Dreaming of adventure...

Today was my and my husband's friend's birthday, so, we spent the evening celebrating at the Casbah, a local Middle Eastern restaurant. As we sat eating our jibneh and grape leaves, Craig told me to pretend we were dining in Morocco. I asked him why, and he said because I would be going there someday. And, I smiled.

A few days ago, while reading my O Magazine, I happened upon an ad. Hmmm, an ad for photography expeditions. How cool. You go on a trip abroad and learn....what?! National Geographic offers them??!!! National Geographic is like THE apogee (I learned this word this week in my ACT prep!) of all photojournalism publications!!! It's been a secret dream of mine to work for them since I started my photography. And, here they are offering safaris and other adventures alongside actual NG photographers, who guide you to the best spots, give you advice, and critique your work?! I cannot possibly imagine anything better! It was enough to make me laugh, cry, scream, and dance all at the same time! Looking through the destinations, I couldn't decide which I would want to go to most, and then I saw Oaxaca.

After chatting with a friend a year ago about how she had planned a big trip in celebration of her 30th birthday, I decided- I am going to do that too. I'd wanted to go to Oaxaca since back in college when my Spanish professor told me about it. It just sounded beautiful. So I decided I would wait til October (my birthday is in May), and travel there to see the celebration of the Day of the Dead. A perfect, though perhaps ironic, celebration of my birth. Since then, me, my husband, and my parents (whom I asked to come along), have been working on a plan to make my birthday wish come true. So I was excited when I saw Oaxaca's Day of the Dead festival on there! I cannot wait to get some amazing and colorful shots while we're there!

But, I decided I would want to go somewhere I would never normally go. I go to Mexico somewhat often, and Europe with Craig. But he never tours in India or Morocco. What an amazing life-enriching event it would be to just take off for two weeks and see places many people never see, meet new fascinating people, and experience completely different customs, all while learning to better my photography from one of the greats!

Well, this will have to remain an addition to my vision board for the time being, as cost is a current concern. But, someday, not too far away, I will be lost in a foreign land, wandering amongst the streams of story! I can't wait!!!! (Til then, the Casbah will have to do!)


Clockwise from left: the bellydancer at the Casbah; Eric (birthday boy) and his wife, Cat; and my husband and his hookah.