humanity
If nothing else, travel opens your eyes to the colorful quilt that is humankind.
A Trip
I had always hoped that life would be easy for me. In fact, most people think it is since my family is well off. But the truth is, even with access to all of their wealth, it does not make me happy. Being the heiress to a large conglomerate comes with its own sort of responsibilities which have left me feeling tired of the life I lead. More than anything, I want to experience what it is like to not have their wealth, their access to the world. And so, as a result of this desire, I set out on a journey on my own, with nothing but four thousand dollars and my car.
By Kelly Brackett5 years ago in Wander
Hello...
As I sit here, drinking yet another cup of coffee, I can’t help but to think about all of the people who have asked about the RV and what it’s like living in it. If it’s easier, cheaper and what the pros and cons are. Who and what do I listen to heading down the road.
By the nomadic trio5 years ago in Wander
Peace in the Hectic World
A hectic, busy week of work and responsibilities... bills to pay, family to take care of and what seems like a million things to do. I always thought as I got older and my boys grew into adulthood that my days would slow down and I would have more time. It seems, however, that my days have just gotten busier! My small business has, over the years, changed and grown from the tiny woodshop it started out as into a adding a greenhouse for several years (now closed) and a few years ago adding custom jewelry to the line up. I now focus almost exclusively on handmade custom stone jewelry, which is why I am writing this story...
By Jennifer Sharp5 years ago in Wander
The Eighth Deadly Sin - Blindness.
I'm writing this because nobody said this to me before I left, I'm doing it for whoever is moving out of their home now to start a new life - a better life - and I hope I can do justice to inform you of what you'll be experiencing.
By Freyja Rizz5 years ago in Wander
Pandemic Diaries:
Pulling up at London Heathrow, I’m greeted by 3 dapper members of staff in crisp black suits. One of them welcomes me with a warm smile, handing me a bag embossed with the UAE embassy emblem. The others smile too and swiftly load my luggage onto a trolley. For a moment I allow myself to enjoy the VIP treatment and extra assistance… just for a moment. I know that they were smiling from the soft lines that appeared around their eyes, but the reality is that their masks shielded their smiles. And inside the bag? Extra gloves and an N95 mask. The reality of the situation is unsettling. Nerves set in. Soon after having surgery in London restrictions started being enforced and the news of flights to Dubai being grounded, without knowing when they would resume, hit me like a ton of bricks. I had already been self-isolating for a month, taking every precaution to protect myself from this invisible beast that is Covid-19 and still unable to carry more than a light handbag. But when I got the call giving me the option to “fly now or potentially not be able to return to your children for many more months” I had to weigh up the risks. As an Emirati, I knew I was on the priority list and getting that seat was a huge privilege. At the airport, check in was done at lightening speed and going through security was an absolute breeze. As a frequent traveller, I relished in this usually arduous, albeit highly necessary, process being so smooth. If only it was like that all the time! Around 20 people were dotted around the departure lounge, alternate seats blocked as per social distancing guidelines and the only outlet open was the pharmacy, making the shopping experience strangely exclusive. As a few of us moved around, maneuvering ourselves awkwardly past each other, we could have been mistaken for doing some elaborate exotic dance. The quietness was heavy. Part of me longed for the good ol’ days of endless loudspeaker announcements and the dreaded screaming of toddlers running around bored. The information screens still hung from the ceilings, lit up listing far off destinations but the gate details were replaced by CANCELLED. The heaviness of the situation was palpable. 10 of us boarded the flight to Dubai, instructed that gloves and masks must be worn at all times. The elegant Emirates cabin crew greeted us but of course with the addition of PPE covering their usual beige and red uniforms. We were individually escorted to the economy cabin and seated rows apart. After take off I could sense movement in the cabin and hoped for a good vegetarian meal option, anticipating the “chicken or beef?” offering. This question didn’t come. Instead we received sealed meal boxes, as per the limited service that could be offered in lines with the safety guidelines. I felt transported. Was it mild asphyxiation from wearing the mask for so long, anxiety caused by the potential exposure to this virus after being isolated for so many weeks or simply the surreal situation? I didn’t know, but glancing around the cabin, one could be mistaken for thinking we are staging a scene from Stephen Kings The Langoliers. Upon arrival into Dubai, we were taken by bus to the terminal. My pulse racing, I couldn’t pinpoint why I was so nervous. Entering the arrivals hall, I felt that heavy eerie silence again. Greeted by a row of health authority personnel in hazmat suits, we were guided step by step through DHA registrations followed by the all important Covid-19 test. As I lowered my mask for them to take the nose swab I realized just how long I had it on my face. The test was quick and uncomfortable, but not painful. As I put my mask back on I winced. It had grazed the bridge of my nose. I scolded myself, thinking about all the frontline workers wearing masks day in and day out. Immigration was quick, as was baggage claim. Guided as a group every step of the way, we were led to individual taxis all ceremoniously lined up and flanked by police cars ready to escort us to our respective quarantine hotels. I apologized to the official explaining that I needed to find an ATM machine to pay for the taxi. He laughed. “It's all paid for my dear. This is Dubai!” Yes, I thought. This is Dubai, but not the Dubai I left a few weeks ago.
By Maha Gorton5 years ago in Wander
Hometowns
There’s a name of a town that some people will have only seen etched onto a sign, as they race up the M5. It exists in history in charters and on illustrations of the country and you can find it if you zoom right in on Google Maps. It’s rarely mentioned in the News. Not many people have heard of it. Isn’t that always the way with home-towns? “I’m from a small town, you’ve probably never heard of it.” How many times have you heard this expression or one dressed like it? Too many times to count, possibly? No-one knows this little town, it wasn’t the site of great battles and it wasn’t where Kings and Queens were born. The people from this little town don’t have distinctive accents, with rolling ‘R’s or hesitant ‘H’s. Unlike the cities it doesn’t sink greedy claws into your skin, bursting through it like teeth breaking the flesh of a peach. And it’s not like the countryside, which travelling through seems like less of a holiday and more like an astral projection. The countryside, whereupon looking into the eyes of the grazing cow feels eerily like you could be trapped in the gaze of a great prehistoric deity, a goddess who collects the songs of children and has been long forgotten by the world. No, it’s just a town akin to any other town.
By Roxane Olivia5 years ago in Wander
Why Collecting Experiences is Important
I once heard a quote from Walt Disney that said, “We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths”. I truly believe that. Life as we know it can change in an instant. I learned that the hard way when I lost my hearing in 2006. The first time I heard something similar I was a freshman at Arizona State University (ASU). This orientation speaker said to “make the most of your college experience”. At the time, I thought it was just some cliché statement that they make every year to every single freshman. However, I embraced the idea since it seemed like I collected a new friend every day the first three weeks of school (many I have dubbed my college sisters and am still close with today). Oh the adventures we had and created (don't worry ladies; I'm not spilling the beans LOL). These are moments and experiences I will cherish forever.
By M'chelle Nicole5 years ago in Wander
Sefton Park: My Sanctuary in the Heart of Liverpool
Writing about a certain place can be difficult due to the unreliability of your emotional memory. For instance, my fondness for Jamaica is based solely upon the fact that, when I was working on a cruise ship, I was given every Thursday off so I could play for my vessel's cricket team, against a side from the local community.
By Christopher Donovan5 years ago in Wander
A Breath In - Lightening Up
Clarity (a breath in)... ahhhh.. Literal clarity settling in and boy does it feel good. Like a weight literally lifted, new space in my chest and shoulders, into my spine. I feel grounded but lifted - ready to move forward in a direction that I now know is the right one.
By AmandaSprouts5 years ago in Wander
