blynk

Finally, Finally!

Two weeks, seven time zones, and four cities later, I have finally gotten to the point of setting up this site, so you can all follow my adventures and keep up-to-date on my whereabouts and whatabouts. To help organize the information, I have set up separate pages for my three longer stays in Albania, India, and Nepal. The home page will act more as a general information location, as well as incorporating in some of the shorter trips.

As you can imagine, the trip so far has been a whirlwind of excitement, exhaustion, and a great deal of learning. I don't even know where to begin!

The Saturday before I left Minnesota, the Heegaard's (the amazing family I have lived with the past 4 years) threw a fantastic going-away party for me, which included the presence of some incredibly important people in my life. It was special to see a number of my worlds coming together, and even more interesting to see how all those worlds were already connected. Let me tell you... there is something very wonderful about being part of a community. The night was filled with chit-chatting, delicious food, hula dancing, a karaoke rock performance, hugs, and smiles. What a way to close out this chapter of my life.

I left Minnesota the morning of September 15, catching the Mega Bus to Chicago, where I spent the next two days enjoying the company of a dear Macalester friend, Louisa Bigelow. I had a great time exploring her element, meeting her friends, and eating Chicago's famous deep dish pizza. Mmmm. There's nothing quite like the warm, saucy, cheese-infused delight of deep dish pizza done right.

From Chicago, I was off to Rome, Italy for the better part of a day. I was most nervous about this section of this trip, as I don't know anyone in Rome, and I rarely travel to places where I don't know anyone. I also have some hang-ups about being a tourist. But I was determined to make the most of the day, and enjoy what I could. It was actually pretty great. I got some pointers from the Italian woman I sat next to on the plane, and managed to spend a good six hours walking around the city, hitting all the major locations and some other minor ones. I most enjoyed the nap I took on a bench near some of the old Roman ruins. The Colosseum was one of my favorite spots, both grandiose and gorgeous. I even managed to go the whole day without getting yelled at in Italian, which is what happened the last time I was in Italy for a day. I am making progress.

After using my feet to their full capacity, and exercising my tongue on an ice cream cone, I shuffled my way back to the train station, and then to the airport for the grand finale... the flight to Tirana, Albania! WAHOO! I got in at 11:30 and had a whole entourage waiting! It was very exciting to finally arrive after all the anticipation!

The rest of my adventures in Albania will be posted on the Albania page!

Calendar of Motion

9/15/2008 4:00:00 AM - 9/15/2008 4:00:00 AM
Leave MN

9/17/2008 1:00:00 PM - 9/17/2008 1:00:00 PM
Leave Chicago

9/18/2008 5:00:00 AM - 9/18/2008 7:00:00 PM
ROME!

9/18/2008 9:30:00 PM - 9/18/2008 9:30:00 PM
Arrive Albania

9/20/2008 9:30:00 AM - 9/20/2008 2:00:00 PM
Hash

9/27/2008 9:30:00 AM - 9/27/2008 2:00:00 PM
Hash

10/4/2008 9:30:00 AM - 10/4/2008 2:00:00 PM
Hash

9/22/2008 7:00:00 AM - 9/22/2008 1:00:00 PM
Start at World Learning

9/29/2008 12:00:00 PM - 9/29/2008 2:00:00 PM
Start at Terre des Hommes

Tuesday, September 30, 2008 - Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Bajram-HOLIDAY

10/2/2008 6:30:00 AM - 10/2/2008 10:30:00 AM
Conference
Rogner Hotel

"All Against Child Trafficking" Conference with Prime Minister Sali Berisha and US Ambassador, and free food

10/3/2008 7:00:00 AM - 10/3/2008 3:00:00 PM
Experience Exchange Workshop
Diplomat Fashion Hotel

10/9/2008 7:30:00 PM - 10/12/2008 8:30:00 PM
Montenegro
Dobrava

10/31/2008 7:00:00 AM - 11/4/2008 9:00:00 PM
Kosovo
Pristina

12/9/2008 11:11:00 PM - 12/10/2008 11:11:00 PM
My BIRTHDAY-25!

12/11/2008 5:00:00 PM - 12/12/2008 1:30:00 AM
Leave for Bulgaria

12/21/2008 8:00:00 PM - 12/21/2008 9:00:00 PM
Leave for Israel

2/25/2009 2:00:00 PM - 2/25/2009 3:00:00 PM
Fly to Turin, Italy

2/27/2009 11:00:00 AM - 2/27/2009 12:00:00 PM
Train to Firenze

3/2/2009 2:00:00 PM - 3/2/2009 3:00:00 PM
Fly to Albania

3/2/2009 8:00:00 AM - 3/2/2009 9:00:00 AM
Train to Pisa

2/12/2009 4:00:00 PM - 2/12/2009 5:00:00 PM
Bus to Istanbul

2/13/2009 5:30:00 PM - 2/13/2009 6:30:00 PM
Stop in Edirne

2/15/2009 6:00:00 PM - 2/15/2009 7:00:00 PM
Bus to Tirana

1/9/2009 6:00:00 PM - 1/9/2009 7:00:00 PM
Fly to Albania

1/2/2009 7:30:00 AM - 1/2/2009 8:30:00 AM
Bus to Amman, Jordan

5/13/2009 2:45:00 AM - 5/13/2009 3:45:00 AM
Arrive in Nepal

Weather

Welcome to my Adventures

Comments

1/25/2009 11:03:09 AM - 002054785940
Hi friend!

Kip and Aaron and I watched all the slideshows last night, and are so impressed by your ability to make friends and make adventure! Petra, the eerie salt sculptures of the Dead Sea and MacDonald's in Cyrillic were special hits! Aaron now wants a camel!

Safe travel and big adventures to you!

Love,

Anne, Kip, Aaron and Chico

1/22/2009 10:47:28 PM - 000066834969
Hi- Now I feel less guilty for being out of touch with your blog because it looks like you are too busy living and not sitting around recording!

I hope you saw the inauguration - or heard it. All is well here - it has been sooooo cold this winter. Where are you at this point? Please send me an update.

12/10/2008 3:30:47 PM - 000024367045
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BRITTANY and best wishes for your revised adventures. -Andy, Jan, Tammy and Jim

10/23/2008 10:19:37 PM - 002035581189
I'm so excited for you Brittany!!! Everything you say sounds amazing! And I'm pumped that I kinda get to go on the whole adventure with you even as I sit at my desk at work in Chicago. So much love and energy and learning!

10/12/2008 10:33:32 PM - 000066834969
Yippee! What a great Blog-thanks for sharing your adventures! I just returned form a fundraiser for Advocates for Human Rights Women's Program-they just finished a huge report on Sex Trafficking Needs Assessment for Mn. After you left I went upstairs to experience "the void" of you not being here anymore- strange indeed! It's so good to hear your voice and see your smile across the miles!

xoxoxo Carreen & gang

10/12/2008 8:55:27 PM - 002033777197
Brittany . . so glad to get your email and see "where in the world" you are. Look forward to following your travels and hearing about your experiences. We love you. Stay safe.

Favorite links

FAQs

Where do I find the pictures from the various places you've been on this sabbatical?

You will find country-specific information and photos on the links at the top of the web page. Enjoy.

Well, after graduating in 2006 from Macalester, I was really hoping to work at a school in South Africa, which was opening the fall of 2008. But when I was the first alternate for the job (i.e. I didn't get it), then I decided to challenge myself, take off the year, and explore some new work options in various places, and see where it took me!

I left Minnesota the middle of September 2008, and plan to be back the beginning of July 2009.

I've been mostly based in Tirana, Albania in the Balkans, a great country located above Greece and directly to the east of Italy. I have also had some great opportunities to zip around the area. One weekend I went to Montenegro to assist an Italian construction worker renovate the upper level of his house into a Baha'i center. I also went one weekend with some friends to visit some other friends in Kosovo, where I ran into a Minnesotan. On a side note, Kosovo just celebrated its one-year anniversary as an independent nation! Then I went to Bulgaria for 9 days to visit a few folks, followed by a two week rendesvous to Israel, rounding off the trip with 6 days in Jordan before heading back to Albania. You can read more about those adventures on the country-specific sites. Since being back in Albania, I had a weekend Baha'i conference in Turkey by bus, and 6 days in Italy to visit an Albanian friend and my cousin! In May, I will take a roadtrip to Athens, Greece, where I will fly to Nepal, via Qatar. How will I ever sit still again?

I have no idea. When people used to ask what I was going to major in at college, I used to say, "Tatooing and Body Piercing." I guess I've always been a bit avoidant in making important life decisions. But hey, great things happen while making plans.

Featured pictures