6.11.22 // Travel Anticipation

The anticipation is building...
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It's the tingly feeling in my cheeks, the slight fear turning in my stomach, and the excitement growing as my smile opens. It's the feeling when I'm on the precipice of a big adventure.
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Almost exactly two months ago this photo was taken.
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It was the start of a big adventure. I had just landed in Amsterdam, a few days of Dutch adventuring before continuing on to the Portuguese island of Madeira.
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Even months later I still love this photo because it captures such a perfect example of travel for me... What it doesn't show? My stomach was still bloated from a weird plane meal, the 7 hours of sleep I didn't get, and the incredible new sights and sounds that were surrounding me on the ground in Amsterdam. What does it show? Functional travel pants, an overstuffed carry-on bag, Birkenstocks and socks, and A HUGE smile.
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Jet lagged, but awake. Nervous, but excited. Chaotic, but content.
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The mix of anticipation before traveling and the contrast with the sweet satisfaction of arriving at your destination is a wild journey.
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I'm currently in the anticipation stage of a big adventure. I don't thrive in the anticipation- I get antsy, unable to concentrate, and I find packing stressful (do I have the right culturally appropriate clothing?! am I forgetting a critical document?!).
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But, a few hours from now, the bag will be packed, I will be back at the Vancouver Airport, and I'll be heading towards new horizons. To a new country, filled with new plants, new clouds, new foods, new people, and maybe even a giraffe or two?