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18 days until the adventure begins…. and EEEtheWorld kicks off in Thailand.

correction the adventure has already begun. THE ADVENTURE IS EVERYDAY.

Until takeoff I will be sharing my day-to-day prep for this journey, the tribulations which eased my decision to embark on this unexpected undertaking, and my fleeting moments of appreciation and sadness as I say goodbye to Chicago my home sweet home during the ‘meat of my twenties’.  Chicago Goodbye Kisses Video

Friends, family, co-workers ask me daily, "Are you excited?"

The easy answer is… "Of course I cannot wait!"

Complicated honest answer is… "One day at a time. It’s really a checklist at this point to get me on the plane. I have not been able to imagine me beyond the moment UA9701 lifts off of the O’Hare tarmac….yet."

My life has taken an extremely different turn than expected this summer: Ending a deeply intense relationship and quitting my reputed career path were not anticipated events- at least not now, all at once.

Nevertheless,  I’ll take some credit for God’s royal belly laugh the past couple of months. "If you want to make God laugh, make a plan."

I’m choosing to ACCEPT MY DECISIONS TO MOVE FORWARD and EMBRACE CHANGE because my spirit screams "YOLO!" and I am my happiest self as a SPONTANEOUS ADVENTURER.

I will EAT > I will EDUCATE > I will EXPLORE > my way around THE WORLD and I INVITE YOU THE EEEtheWorld with me.

I have confidence this freedom will bring me to an even brighter, wiser, wilder, more courageous self!!!

EEEEEEEEEE!

<3 Hallie

HallieLou

Eating, Educating, and Exploring my way through this world! View all posts by HallieLou

December 18th 2009 I moved to this bustling metropolis on an unusually warm winter day. Marcus Evans succeeded at the professional intimidation factor on the 12th floor of the NBC TOWER. This cold calling sponsorship sale taught me to not take life and work to seriously. My boss, a few fantastic co-workers, and the panorama office view of Lake Michigan made the 8am at your desk dialing no excuses office mentality worthwhile. Thanks Marcus Evans for employing my butt in Chicago and creating some lasting early memories.

HallieLou

Eating, Educating, and Exploring my way through this world! View all posts by HallieLou

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HallieLou

Eating, Educating, and Exploring my way through this world! View all posts by HallieLou

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HallieLou

Eating, Educating, and Exploring my way through this world! View all posts by HallieLou

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"There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was a light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach." — J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King

Can there be light without darkness or vice versa?

HallieLou

Eating, Educating, and Exploring my way through this world! View all posts by HallieLou

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EEEvaluating preparedness. Sometimes there is no prepare. It’s just dare to, and do!

I should be lesson planning for my students right now. Instead, I headed outside to the Concordia bluff 2 miles from my house to bend my body into challenging positions in a rock balancing yoga practice. Breathing in mollasana, the sun burst from the Mequon mist as the waves crashed against the bluff and suddenly gratefulness overcame my spirit. I’m so thankful to have grown up along this Lake Michigan shoreline surrounded by loving supportive people. So many sconnie souls have gone out of their way to comfort me this summer and wish me well on this crazy journey to Thailand ahead. Thanks!

Preparedness has to do with time. How and when do you determine you are prepared for an important task ahead? I have time right now but I am so fulfilled by sitting alone reflecting on where I come from and where I am going. People preach that prioritization of time is what life is all about but I’m not so sure. What if time ceased to exist in your mind? Possible? This paragraph on Time I read last night before bed keeps bounding into my thoughts as I contemplate here.

you!

"Try to imagine a life without timekeeping. You probably can’t. You know the month, the year, the day of the week. There is a clock on your wall or the dashboard of your car. You have a schedule, a calendar, a time for dinner or a movie. Yet all around you, timekeeping is ignored. Birds are not late. A dog does not check its watch. Deer do not fret over passing birthdays. Man alone measures time. Man alone chimes the hour. And, because of this, man alone suffers a paralyzing fear that no other creature endures. A fear of time running out." – Mitch Albom, The Time Keeper

I’m just jibber jabbering around about preparedness because how can anyone prepare for their own life’s adventure? You never know what

to expect. I’m leaving in 48 hours and have followed the #IVHQ checklist to a tee. I’ve been vaccinated, packed, ticketed, visa’ed, farewelled- now I just have to go. Is there more I could read and prepare? Always. Part of this adventure for me is just about letting go, stopping the constant analytics racing through my brain, and just stopping. I do. I dare. I want to. I can. I will. And I’ll face the little Thai kids with a smile and a bow and take it from there…. And also if anyone has any teaching tips or travel to-do’s let me know!

Selah, Hallieeeeeeee

HallieLou

Eating, Educating, and Exploring my way through this world! View all posts by HallieLou

I’m sitting in the airport with a balsamic aftertaste in my mouth from the under par over priced "Nuevo niçoise" airport salad thinking what do I do? We wait so long to arrive at our destination and now I’m in this moment at the airport ready to board to Tokyo my first of three flights and I am just going to take in this feeling. It’s a bit more empty than anticipated and missing loved ones creeps In deeply more quickly than expected. But this is it! I’m officially on my way. I’m much more calm than I expect to be. Security guards were the only people in line at the United international terminal. Mom says its a good omen to have my trip start I such an uneventful note and I will listen to her. She cried a bit and I want her to know I will be aware of my surroundings everywhere I go. I feel very safe and compact in a window seat of the food court.

Lots of Asian people- I’m already feeling taller. Alright, when in doubt of what to think or do next, write: it will bring a smile to my face! Now I just gotta get on that plane.

I’m off! Allons-y!!! <3 Hallieeeeeee

HallieLou

Eating, Educating, and Exploring my way through this world! View all posts by HallieLou

 Since I’ve stepped foot in Thailand everything has been a balance of thrilling to the point where that bump wells up in my throat and I want to shout out "eeeeee!" in excitement (and I have!) to a completely slowed pace of life allowing time for peaceful reflection. Most importantly this will be an extremely cultural experience, as we are 20 miles from the nearest city in a small foundation camp at the base of the northern Thai mountains. Four hill tribes, the Akah, Lahu, Mien, and Karen occupy the area and we work to grant them equality as these indigenous people are looked at as below citizenship. Although preserving culture and their communities is the number one goal, speaking English is an important indicator of economic success in this world, thus several indoor volunteers rotate from 3 different primary schools, 2 child care centers, the hospital, orphanages and even private lessons to build the understanding of conversational English. The outdoor volunteers are sent to local villages daily to build mud slide damns, start sustainable water systems, terrace rice paddies all with machetes in hand!

More to come on sleeping in the airport, eating rice and spicy thai food for breakfast lunch and dinner, my day to day life here at mirror foundations and of course the relationships my heart is forming for this land and these people. Until next time, enjoy this video of my arrival- and yes I shared this songataeow with a live chicken we later prepared for dinner!

HallieLou

Eating, Educating, and Exploring my way through this world! View all posts by HallieLou

I slept- or should I say attempted to fall asleep at Subravahni international- instead of racing out into the bustling metropolis of Bangkok because I wanted to stay safe.

HallieLou

Eating, Educating, and Exploring my way through this world! View all posts by HallieLou

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