So…I just unpacked and got my own place again after 4 years of living out of a bag and traveling around the world.

In some ways I am the typical American Gen-Xer.  I went to college. I got a degree in broadcast Journalism.  I went on to build my career in television.  I was a director, a promotions producer/editor and a specials producer.   My persistence led me from intern at Late Night with David Letterman to NBC to FOX to ABC.

I moved to Chicago in my mid-20s all excited and ready to take on the world Mary Tyler Moore-style,  I bought my first condo and found myself in a committed relationship.   I was going to all the cool media parties and events.   Life was on a roll.

Also in my early 20s…I came down with something.   An illness.  I caught the travel bug.  A college friend invited me to the EU to backpack with her for 3 weeks…and I was like ‘yeah, right.’

At this time, the internet was a wee lass, but I dialed up the ol’ AOL online and looked at prices for tickets (not even sure what Travel search site I used back then?) and realized…wait, I could do this. I do have the means to go.  I had been working and saving for a few years.  WHY NOT?

I went and fell in love…with Paris, the history, the old buildings, the character…yes, the joie de vivre (how fun is it to just so subtly touch that final ‘re’ in vivre? Okay, maybe it’s just me).

When I returned, I vowed to try and go somewhere ‘far’ every year when I had my typical US vacation of 2 weeks or so. And I did it…each year…going away to places like: Germany, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Ireland, and Japan.

I devoured travelogues and books.   I had a small, far-off dream of living abroad someday. Before there were all these travel websites and blogs, I started subscribing to email newsletters like “Transitions Abroad”, “Student Traveler” and even received some email newsletter from a company giving tips on overseas real estate investing. I hadn’t even purchased property in the US yet!

Sometime in my early 30s, some friends of mine, who were in a serious relationship, told me they were going to work for a few more years, save up their cash and then quit their jobs to travel around the world.  I think I got goose bumps. Wow.  I was envious of such a plan.  They were cool.  They were going to be able to do that.  They were so lucky.  They had each other and I wished I could do that with my boyfriend.  But it never even occurred to me…that I could do it.  The irony of the matter is: they never did it…but I did.

In early 2005, my 11-yr old cat became ill and a year of tough treatment and care took its toll on me and him.  The day came when I knew his quality of life was simply not what it should be and I had to make the tough decision to have him euthanized.   Also during that same year, my boyfriend and I were growing apart and I knew it was time to call it quits. I was also growing bored with my job. Don’t get me wrong.  I had a great job as a TV producer at ABC7, but nearly 10 years of doing the same thing was enough for me.  I was in love with the Globetrekker series and wished to work on that show or for a Travel Channel show.  At least that would still be “smart” and “secure” – to find a ‘job’ with travel.  That was the responsible thing to do.  I had been reading more travel memoirs and read one that year called One Year Off about a family who quit their jobs, sold their house and things and traveled around the world with their two kids for one year. I was floored. How cool was that?

That, coupled with the fact that I was more ‘detached’ than I’d been in long time…came together like a slow rising tide. Enough of envying these ‘others’– I could DO IT!

As soon as it hit me… the wheels started turning.  I could sell my condo (this was before the market crash) and have the security blanket I needed for such a trip.

Then I just sped forward with the plan:

• I sold my condo in April 2006 for double what I paid for it 7 years earlier.
• My ex-boyfriend moved out by May 1^st.
• I started this very blog in July 2006.
• I quit my job by August 1^st.
• I bought a backpack at REI.
• I got vaccinations.
• I bought the first 2-3 months worth of airline tickets at STA Travel.
• I found a tenant to live in my current condo.
• I sold my car through Craigslist.

And on Oct 5^th 2006, I flew out of Chicago O’Hare International to San Jose, Costa Rica and proceeded to travel around the world by myself for 15 months until January 2008 when I returned from London to New York City.  And then I left again in September 2008 for Europe and the Middle East and finally returned to the US in the Spring of 2009.

For the details of the rest of that story…Click on the archives of this blog and start in the summer of 2006.

What did we ever do before the internet? Well, the same thing we did without VCRs (and now DVRs), mobile phones, and microwaves. We went to the library and looked things up in the encyclopedia and we watched less TV and we called people when we got home. We lived like normal and we were just fine.

And before I had this blog, I still traveled.  Up to now I have been to about 43 of the US States and about 45 countries.  I have decided to post some of these trips here so I can basically have a more complete list of my travels all in one place…and also so people can stop asking why I haven’t gone to Greece or Japan, when in fact I have, it was just B.B. (before blog).

• My First Trip Abroad

In 1996, I met my college friend Katie in Europe for my very first trip abroad.  For 3 weeks, we backpacked from Paris to Rome, Florence, Venice, and Pompeii, to Zermatt and Lucerne in  Switzerland and finished in London. It was quite a whirlwind. I was amazed, awed, scared, anxious, shocked, and simply delighted.  I remember our very first night we had already befriended another traveler (a solo girl from San Diego) and drank a bottle of wine literally on a Parisian rooftop (we climbed out our tiny hotel room window).  It was amazing and exciting and yet I remember feeling scared and homesick. What was I doing? Why was I here? It’s hard to believe now as I look back how far I have come and  all the traveling I have done since that first night when I felt so very far away.

I was definitely out of my comfort zone and not exactly sure what I was in for. But, just like now, I realized I just needed a day to acclimate and then, boom! I fell in love. The streets of Paris amazed me. The history everywhere you looked; the luscious architecture; the cafe life; the fresh breads and pastries. My first European train ride through the French countryside literally reminded me of  “Snoopy vs. the Red Baron.” The animated countryside of rolling green hills dotted with stone farmhouses and cypress trees was right here before me in real life. I couldn’t get over the buildings of ancient Rome – narrow lanes of old buildings and shops, then BAM, you turn a corner and your jaw drops as the huge Pantheon reveals itself. Or you come face-to-face with the Colosseum still standing after nearly 2000 years. It is still mind-boggling to me to this day. I remember seeing Mt. Vesuvius and the ancient city of Pompeii. It was amazing and a much bigger town than I even imagined; shops, homes, and people wiped out in an instant.

Switzerland dazzled me with its perfectly quaint alpine homes decked with flower boxes bursting with hardy, chromatic petunias. I was in love with its efficiency, cleanliness, and perfection – a stark contrast to Italy’s craziness, bustle, and messy passion. I liked a little of both and figured my dream home would be somewhere near Lake Como and the alps of northern Italy, not far from the Switzerland border…the best of both worlds.

London was our final stop and, at the time, the least interesting. Perhaps it was because I was exhausted. Perhaps it was because everyone spoke English and it was like being back home. About ten years later I would be back in London for a month and would come to love it much more and get to know its great neighborhoods and fun, charming people.

After my trip, I made a new life goal – to go abroad somewhere every year during my vacation time.  And I did just that.*

*It didn’t hurt that in the ‘old days’ (read: 1998) of my job at ABC7 in Chicago, we  had this amazing deal with United Airlines for approximately 40% off international fares. Unfortunately, like all good things, it didn’t last. But it allowed me to travel abroad for cheap for the first few years at least. Yay, perks!

• 1998 – Return to Italy with Joe (Siena, Rome, Sorrento/Amalfi Coast)
• 1999 – Germany & France with Susan (Heidelberg, Rothenberg, Munich, Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Strasbourg, Paris)
• 2000 – Ireland with David & Shannon
• 2001 – Europe Trip with Mark – 3 weeks and my first time traveling alone for just half the time  (Barcelona, Nice, Cinque Terre, Lake Como, Bolzano, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Prague)
• 2002 – Canada Road Trip with Andy (Toronto, Niagara Falls, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec)
• 2003 – Greece with Andy (Athens, Santorini, Mykonos)
• 2004 – Croatia with Andy & his mom (Zagreb, Split, Brac, Dubrovnik, quick wrong turn into Bosnia)
• 2004 – Cayman Islands with Andy and ABC7 Crew
• 2004 – Mexico for work with ABC7 Crew
• 2005 – Tokyo, Japan with Mark
• 2006 – Montreal, Canada for work with ABC7 Crew
• 2006 -2010    World Tour Begins!   (((inhale)))   Costa Rica, Ecuador, Chile, Buenos Aires, New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore, Dubai, Turkey, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Germany, Amsterdam, Spain, Sweden, London, Wales, NYC, Chicago, LA, NYC, France, Italy, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Stockholm, Paris, NYC, Virginia, Colorado, New Jersey, Chicago, LA, New Jersey, Chicago. ((((exhale))))

After several showings, I just sold my sweet 1989 Red Honda Prelude Si. 5 Speed, sunroof, fast, fun, economical—this was my favorite car…Well, only car…ever!
I had listed it on Craigslist about a month ago and had all kinds of interest, but no actual cash.

I bought this car in 1992 when I was a sophomore in college. It was my first and has been the ONLY car I’ve ever owned.

My mom and step dad found it a newspaper ad. It was at a BMW dealer where a NJ lawyer had traded it in for a more ‘lawyerly’ BMW.

It was perfect for me…and has been ever since! I drove it around South Carolina (where I went to school) for several years and it helped me out on several road trips back north to New Jersey. Then, in 1998, it carried me to my new home of Chicago. I drove it a lot less here. Let’s just say when I moved here 9 years ago it had 91,000 miles on it. Now it has 104,000. That’s about 2000 miles a year. Not much, huh?

It suffered a bit here thanks to the harsh winters and street parking it had to endure in Chicago. Little Prelude even got hit once while parked–classic hit and run. A nice neighbor actually saw the whole thing, but I could never get the people to admit it.

She’s got a few minor dings and scratches now, mostly due to parallel parkers riding up on the hood. Someone even stole my “H” emblem off my hood once. I pictured some guy wearing it around his neck–nice bling!

One year I even contacted the original owner–the lawyer from NJ. I know I’m a bit odd, but it was fun writing to him ten years later to tell him his old car was doing just fine. He actually wrote me back and said he thought he had made a mistake trading it in and missed the peppy prelude!

Of course, you know I have all the maintenance records in alphabetical order in the glove box. And I’ve been told the interior looks brand new. I’m not one to junk up the inside of my car. Like some, I never used it as a storage locker.

So, at least five people had already told me, “I’ll take it.”
But for some reason or another, they never did. Some just didn’t show up. One totally wanted it and accepted it at my price, then turned around a day later and said he wanted it for $500 less…after already agreeing to buy it! One said her son didn’t want red after all. One said it was overpriced. One wanted his mechanic son-in-law to check it out, but it wouldn’t be for another week.
But finally ‘a nice Jewish boy’ came along and gave me a $200 cash deposit. I wanted to secure a sale, but wanted to keep my car until the day before I left the country. After he test drove it and literally kicked the tires he said he would take it. I honestly got teary eyed! I did not expect that. I mean it’s a car for god sakes! But it’s been with me for fourteen years and just kind of confirms all the changes I’m making. So we signed a ‘letter of intent’ two weeks ago and I just watched him drive away in it. For the first time, I was nervous about driving it. I could just imagine something happening to it in the last 2 weeks I owned it even though I never got in an accident in 14 years. I couldn’t have sold it to a better guy—he even called me the following night to jokingly give me my “daily Prelude update!”

It was an awesome car, fun to drive and served me better than I could have imagined.

Okay. Here’s the thing. I quit my job. I’m slowly going broke each day. I used to always say, “money comes in, money goes out.”
But now I guess it’s just “money goes out.” So as I hit the road, airspace, and waterways of the world to explore further recesses unknown I also am hoping to make a small amount of cash along the way. How, you ask? Well, the first ideas are more conventional considering my line of work. I have contacted some production companies in hopes of being able to do some freelance producing of segments for travel shows and the like. I have also written to a slew of travel magazines (i.e. Budget Travel, National Geographic Traveler, etc.), as well as chick mags like Marie Claire and Jane. I’m hoping to write some articles about your average-girl-in-the-world and the not-so-average things she encounters circumnavigating the globe. Oh, and of course, I will be taking tons of photographs and would love nothing more than to publish some of these.

So, now for the unconventional ways to make money. How can I get this blog sponsored? Some of you may have heard or seen www.wherethehellismatt.com.
This guy travels all over the world, dances for a few seconds in each locale and posts them on his website. It’s oddly charming and BAM, he’s sponsored by a gum company and they pay for his next trip. Now he’s freakin’ famous with a possible show deal in the works. So…what praytell can I do??
Here are some of the bad ideas some friends and I came up with that I can’t do (for obvious reasons):

• Get arrested in each country and post my mugshot—obvious issues
• Show my boobs in each country—this could lead to the aforementioned arrest
• Take a picture with a famous person in each country—too much work
• Kiss someone on the cheek in each country—idea of Jen Ward. I liked it at the time and started with her and her husband at the Cheesecake Factory in Old Orchard. Kind of fitting huh—cheesecake pics at Cheesecake Factory…hmmm…maybe they’ll sponsor me.

But I fear all the odd implications or just plain hijinks that could ensue from kissing complete strangers. Or it could just promote total world peace and harmony and land me the Nobel Peace Prize. Ya think? Yeah, I didn’t think so.
I’m looking for YOUR ideas. Got any? Send ‘em in. Just post to the comments section of this post.

Well, not exactly, but it was party time! Last night was my big send off party. This was my ‘world tour shower,’ so to speak. Or maybe it was more of a ‘world tour bachelorette party?’ Either way it was a blast. So fun! All the cool kids were there. Just want to give a shout out (can I do that?) to everyone for coming and celebrating with me. Thanks for all the beer (anyone thirsty? I started out with 2 cases and ended up with 3!), wine, booze, assorted treats, gifts, and those nifty LLworldtour.com lanyards. I expect everyone to be wearing their work ids on those come Monday morning!

Thanks again…you all gave me something to look forward to returning to!

LL

One curse (or is it a blessing?) about this journey is I can’t hold a cell phone call for more than a few minutes. The cell phone reception out here in the middle of nowhere is few and far between. It’s kind of annoying when I keep getting calls disconnected, but then I realized I kinda like it. If you already know my distaste for really talking on the phone at all—this is perfect! The phone conversation just abruptly ends itself. No fuss, no muss. “What? Sorry can’t hear you. Talk to you later!”

Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me…” You know the rest.
Today I turned 34 in South Dakota. Never done that before. Well, never done either I guess! This is one SMALL town. I’m in Kadoka, South Dakota, population:
706. 85% of the population is white and almost all the rest are native American. Last night for dinner, I went local and had the requisite American meal: meat loaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Mmm…nothing says the West better than meat lovingly formed into the shape of a loaf! It was actually quite tasty. My waiter at the small roadside diner was a guy from Bali! Of course, another local waitress told me he was from Bali, India. Not too worldy in these parts I guess. I’m sure she meant Indonesia. She had the first 3 letters right, at least.
I even overheard her teaching him nursery rhymes.
“Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb…”
“Humpty Dumpty sat on a fence…”
She went on loudly like this for about a half hour. I mean seriously! The guy was more than 30 years old. I mean hand him a newspaper if you want to help him with his English. Nursery Rhymes?? Seriously.

Then at breakfast I gave my newspaper to a guy who also seemed to be from ‘somewhere else.’ Turns out he’s from Tajikistan. He’s studying at Stanford and was driving around the country like me. We shared a bit of “this is definitely middle America” comments and went our separate ways.

I headed off to the Badlands in the chilly rain.

The weather seemed to match the scene. Here the prairie gives way to a rugged no-man’s-land of unusual rock formations carved by wind and water. Its weird, multi-colored peaks, desolate buttes, desert-like moonscapes and fossil-rich fields, is an easy stop for road trippers like me zooming down I-90. This fascinating landscape of the park erodes at a rate of about 1 inch per year providing an ever-changing landscape. It’s a stark, craggy beauty really breaks up the monotony of the trip and the rain adds to the feeling. And aptly for this moment, Def Leppards, “Rock of Ages” came on the radio as I navigated through this eerie landscape. Very cool.
This little detour ended at Wall, South Dakota. If you’ve never heard of Wall Drug Store, I guess you haven’t lived because it has truly made the tiny town of Wall a thriving shoppers mecca! It’s a testament to great marketing, that’s for sure. What a crazy phenomenon. Welcome to the Disney World of Dakota! This town would be nothing without this ‘drug store crap emporium.’ The whole main street WAS the drug store. Through the racks of T-shirts, rows of shot glasses, and loads and loads of tchotckes I searched for the actual drugs. I finally did find a tiny apothecary. This place was sensory overload, but it teemed with tourists searching for the perfect “jackalope” keychain or “I’ve been bad in the Badlands” t-shirt. Not my scene. I bought my mom her second Jackalope and got the hell out of Dodge, or Wall as it were.

My bottle of ‘bomb infused’ spring water was just confiscated by the flight attendant on my flight from Newark to Chicago. I know, nowadays just uttering (or typing?) the word ‘bomb’ is a no-no, but I’m just reporting the news here, right?
As you may know just one week ago, the British authorities foiled a plot by terrorists to carry bombs on several planes in London. These bombs were a cocktail mix of a sports drink and ‘bomb juice’ (made that up). So, the result of this is the current ban of ALL liquids on all domestic and international flights. This includes your everyday lip balm, shampoo, toothpaste…and, yes, one of today’s most common accessories—the Starbucks cup or bottle of ‘fancy’ water scooped out of some stream in the Maine wilderness (or maybe just some guys toilet).
So, about an hour into our flight, 30,000 or so feet above the earth, I was reprimanded. I told the nice male flight attendant I had bought it after I passed through security (yes, this was a lie), but apparently no liquids are allowed onboard period. Actually, I was well aware of my carry-on hydration secret as I stood barefoot on line at the security checkpoint. I figured I would just keep it in the side pocket of my backpack. I stuck my pack in one of those gray plastic bins and for the heck of it, kind of tucked the bottle out of view, even though I was almost sure the X-ray folks would see it and make me throw it out. But if not, I could keep my bottle of refreshing goodness and no one would get hurt. To my surprise, they did not stop me—either they didn’t detect it or I was racially ‘profiled’ on the spot as a non-threat. Now, believe me, I was glad to keep my water, but disappointed at the ease of which I smuggled such ‘newly labeled contraband’ into the gate area. Good thing I can feel safe with such high alerts and crack security agents watching out for bottle-wielding hydration freaks like me.

#1. I booked my tix for the first leg of my journey yesterday and it turns out I WILL be able to stop in New Zealand (wasn’t sure if I’d go there, although, many people have told me how amazingly beautiful it is) for free since my flight stops there anyway. So I will stay for 10 days! So on my way home I’m reading this book called “Adventure Divas” by Holly Morris—a Globetrekker Host and also a TV producer (yes, I’ve already emailed her. I also emailed the Dancing Matt guy and he wrote me back—but I digress) and it just happens that the chapter I’m on is about her trip to New Zealand! Meant to be.

#2. I’m also very excited about my journey down to Chile and Patagonia. On Saturday I showed my condo to a couple –the wife has traveled around the world twice and her husband, of course, just happens to be from Chile and has tips for me.

I love when things like this happen! Sadly for them though, I did not rent them the place. They had 2 kids. That’s 2 kids too many for my condo.

I just have to mention I went running on the Lakefront Path this morning and was just running along and smelled the fresh cut grass and looked up at the pretty trees and smiled. I smiled while i was running?!?! I know, odd considering I simply despise running, but I truly love this city and it’s nice to have these moments when you feel lucky to be alive and healthy!
That’s my ‘carpe diem’ moment of the day!
LL

The next email goes out to friends and family:

From: Lisa.G.Lubin@abc.com
Subject: Around the World in 365 Days?
Date: July 31, 2006 2:34:09 PM CDT

Dear friends & family-

Hi there! As most of you know I love to travel. So…I am about to do what the subject line says. I plan on traveling around the world–starting this August in the US…and continuing on in October to Central America, South America, Australia, Asia, possibly Africa, and all of Eastern and Western Europe. Just this week I gave my notice (aka: quit!) at ABC7 after 9 years! And I sold my other condo. I will be renting out the condo I live in starting October 1.
This is a dream trip for me and I am reaching out to all of you for ANY help/advice/contacts/thoughts
(I apologize in advance if some of you have already gotten a similar email–there’s some crossover).

Here is the VERY rough plan I have so far:
October–Costa Rica
November–Ecuador (Galapagos Islands)
November–Chile (Patagonia)
Nov/December–Argentina
Dec/Jan–Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Queensland/GBR, Cairns)
Feb/March–Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore
March/April–Dubai, Turkey
(possible trip to south africa)
April thru Summer–Eastern Europe (Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Baltics) and Western Europe (Germany, France, Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, Spain, Portugal)

I know some of you plan to meet me at certain spots which I am very excited about. I also am looking for any contacts (friends, family, colleagues, etc.) you may have abroad. I would love to visit some places and meet locals who can really give me a feel of their community and culture. And, many of you have done some traveling also and I’m looking for ANY and ALL advice/tips you have as well.

While traveling, I also plan on taking some classes (Spanish Immersion in Costa Rica & Spain, Cooking in Tuscany, photography)
and volunteering some. I’ve been in touch with the Chicago Sister Cities Program to do some work for them.
This is something I have ALWAYS wanted to do…and I am so fortunate to finally live my dream!
I plan on documenting much of my trip with photographs and will be in touch through email. If you would like to hear from me during my travels, please write back and I will include you on the email list. Thanks so much for your thoughts and excitement as I embark on a wonderful journey through our world!
See you along the way… or in a year!

Travel Love,
Lisa

PS–Stay tuned for the ‘bon voyage’ party in September!!
————————————————————————————————————————–
Lisa – That is fantastic!! It’s funny that you wrote today – I started writing you an email yesterday and our computers locked up at the end of the day, so I was going to finish it this morning. I’m sorry to hear about you and Andy. I know that must have been tough, but it sounds like you obviously have a lot going on! What a great trip this is going to be!! Are you pretty much traveling by yourself and just meeting up with people? I am so excited (and envious) for you!!! I OF COURSE want to be on the email list! We have some friends in Belgium and actually Shanghai that we could put you in contact with. The couple in Shanghai are super nice – they are sort of friends of a friend). We met them at a wedding and I know they would love to have a visitor. They teach English over there. So if you are going to Shanghai (which I just realized wasn’t on your list) just let me know. And if you go to Belgium, let me know – our friends Ron and Kat would love to have you! I am SO SO excited for you!!! I know this is a dream come true!! Cramer and I were talking just the other day about what the greatest job would be and I really think it would be to have some kind of travel show. Maybe you can do that when you get back!! Definitely keep me posted on everything!
Love, Susan

Wow this is HUGE …..Please put us on the list. As you always know we want to know how you are doing!
I have a friend who I will send this to and see if he has any advise/contacts for you! He has some extensive travel under his belt.
Take Care-and as always we will pray for you!
Brian Correll

You are amazing! I’ve always said that you are one of my heroes and you’re proving it once again. You have such an independent spirit and I love that in you. I love you Lisa. OMG, I can’t believe you’re doing this. It is so great. And I was going to send you an email and tell you I went to Nagel’s. How exciting is that? … I’m sure you’ve got a million things to do. I want to hear everything that happens. So keep me onthe list. This is so exciting. I’m going to tell everyone about my dear friend.
I love you, Rhonda

Lisa,
Awesome.
I didn’t see England in there. Let me know if and when you will be there. I will put you in touch with my friend Matt who grew up in Luton Town just outside of London. He will be living in Derby by then. He is a riot.
Grant Detrick

This is incredible. Wow. You’ve been talking about this for 15-years. I’m so impressed you are going to live out your dream
Yes, I know some people. Stay tuned. Which e-mail address will you be using–sbcglobal or yahoo?
Love and congrats.
Dougie

Uhhh…I think it goes without saying that I want to be on the email distribution list for the ATWITSFD tour.
Patrick

Hey Lisa-
Sounds amazing! Of course I’d love to hear from you during your travels!
If you ever decide to do a tour of the Western Suburbs, my door is always open J… Naperville is divine in the Spring….He He He
Travel Safe,
Nicole

Congratulations! Of course put me on your email list, and put me down as a “maybe” to meet you in Ecuador/Gallapagos and maybe Turkey next spring.
Hope to see you tonite for a drink,
Marsha

Wow Lisa! You’re doing what I wanted to do my whole life. I hope I can do it someday -and I hope I won’t be so old that I will confuse Moscow with Madrid. Anyway, I wish you the best of luck and congratulations for having made that decision. I don’t know where it comes
from, but I guess we all want at some point in life to stop doing what we’re doing and travel around the world for a change. Good for you!
I will get you lots of information about Argentina. I don’t know what your plans are going to be, but as I said before, I have relatives there and they will be more than happy to host you in their homes. I also have friends in Ecuador and Chile so I will contact them to ask about the must-see places in their respective countries.
Good luck and talk to you soon.
Damian.

Congratulations, Lisa! I’m so excited for you. I hope Mandy was able to give you some advice (she’s in the Himalayas right now!). Definitely include me on your email list. Thanks, Lisa, see you at your bon voyage party!
Beth Flintoff

SO EXCITING!
DL

Nice letter. Why wasn’t it sent to me for approval first??!!
mark berman

holy moly — am I ever jealous!!!! have a fabulous time
Kelly Daugherty

Hi Lisa
Well, way to go man! Congratulations on your big decision and I’m sure you will have a time of your life, you will never ever forget! I’m very disappointed though to see “possibly Africa”
If you tour around the world and don’t do South Africa at least, I think you’re well aware that you’ll have a big gap in your whole experience! Hehe We will be happy help you with any touring plans you may want to make in South Africa and even be willing to give you some recommendations of what you should see at least when you’re going there. So excited for you and a little jealous as well, but good jealousy just to show that it’s a opportunity of a life time.

Well, I’m sure you’re busy with lots of planning, etc. but you must let us know how your schedule looks like next week or the week after. We should definitely get together sometime, so I can introduce you to my wife, Elmarie – before you’re going away party..
Hope you have a great weekend.
Gabriel LeRoux

Hey,
This is a nice email and a really good idea! I bet you’ll get some more good connections. Wish I could help out in that regard but I just can’t think of anyone that I’ve kept in contact with in other countries. If I think of anyone, you’ll be the first to know!
AR

Damn Lubin!!!,
Must be nice to take a year off like that. I am impressed and happy for you. Obviously all is well with you in Chicago. No big news here.
I spent a month in Australia for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney and had a blast!!! Folks very nice and loved my accent. Some thought I was from either Texas or…get this…new jersey! Wow!
We took a day long sight seeing trip from Sydney to go whale watching…petting farm…vineyards…and you could drink the whole time! We fell in love with one of their beers, Victoria Bitters…VB…cannot get it here yet. We also stayed on Bondi Beach for our week of R & R after games.
Swiss Grand Hotel, very nice! not a typical nasty beach motel. Topless beach right below….nice bars and restaurants. But there are several little beaches and you’ll be going when it is height of summer. Hot as Hell !
I miss seeing you. Hope all is well with everyone else around you.
Your old bud,
JD

Good going!
Too bad you’re not starting in Europe -We’re going to Italy with friends Sept 8- 21- it would have been cool to meet you there. Will you be out east before you go? I may look into a cooking course as well. Did you do any prelim research you can share?
Is this the email address you’ll be monitoring on the road?
Advice: Have the best time, Stay away from wild birds.
michael fields

Lisa, you are my hero! You’re the perfect person to be doing this. It’s so cool
to see people who are not afraid to live their dreams. My parents have lived in
the same house for 44 years. Can you imagine. So, when is the book coming out?!
As far as advice, I’ve never been out of the US so I’m not much help, but
you’ve got me cheering you on! Wahooo!
Hugs,
Vickie

Hi Lisa,
What a great idea! Thanks for including me on your list of recipients. It’s always nice hearing from (I hesitated to write it, but…”old”) classmates! It’s been a long time since the reunion!
I’m not sure if you remember, but I live in Kristiansand, Norway (the southern tip of Norway, a ferry ride from northern Denmark). I’ve been here for 10 years and now have two kids. Amanda is 5 and Alexander is 3. You met my wife, Eirin, the reunion. It would be great if you chose to travel here. We’d love to have you visit. We have plenty of room and the late spring\summer months are beautiful here in Norway (well, as long as it isn’t raining!). I’ve had a family and friends visit before and they’ve all enjoyed the small city and nature around Kristiansand. I’ve also taken most of our visitors on a day trip to Stavanger to hike to a place called Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock). See this link for some pics: http://www.preikestolen.org/webutleie/engelsk/index1-e.htm
I’ve traveled a bit to Singapore and this year I’ve been to Shanghai 3 times already. I see you haven’t listed China as a destination, but it is definitely an experience. I was there just 2 weeks ago, walking in a popular restaurant area when I heard my last name called. Surprised, I looked around and right in front of me was (I found out) Scott Lau (brother of Eric Lau, from our class). He has lived in Shanghai for 3 years now and really enjoys it. Singapore is a beautiful place, and very safe for travelers. It is a bit expensive, but if you’re in the area, it is a good starting point for visits to Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur is a few hours away) and Indonesia (Bali is a 2 our flight).
Please do add me to your list. I would love to follow your journey around the world. I’ve got some friends\colleagues in several European countries, but I think I remember that you’ve been thru Europe quite a bit. Hungary, Bulgaria, the Czech republic, Greece and Spain are very popular places to travel to here, and I know a few people who live in Hungary also.
Anyhow, it would be fun to folowo along and chat with you. Please keep in touch!
-Chris Ponzi

Are you psyched or what?!!!! How exciting!! How did it go telling work and everyone??? We are thrilled for your big adventure and please add us to your email list … we want to hear every detail!
Jim & Jen Ward

Hi Lisa –
Please place me on your email list. This trip sounds amazing.
It’s orientation week for me starting tomorrow and there is this session regarding trips around Australia. I’ll forward on any/all useful info.
Keep in touch –
Kay Kim

Lisa – this sounds amazing! I will forward to my parents who have a good friend – I think in Sydney and
to my friend whose sister is in Australia. You won’t be in England? I have contacts there if you are. Are
you still with your boyfriend – if so, will he be joining you? I’ll give some more thought to this – to see what other contacts I may have.
Will be back in touch soon-
Katie Bence

GOOD FOR U…THAT SOUNDS INCREDIBLE…..PLS KEEP IN TOUCH ALONG THE WAY!!!!! & ENJOY!!!!!!
LOVE, ILENE FAIRCHILD

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please add us to your email list!
Jim & Connie Taylor

Hey Lisa! Wow! What an adventure! I’d love to give you some travel ideas but my biggest adventures lately are driving to Utah to see my parents (only 2 & 1/2 hours away!) I am so excited for you! Since I don’t foresee the time or $$$ for myself to make a trip like that, I’ll live vicariously through you! Keep me updated! I hope you have a fun & safe trip! If you ever make it to Vegas, let me know!
Joanne Paige

I’d love to get pictures and hear about all the fascinating things you’re going to see and do.
You said you’re starting in the U.S. Are you going to visit all 50 states?
Stu Meadows

Of course i want to be included on the emails. Would hunt you down and kill you if not!
Will impart any and all travel wisdom over the next few months — i promise.
Where are you thinking in Turkey? And for how long? Any ideas? I have done some travelling in western Turkey so if you will primarily be there, I will probably meet you in Dubai. Or, possibly in Asia (Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore). I guess it will depend on when you’ll be there, for how long, your itinerary, etc. But, i will likely meet you somewhere for a week or two. Can’t wait!!!
Renee Street

Lisa,
Best of luck in your world travels – should be an incredible experience!
Take care and safe travels.
Dave, Venessa & Aimee Fawley

Lisa,
I am so excited for you! I think what you are doing is absolutely fabulous and I definitely want to be on your email list! Morgan knows a lot of people in Europe from his travels / foreign exchange students over the years, so I will be sure to ask him to give you some names and numbers.
Do you think you will be in CA at all during your US travels? I thought it couldn’t hurt to ask
Good luck and hope to hear from you soon! You will hear from Morgan soon…
Lv,
Bridget

Hello Lisa,
Great to hear from you. I’m so glad that you’ll soon be embarking on your dream trip. It sounds like the journey of a lifetime!!!
Take care and keep me posted on your travels.
Rick Henry

congratulations! wow what an adventure–where in the world is Lisa? This is a dream trip–esp. for a history nerd like me. How did you select the order of countries? sorry, I can not think of any contacts–but I’ll check with friends who have relatives– if you come to Westchester I can take you shopping!!–hey–is there a job opening at ABC? Create a documentary and Mark can produce the film!
how do you pack for the trip?–imagine all the different food you will be trying–although there is probably a McDonalds everywhere–
good luck,
Mary Ellen Slattery

I am so happy and jealous. You deserve only the best. I love the Journal. Can’t wait to read it when you come back. Still thinking that we may meet you next summer somewhere? Is Greece on your list?
Love you very much,
Shannon Lubin

How exciting. Please put me on the list. If I think of any good contacts for you, I’ll let you know.
GO girl.. have a blast!
Blessings,
Kara Gormley

Hello Lisa,
I just wanted to drop you a quick note and say Congratulations!!!! Your world trip sounds outstanding and I am so happy for you.
Take care,
Emily Shagley

I’m so proud of you for doing this!!!! I’ve been thinking about it non-stop and telling all of my friends about what you’re doing. My job has been crazy– which is why I hadn’t gotten back to you yet. We’re launching 2 new newscasts next week, we just launched a new set and new graphic look, and we went tapeless on Monday… so my hours have been all over the place. I’m working nights for the next few weeks.
Anyway, since I read your email I’ve been considering a place I can meet you somewhere along your trip. Italy sounds fun.. with the cooking class… and I think you mentioned taking a photography class or something there? Two things I absolutely LOVE!!! (did I tell you I’ve been taking some black and white photog. classes thru the Smithsonian?) And if you’re not getting to Italy ’til next April, it gives me time to plan. Is there anyone already meeting you on that leg of your trip? Would another place work out better for me? It all sounds so exciting… and so… YOU!! I think it’s the perfect thing.
Let me know about meeting you somewhere. I can’t wait to hear more about your plans and stuff.
Miss you!!!!!
Love,
Holly Burdick

I’m really going to miss you too…:) !
But let’s not get sappy…it’s your last day and we’re getting wasted at the Cubs game!
I’m really happy for you…:)…and it seems like this is the happiest you’ve been since I’ve known you! I really have a feeling that you’re on the right path. You’re creating your own destiny and that’s awesome! I’m so excited for you…I can’t even imagine how excited you must be!
Noodles!
Cathy
Don’t forget to add me to your list!

Hey Lisa,
I am SO EXCITED for you!!! Congratulations on making this big decision. I’m so glad to see that you’re setting up projects along the way (photography, learning Spanish, etc.) My biggest advice is to try as much as possible to do something “productive” as you travel. Just traveling for the sake of travel gets old pretty quick. You could even build houses with Habitat as you travel. Habitat is everywhere and you can always find nice people at the affiliates! I have some good friends, Steve and Kris Little, who work for Habitat in Costa Rica. I’m sure they would be happy to help you if needed.

You should also consider some money-making ventures as you travel – there are lots of travel magazines that I’m sure would love to publish your stories (you can make at least $300 – $600 an article, maybe more depending on the size of the magazine). In fact, I’m helping a friend of mine in California, Mary Hamilton, start up a new magazine called ROAD TRIP! MAGAZINE. It’s a very cool and very hip publication. I’m forwarding Mary your e-mail and you may be hearing from her.

You should also consider perhaps producing some stories for your station (I did that) and/or Travel Channel. Do you have a video camera?

Please call if I can offer any other advice. Sounds like you’re right on track!
Have a blast!
Faith