Once upon a time, I was a child that wanted an elephant as a pet. My goal was to ride in the jungles of Africa and learn the call of the wild from "Kimba – the white lion". Since Kimba has long been gone, I'll define the character as the action superhero of my childhood and my favorite next to "George of the Jungle". Both Kimba and George have long since retired but their integrity and goodness still lives within me. My parents never let me have an elephant for a pet and I'm still a little sad.

During my middle school and high school years, a close friend's family was relocated to Egypt. During summer breaks, she would come back to the States and spend the summers in our home. Through the summer she would share her Egyptian experiences and with laughter make us feel we with her. I used my imagination and incorporated pharaohs, riches and the only means of travel, camels, to her stories. I hoped I'd visit her there one day, but her family returned to the States before I ever had bought my plane ticket.

In college, I promised to myself that I would go abroad for a summer. When a high school friend packed her bags for Spain, I announced to my family that I would be joining her without realizing that "abroad" meant funding. Something I did not have considering I was working and "loaning" my way to my Bachelor's of Science. So as my friend boarding her Dulles – Barcelona flight, I started my summer job in the local mall.

By the time I graduated college, I was ready to get on a plane anywhere, everywhere. I had finally saved up the money to buy my plane ticket and my emotions were high. My conservative, responsible parents reminded me that my money was also just enough to put a down payment on a car, a tool necessary for finding employment. In hindsight, I wonder what the benefit was in starting a 4-year debt, so quickly. Regardless as the path of employment "reality" unfolded, I cursed that car. I cursed my "Blue Betsy" Sentra so badly that she paid retribution to my decision for 13 years. Today, I know that she's looking down on me from Junkyard Heaven and wishing I had bought a plane ticket, instead.

In the era of the "Thorn Birds", I thought it would be amazing to be in the "Outback", experiencing sheep farming first hand. Call it a movie fantasy or a cardinal sin, whatever you see it as, roughing it with a few outdoorsy men still doesn't sound so bad to me.

At around the age of 28, I found myself in-between jobs so I decided I would travel. Before starting my journey, I wanted to spend some time getting to know my family in Ecuador "Motherland". I wanted to spend time grounding myself and appreciating the extensive, emotional, passionate, loving family and culture that I never was surrounded by in the States.

As part of my cultural experience, I decided to complete the "Motherland" tour by going to the Galapagos. As a city girl, I found the simplicity of nature unbelievably beautiful. In our crowded "ship" that resembled the accommodations of a rowboat, I met a fellow American that had just started his trek around the world. If I recall, Ecuador was his first or second stop and the rest of the world was laid out right in front of him. I felt so envious of his strength to sacrifice his comfortable life to allow his adventurous spirit to have his dream. When he asked me to join him to his next country, all the hairs on my neck stood straight up. For a split second the adrenaline flowed but it was quickly shattered by the sense responsibility and I said no. As I boarded a plane for home, I knew I had let an opportunity of lifetime pass me by and I found myself resenting the responsible, professional, successful woman for she had won this battle.

Twelve years later about 45 days before my "of age" party, I was busy shopping and planning for invitations for birthday celebration. As I sorted through the masses of boxed cards, I found a "Bon Voyage" box. The invitation was of a paper cut-out doll named "Tina" and it provided exchangeable dresses. Each dress represented a different country. It stated, "Enjoy exploring other customs with Tina as she travels to faraway places". I loved the idea and with my dream still in remission, I bought those invitations.

On a Friday afternoon, three days before my 40th birthday, I was disembarking a plane in Dulles Airport when I received a phone call from my boss. In the mist of working my way through the massive travelers and baggage delays, I had a message of announcement that stated the organization had elected to eliminate my position, effective immediately.

I find myself at 40, single, unemployed, with bills, a mortgage to pay and at an "in-between" stage of life, again. It is amazing how life is a circle of events with intersections. Most of the time, we don't see the intersections as they get clouded over, avoided or ignored due to velocity, intimidation or fear of losing the secure way of life. This time, as I stood in the middle of a major highway, I decided to take the ramp and go all the way around the world.

The first pit stop has been to sell my collections of a lifetime, find a renter for my furnished home and straighten my 40 years of living affairs. Surprisingly enough, these are the things that instill the most fear. The thought of traveling alone to unfamiliar territory, of being lonely, of being in-danger, of not understanding the language, of not fitting in, of getting ill or injured don't scare me. I barely think of them as my positive energy is overflowing with elation of my new path. I know I will find my way in whatever part of the world or situation I am in. It's the mortgage, the bills, financial obligations that are unsettling. Not surprisingly, it's these same things that have my family split with their support of my endeavor. Half the family is encouraging me to go and the other half is somewhat silent and I can only assume that they would prefer that I stay on the highway and get a job. Instead, I'm giving myself 45-60 days to get on a plane. Just enough time to keep myself busy with managing the life, and travel affairs at hand, but not busy enough to allow myself to change my mind.

What will make my family, friends and supporters feel more comfortable is if I have the opportunity to stay with friends, friends of friends, family, friends of family, family of friends, anyone through a connection. It will give everyone, including myself, peace of mind that I am safe and secure.

As I force everyone to participate in my journey, the word NETWORKING has a brand new definition. My philosophy is that each new connection may bring a safe, open door and an insight to the people and customs of their land. A stranger is only in the eye of the "Inn Keeper" and "Guest". As the stranger, I support the theory that most people are good and if able, willing to help. It's the overflowing optimism being brought my way with each new "PAWN - Paulina's Around the World Network" subscriber, that allows me to believe that my dream will come true.

My travel goals are to experience the culture and people of the areas visited, use networking to help me along the way, document my experiences through photography & journal entries, have an audience celebrate my success and also to give back via volunteering.

I look forward to sharing my journey with you.