I never really planned on leaving the United States, but things got a little hairy at work, my employer refused to extend my visa, and there you are. After eleven years, I gots to go. I have been meaning to look into graduate school for a while now, and this circumstance really just sped up the process...considerably.
I knew I had to be out of the U.S. by April to avoid any serious immigration penalties, but school in Germany doesn't start until October. Sometimes, life gives you lemons.... you know what I'm saying.
Last Spring I travelled to Oaxaca for two weeks to take a language class, and relax. Before this trip I wasn't sure if Mexico was really my thing, but I loved every bit of it. Not only the country and the people, but also that feeling that travelling alone invariable gives you. It is a very grounding and affriming experience to be reminded that, yes, I can maneuver my way into and through a foreign language, culture and environment. I can make new friends, I can learn at warp speed, I can troubleshoot on a dime. I came back revived and more confident than I had been in years, and vowed that I would do it again soon. And here I go, less than a year later.
I plan to travel around Central America for 3 months, more or less. I'll be back in Mexico City and Oaxaca for sure, but wil continue East gradually to Chiapas, Yucatan, Belize, and Honduras. I'm still debating Guatemala, and there's the possiblity of continuing North into the Caribbean, but time will tell. One shouldn't really bother to plan a trip further than the first two or three weeks, because you never know what you'll run into - don't ya think? So really, I'm not making plans past Belize.
I'm feeling it come on...that frenzied "oh my god, I'm leaving and nothing's ready!" feeling. I have to sell my car, sell all my stuff, buy tickets, decide if I want to bother getting shots, gather my friends' mailing addresses, and so on. , It's all so exciting! Its all about the cash right now, and of course I have none at all. To make about $4000 appear out of the blue is my big challenge this month :) My sucess in this little endeavour will determine pretty much everything else, so wish me luck!