1. FEAR
I realized today that I am terrified. I have been feeling stuck in a ticking time bomb called New York for months now and for all my attempts, I can’t find anyone to plan a trip with. That was a year ago. I still have not left the country.
A. Difficulty
i. You have to first understand that I was not born in America so getting a passport might as well be like becoming a citizen all over again. Especially, if the proof that you are an American had been lost to the wind by my mother. Which is a story on its own for another time.
ii. So, after spending hundreds of dollars, scouring the earth, yelling at several immigration service agents and just generally hating the system I have finally gotten to this point where a passport is in my hand, wanderlust in my spirit but no one to travel with has blown my mind after waiting three years just to get my passport.
2. I AM A DOER
Of course, after several failed attempts to recruit my boyfriend into going anywhere with me. (Which is actually very telling) I lost all faith in humanity and booked a ticket to Curacao and took the time off my work schedule.
A. Questions that need answers
i. The next day it began to snow outside. Should I take that as I sign that everything is going to be alright because I am going to a sunny place with a low of 80 degrees in the slushy dead of winter. That all the food will be delicious, the fruits will be magically ripe and I will make friends.
ii. Or is a sign that it is going to be rainy the entire trip. I might get taken by infidels and no one is going to fight for me like in the movie. I am going to fall down a rabbit hole near the ocean and drown. There could also be a voodoo doctor in this story or just killed by any other choices of wildlife.
3. But now what
I have no idea how to plan a trip. Who am I to know? (I am clearly reading Atlas Shrugged) All I wanted to do was book a flight, take pictures and have fun but now I have to worry about sleeping arrangements, activities, safety as a solo female traveler, money exchange rates, getting from point A to B without Uber or a subway system, Zika virus, explosive diarrhea (I am actually not worried about this because I am Nigerian and my stomach is like a tank.) and all other ghastly things.
Can someone tell me where to begin?
P.S As I write this, I think I am getting even more frantic so I am going to stop here but I am also pretty happy because I have not written anything in a year since I took journaling out of my daily activities as a resolution. In retrospect, this is easily the most creative and progressive years of my life.