Are you ready?
By
That’s me in Stockholm in 2010.
Have you ever been to Sweden? Europe? Overseas? Was it a once-in-a-lifetime experience? Or one you repeated (or hope to repeat) again? For some people going on an overseas trip is seen as a “bucket list” entry for sometime in the distant future.
I’m headed to Sweden in a couple of weeks as part of the film crew that is working on a new documentary about Anders Zorn. The closer it gets the more the excitement builds, especially since Karen is going along. In addition to working on the documentary, we’ll also be visiting our Swedish exchange daughter and her family AND meeting our current exchange son’s parents in Oslo. That’ll be cool!
However, even though it’ll be an incredible and exciting trip, I fully expect to go back. After a similar trip in 2010, I sensed I’d go back. And sure enough, the opportunity arose again. I fully expect the my 3rd trip to Europe will happen within the next 12 months.
But is it the expectation that drives opportunity? Or is it something else? What do you think?
How do you make sure to keep yourself open to the possibility of actually fulfilling your biggest dreams?
Clay Myers-Bowman 
After traveling to all 50 states and most countries in Europe, my husband and I decided to head to South America. Our first trip was to Chile, Argentina (most memorable was the weekend in Ushuaia at the bottom tip) and the charming town of Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay. We are puzzled why so many Americans don’t travel south. It calls to us so this year we went to Chile’s Easter Island. Truly a trip of a lifetime. I would highly recommend that you add South America to your travel radar!
Definitely can imagine going to South America. We know several exchange students in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, etc. Probably not for a few years, but we want to go.
I love to travel, but do not like to go back to the same places or go to the same events. There are too many new ones to visit and enjoy. Once for the Tour de France finale in Paris, Golf Masters in Augusta, inauragation of a president (Kennedy) ,etc., is enough. Currently, I am looking maybe for an AFS returnee female adventuresome soul who would enjoy seeing South America with me this winter. My husband is a great travel companion, but does not want to see South America. I really do not want to go on a cruise as you see more of the boat and its passengers than the people in the cities you visit. Please, contact me if you might be game for a South American trip. If you know of one with a great group of folks that is even better.
Great perspective. I like going back to places a second time AND visiting new cities and countries. No plans to go to South American though. We know a few exchange students in Chile, Brazil, and Argentina, but none that we hosted. That’s what will drive our international travel in the future: visiting our sons and daughters across the world.