Where I am currently at with traveling

“Where do you want to travel to?”

I both love and hate this question. I love it because I enjoy talking about my desire to travel, especially with someone who shares the same desire. I hate it because I can’t genuinely reply with one or two locations. I WANT TO TRAVEL EVERYWHERE. Seriously, I do. If I could visit every state in America and every country in this world that would be amazing. I do have a list of places I would like to visit (it’s a section of my bucket list). It’s a bit more attainable than every state and country. I pray that I have the opportunity to complete this list in my lifetime or at least come close. I know that travel is possible when you make it priority. I hope a salary and set vacation time will get the ball rolling on travel in the next couple years for me. I foresee a lot of solo travel in my future. Which I not only don’t mind, I enjoy (I think I will do a blog post on doing things solo so I won’t get into that now). I do hope friends and family will join on some trips. I do hope I find a partner who is down to do some traveling with me. I do hope traveling will not only be pre-family but will continue to include trips with my future family. 

One of my biggest disappointments in college was not studying abroad. Before college, I promised myself I would study abroad. Unfortunately, being in a five year program did not not allow me to study abroad during the semester without falling behind. Studying abroad for a winter or summer session was not very feasible due to cost. I would not change anything. Entering that five year program was one of the best decisions of my life. I am just sad I didn't get to study abroad and I am quite jealous of all those who did get to have that experience. I don't know why any college student wouldn't take advantage of studying abroad (well money, but it seemed very doable during the semester).

The world is so big. It’s hard for me to understand how someone wouldn’t want to go out and see it. Experience new places, new people, new cultures. It’s all so exciting and enriching. If you stay in one place your whole life, you will never know all that is out there. We and everything we know are so small compared to the rest of the world.

*Side note*: I love lists. I am a major list person. Everyone close to me knows this. I have lists for everything. I have lists in notebooks, in my notes app and in my head. Lists keep me organized and sane. Possibly oversharing, I promise I’m not crazy ( okay, only a little). My purpose of sharing this was because I am going to write a list in this post and, I’m sure, in many future posts. 

Instead of sharing my long list of places I would like to go, I am going to share a list of places I have been. Warning, it’s short and not that thrilling lol. It wasn’t until my mom moved to Miami my freshman year of college that I took a plane. I don’t even have a passport. Although, I promised myself I would get one by the end of summer. Thanks to my enhanced license and Plattsburgh's close proximity to Canada, I can no longer use, "I have never been out of the country" in two truths and a lie (gosh, I hate ice breakers). I am not going to include the places I’ve been to in the tri-state area because a) not too exciting (well everywhere new I visit I find exciting but it’s just not that exciting in the grand scheme of things) b) I don’t remember everywhere I’ve been c) some places I visited way too long ago to acknowledge

1. Montreal, Canada 
2. Quebec City, Canada
3. Burlington, Vermont
4. New Bern, North Carolina (great alternative spring break trip with Habitat for Humanity)
   
5. Daytona, Florida (awesome senior spring break trip with friends)
   
6. Miami, Florida
7. Orlando, Florida
8. Sarasota, Florida
9. Bonita Springs, Florida
10. Washington DC
11. Boston, Massachusetts

Well that’s it ladies and gentlemen. You see, the need to get out is dire. I’ll admit I’ve been a few more places in Florida but I just listed the main ones. To be real though, I am super grateful for this list. I am blessed to have had these opportunities thus far, BUT...

*MAY THIS LIST CONTINUE TO GROW* 

Share your thoughts on travel, some places you’ve been, some places you want to go! I will be doing more posts on travel related things:)