different cities in Italy, I've never made it to Pompeii, which I've wanted to see since I was little. One day...:)
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  8. R Max and Megan: I've wanted to see Pompeii ever since a documentary we had to watch in, like, 7th grade.

    DME: If only there was a way to do that EVERY day! And Greece sounds fabulous!

    Nikol: My dad works for Raytheon, and I asked him one day about getting a job in Antarctica. Those are tough jobs to get!

    Kathie: I am still hoping to see Australia in January, but I'm not sure if it's going to happen. Might have to wait. And I'm thinking about looking for an international travel job. One that doesn't involve being a flight attendant.
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  9. I've always wanted to go to Italy and the Mediterranean. But like you, I lack money!
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  10. a) I am so jealous that you have a globe. I've always wanted one. b) I am so jealous of all the places that you have been...by far way more than me.
    c) I hope that you get to travel the world and if you need a travel buddy...count me in.
    d) a great read....Vagabonding by Rolf Potts. Great ways to travel the world on a small budget.
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  11. I couldn't even list all the places I'd like to see. I've seen quite a few of the states, but at 20 years old have never been outside of them. I will some day!
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  12. I also have a travel bug, but haven't really been "anywhere." Okay, that's not true, I've been to 17 states and Vancouver Island. But I desperately want to travel. There is almost no where I don't want to go. My top picks: Venice, Great Wall of China, and the Galapagos Islands.
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  13. I'd very much love to go to Alaska!
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  14. I don't have any brilliant ideas for you about getting to your destinations for free, but I do know that you'll end up in the places you were meant to visit one way or another. I'd like to go to Ireland. I've always been fascinated by the landscape there, and I would love to see it in person.
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  15. You've been all over! I have a passport, just in case...but I rarely leave Texas. I must go somewhere soon!
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  16. Kristina: Yeah, that stupid money thing always gets in the way!

    Jennee: We don't have it anymore. I think it was sold in a garage sale sometime after the Soviet Union broke up and East and West Germany reunited. Man, I wish we still had that thing! You can come with me anytime! And that book sounds really good!

    Katherine: How could I forget about Venice??

    Kelleidoscope: You've got lots of time! Make it happen. Sign up for Study Abroad. Seriously. You won't regret it!

    blueviolet: Me too!

    Susan: Very true! I plan to go to Ireland one of these days. I have a friend who lives there and has told me I'm welcome anytime!

    KK: Hop on a cruise and go see the Caymans! Well...I guess it depends what part of Texas you're talking about.
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  17. When you figure that out let me know. There are a thousand places I would like to go also. I love to travel and explore new places. I spent 6 months in Germany (Berlin). I have been to Hawaii. And I have been to many states. My top places I would love to travel to would Scotland, Ireland, Italy, and Australia. And I am also learning to love staying close to home and there are a thousand places to visit nearby also. I hope you get to travel more.
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  18. Sherrie: Will do! Hawaii is the top state I want to get to. I hope you get to cross some places off your list, too!
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  19. I am really not one to travel...strange I know. I always thought I would like to visit New York one time but that is about it! Congrats on being the SITS feature!!!

    http://housequeen.blogspot.com
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  20. good luck Karen! I had the bug and it got me living in Italy for a few years. Once you get it...thats it, in done for :)

    My next vaca is to Greece I hope (before I get pregnant again)
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  21. Congrats on your big SITS day!

    I love your big list. I have always lived in the States, but I have traveled to Europe, Canada, and Mexico. I would so love to go to many places on your list - Australia, Hawaii, Alaska, Costa Rica
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  22. Congrats on your SITS DAy
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  23. Congrats on your SITs day!

    I loved visiting Jerusalem, and Italy is another huge favorite. I also loved Scotland.

    I think next I want to head to somewhere in Asia.

    Paula
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  24. Hey there! Happy SITS day!

    I want to go so many places. Ireland and Australia top the list of overseas travel right now, and back to Europe.

    I have plenty of stateside places I want to go to as well...I'm whittling that list away a little at a time. The problem is, I keep enjoying the places I visit and wanting to go back! lol.
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  25. Congrats on your SITS day! Wow here's a topic right close to my heart! I was born and raised in Oregon, moved to Idaho for a few years (spent time off and on in California while growing up) and then moved to......England. Eh?! But I've been in the UK for 10 years now and simply love it! I've been to Germany (Loved), Holland (my other half is Dutch, Holland is great!), France, Belgium and Greece. All those places are simply divine.
    My dream is to see Venice, Rome and bascially any and all of Italy that I can! I also want to stop into Paris, visit places like Sweden, Switzerland, Spain (and some without S's...haha!) there are too many to name. I've been so lucky, and even luckier that it's all within reach here, which is the only way we would afford to travel! I say, whatever the cost, find a way to save and go. We have but one life, why sit in one spot and live it?! x
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  26. I'm glad Australia made your list! I came here for a 3 month visit - and that was seven years ago lol.

    I'd still LOVE to see Italy and Japan.
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  27. Being a journalist at international level helps a lot (own experience) to travel :)

    I'm abroad 5-6 times a year and my friends often say that it's a dream life, because I can travel without paying myself. Well, sometimes it is, but usually not...
    For example, I have been in Paris 4 times, but I've never seen Eiffel Tower. Usually they're trips with route airport-hotel-conference center-hotel-airport.

    Yes, I have seen the world. I can visit a lot of European airports with my eyes closed, because I know exactly how many steps are until next corner :) But Eiffel Tower would be still better :)))

    The point is, work sometimes doesn't help...
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  28. Awww.. no asian city? Come to my part of the world-Singapore! ;)
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  29. you forgot to add new zealand!
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  30. You are really a world traveler! I am a big homebody. Not raised in a traveling family and lived in Ohio my whole life, even went to college in Ohio. Only foreign country I've been to was the Canadian side of Niagara Falls once.

    Congrats on your SITS day!
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  31. ok if u figure that out pls let me join....i want to visit chine, brazil, argentine, india, montreal, south africa, namibia, morocco and still loads in europ too
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  32. For Christmas this year as a gift to "us" I bought a huge map of the US from National Geographic. Will be hanging it on our blank den wall (The map is 69" X 48"). We'll frame is and back it with corkboard. Then-we'll put push pins in all the places we've been. Saw it on someone's blog or at a home decorating site. I love to travel and spent all my vacations going to great places. I love Europe-Ireland, Italy, Austria, Germany, UK. And I enjoyed Acapulco and Hawaii. And because I was single for a long time, I returned to those places many times. But my favorite trips have been here at home: Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore & The Badlands, Yellowstone, Niagara Falls, New Orleans, Tennessee. I really want to get to the Pacific Northwest and the California coastline. I'd also like to visit my friend in Australia someday and see the pyramids in Egypt. Priorities change in our life and saving for those types of trips are hard to do. (And my husband can only take 1 week vacation at a time--so to go so far for such a short time doesn't seem to do it justice.) Great topic!!!
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  33. I love to travel too. (Although, my travel is not has extensive as yours!) Good luck with your plans to travel...& get paid! What fun!
    Just visiting form SITS!
    -Heather
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  34. outside of the states: Ireland
    here in the states: Montana to see wild horses.
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  36. I work for a travel organization (Smithsonian Journeys)-- and my list of places to go never ends. But I still haven't been to South Africa, and I've wanted to go there forever! Happy SITS Day!

    (They actually had me start blogging for the site on Tuesdays and Thursdays - yesterday was my first one. The video is awesome!): http://www.smithsonianjourneys.org/blog/blog/2009/11/03/video-the-bottom-of-the-world/
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  40. My computer just went bonkers! Sorry for all those repeat posts. Bad Computer!
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  41. I have never been out of the USA. I have been several places here though, farthest west was Colorado.. I would love to go to the Bahamas or Jamaica I want to go somewhere the water is that clear sky blue and seems bottomless
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  42. I'm SO with you on that! Although, you've traveled far more than I.

    My list at this point is: England, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Greece, Versailles and the Louvre(I don't really care about any other part of France), China, Russia.

    Not that I would turn down trips other places, but those are my must-sees.
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  43. I don't travel much. My dream trip would be either Himmalaya Mountains or tropical beaches in South America.
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  44. I want to go to Australia, Egypt and Italy.
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  45. I literally want to eat and drink my way through Italy! But, there are way too many places on my list to write here...It reminds me of Dr. Seuss's book, "Oh, The Places You'll Go." Classic! Happy SITS Day!
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  46. Hey, I live in Moscow. If you want to see Red Square, come on over. You can sleep on my couch, and I'll take you to Red Square, the Kremlin, St. Basil's . . . and out with a fun bunch of expat types!
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  47. I have traveled to all but 6 of the states here at home and I've been to Mexico, Canada, and many Caribbean Islands. I love to travel, explore, and adventure! My "still to see" list includes Italy, France, Germany...ok, most of Europe, and I would love to see the pyramids of Egypt and the Great Wall of China. I am heading to the Bahamas for the first time at the end of this month - another pin in the map for me! I hope you continue to satisfy your travel bug - there is bound to be some creative financing out there!
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  48. Well you have traveled more internationally than I have. I gone to Mexico is all. I have been to almost every state in the country though.
    Congrats on your SITS day!!
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  49. Karen, I like to travel also. I am a pilot, so I pretty much get to go when I want. Of course the exceptions are the days I have to work.

    The airplane is for pleasure and business. I have a Home Lace Accessory business and design fabrics. Check out: http://www.teatimeconsultants.blogspot.com

    I would love to sell you some Christmas lace for your home or as gifts. They are great and for the month of December, shipping is FREE. Thanks for sharing your dreams.
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  50. I am glad many people answered "Greece", my country. :)

    Me, I'd like to go to New York (for you it's not much, but for me, it's too faraway and exciting) and also drive from the East coast to the West via route 66.
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  51. I've been to the space center on a school field trip!
    I want to go to New York City, Texas and San Fran - can you tell I live in the south. Although I've been to France, Germany, Switzerland and England.
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  52. I want to go to NYC, San Francisco, and Sicily. And I don't even enjoy traveling!!
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  53. Happy SITS feature day!

    I've been to a lot of places, but there are so many more that I would like to visit: Ireland, Italy, Great Britain, Australia, Japan...I could just go on all day! Wouldn't it be great to be a travel writer?
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  54. Happy SITS day!

    I love this article. I too am a travel junkie. I haven't been to as many places as you have been, but I have a long list of places I would like to go. Some include all over Europe, Japan, Brazil, Fiji, Egypt....

    Now that I have a kid, it makes my freedom to travel a little less possible, but as she gets older, hopefully we can start traveling again and bringing her with us for the ride.
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~Clairee Belcher, Steel Magnolias

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