It is important for everyone to know this: It takes approximately 2 months of rich food (and BREAD - yum!) and little exercise to gain 15 pounds. I know. I've done it.
Of course, I'm lucky. I'm going travelling again and will lose it all. We are about to hit Singapore and Malaysia and Indonesia and Australia and Cambodia and Thailand and I've no doubt that it's going to be 35 degrees and we're going to slosh again with all the water we'll be drinking. We've been in North America for the summer, but North America has this interesting thing that they call AIR CONDITIONING, and the places we stay in Asia really don't. But it's something to remember when we hit the USA in January, when I WON'T be going travelling again in 2 months - keep exercising and watch your diet! ("no bread, no bread, no bread!").
We've had a great time visiting friends and family. The focus has been outward, the discussions have been stimulating. I even got to practice my Sign Language with my cousin down in Austin, Texas, which I always love to do (along with having a great visit with my cousins). We've some lovely lakes (though cold - all the water in North America is SO COLD!) and visited with some of our favourite people and eaten some fabulous food, including the Ontario tomatoes which are so delectable right off the garden vine. Far be it from us to stop eating when we get home...I mean, that's the whole point of travelling, right? Eat your way around the world!
We have snuggled down into the North American scene: We have driven hundreds of kilometers (unlike overseas where we try to avoid driving - they drive crazy there!), we have looked over huge tracts of undeveloped land (those tend to be few and far between in Asia), we have looked at and swum in SO MUCH WATER (fresh water overseas is precious and getting preciouser - I know that's not a word, but you know what I mean). That was one of the things that hit me hardest about North America. We have so much water for so few people compared to overseas. We are so lucky.
And that is one of the things I learned in my travels, though I knew it already, it's really been brought home: We are so lucky to live in North America. We are geographically isolated and are safer from the wars that plague the countries whose borders are so close (and sometimes disputed). We have so much SPACE. Space to grow food, space to live, space to build. We don't have to live on top of each other. We have so many resources, water especially. North America is so clean. Some of the places that we have been have left me hacking and my eyes watering. I wouldn't get into the lakes or rivers (even if it was allowed) to swim.
Our travels have given me such an appreciation of everything I have. The peaceful history in my countries (USA and Canada) in my lifetime. The cleanliness of our water (and if you think your city water is bad, imaging fearing typhoid every time you turned on the tap) and air. The freedom of our nations.
These are all things that we don't appreciate enough. But a trip to a place where some of those things are absent makes me see things in a different light.
And imagine - I still have 5 months of travelling left!
Send us good thoughts while we're in the air. We leave Tuesday morning and arrive Thursday night! (The international date line is working against us this trip!)
Peace and health,
ACDB
Of course, I'm lucky. I'm going travelling again and will lose it all. We are about to hit Singapore and Malaysia and Indonesia and Australia and Cambodia and Thailand and I've no doubt that it's going to be 35 degrees and we're going to slosh again with all the water we'll be drinking. We've been in North America for the summer, but North America has this interesting thing that they call AIR CONDITIONING, and the places we stay in Asia really don't. But it's something to remember when we hit the USA in January, when I WON'T be going travelling again in 2 months - keep exercising and watch your diet! ("no bread, no bread, no bread!").
We've had a great time visiting friends and family. The focus has been outward, the discussions have been stimulating. I even got to practice my Sign Language with my cousin down in Austin, Texas, which I always love to do (along with having a great visit with my cousins). We've some lovely lakes (though cold - all the water in North America is SO COLD!) and visited with some of our favourite people and eaten some fabulous food, including the Ontario tomatoes which are so delectable right off the garden vine. Far be it from us to stop eating when we get home...I mean, that's the whole point of travelling, right? Eat your way around the world!
We have snuggled down into the North American scene: We have driven hundreds of kilometers (unlike overseas where we try to avoid driving - they drive crazy there!), we have looked over huge tracts of undeveloped land (those tend to be few and far between in Asia), we have looked at and swum in SO MUCH WATER (fresh water overseas is precious and getting preciouser - I know that's not a word, but you know what I mean). That was one of the things that hit me hardest about North America. We have so much water for so few people compared to overseas. We are so lucky.
And that is one of the things I learned in my travels, though I knew it already, it's really been brought home: We are so lucky to live in North America. We are geographically isolated and are safer from the wars that plague the countries whose borders are so close (and sometimes disputed). We have so much SPACE. Space to grow food, space to live, space to build. We don't have to live on top of each other. We have so many resources, water especially. North America is so clean. Some of the places that we have been have left me hacking and my eyes watering. I wouldn't get into the lakes or rivers (even if it was allowed) to swim.
Our travels have given me such an appreciation of everything I have. The peaceful history in my countries (USA and Canada) in my lifetime. The cleanliness of our water (and if you think your city water is bad, imaging fearing typhoid every time you turned on the tap) and air. The freedom of our nations.
These are all things that we don't appreciate enough. But a trip to a place where some of those things are absent makes me see things in a different light.
And imagine - I still have 5 months of travelling left!
Send us good thoughts while we're in the air. We leave Tuesday morning and arrive Thursday night! (The international date line is working against us this trip!)
Peace and health,
ACDB
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment