Archaeology Digs

As many of you may now I applied to be part of an Archaeological Dig run by a professor through a school in New York at Petra. 

Petra, Jordan 30.3285° N, 35.4444° E is exactly 6,776 miles from Vancouver, British Colombia. It is also considered as one of the Wonders of the Modern World. Having studied archaeology in class, each one has been based on readings from text books about sites that seem very far away from our class room in the Pacific North West. I have also had many amazing opportunities to experience first nations cultures of Western Canada, and especially those located directly around our campus. MOA, the Museum of Anthropology on UBC’s campus specializes in indigenous history and studies. These experiences and views have sculpted my education so far, and I would love to diversify my views during my trip around the world. 

Description: Petra (Jordan) Copyright: © Editions Gelbart

Author: Jean-Jacques Gelbart (From UNESCO website)

Petra Jordan is seen by most people as an exotic archaeological site made up of beautiful pink, intricately carved buildings. However, I am more interested in the people who lived there. What their day to day life was like, what they experienced and how their cultures developed. This program is specifically looking at the tombs and domestic structures to gain a picture into the lives of these ordinary people. Surrounded by the Byzantine Churches and magnificent tomb facades, Petra has a story to tell of the people that built and lived in this site, but it is buried under layers of sandstone.

Working on a field school site also provides the experience of actually helping write and explore history. It not only brings to life all the methods and history that I have learned about in my classes, but it allows me to have a hand in discovering the history of people who walked millions of years ago. The world has come a long way since the 1^st-4^th century AD and having a greater appreciation for the lengths that humans have come technologically and culturally is important for understanding our modern society as well. I couldn't imagine being the first to see something after over 2000 years of it being buried underground. 

HOWEVER, after all that, the program was canceled and changed due to unrest in the Middle East and Jordan. When they changed where the field school would take place, the dates did not work with when I have available. I have looked at many other options and am keeping my schedule open for something that might fit in.

I want to make sure that this trip is not only travel and that I feel as if I am doing something with my time. A few of the things I am now thinking of doing is visiting as many archeological sites as possible, Petra included, as well the Rock Hewn Churches in Ethiopia and Roman sites throughout Italy. I as well am looking into volunteering at different wildlife conservation reserves. I will also potentially be working for 2 or 3 weeks at a time in hostels around the world to help cover costs. 

Trains, Plaines and Automobiles

A lot of people have asked, "How do you plan to get around?"

To be honest, I am not completely sure. This is because I will be traveling to so many different countries and regions of the world that I will be taking an abundance different of types of travel. I decided the easiest way to explain my general plan is break it down by continent.

South America: The subways in Santiago were surprisingly manageable last time I was there, and while in the major cities I plan on using the subway, to go between countries I will most likely be taking buses and ferries. (Antarctica is still my dream destination, and so to get there if I find a way I will be hiding out in Ushuaia and waiting for cruise to Antarctica, or bussing up to the north of Argentina.)

Europe: Just bought and received my EuroRail pass (there was a 20% off sale!!!) which gives me seven days of travel in 23 different countries. While the pass was expensive, I think in the end it will be both a money saver and the easiest and most scenic ways to get around. I will use this both before and after the Iceland portion of my trip.

Iceland (not its own continent but its own special case): The weather in March is going to be frigid and wintering, and so my original intention of hiking around and buying the hiking bus pass which will pick you up and drop you off in major cities and trails heads, seems to be debunked. Most sites online recomend highhiking or renting a car which are both options I am looking into. (Mom and Dad no matter what happens I will be very safe, and won't hitch hike alone).

Middle East (another special case): Agian this is not its own continent, but I felt it could be its own category for transportation. My plans are still up in the air for where/when I will be here, and as those plans are solidified, I will have a better idea of how I will be getting around.

Africa: I will only be getting around via cabs or one tour bus/ renting a 4 x 4 for the dessert outside Morocco, hoping to spend a night sleeping outside in the Sahara Desert.

Asia: Here I will be backpacking, and will most likely fly from Vietnam or Thailand to the Philipines. On my way home from Asia I am contemplating boarding a freighter instead of flying home. It would allow me to not only see a different side of travel (the commercial ports) but also take some time to slow down and be by myself. The freighter would leave from China, visiting two cities there and one port in Tokyo before heading to Canada and then Seattle. The whole trip is going to be six months of always exploring and nonstop activities/adventures; I think being able to just hang out on a ship for 10-15 days could be nice. It'll give me time to keep up on the posts that I haven't finished as well reflect on my crazy little adventure.

Oceania: In Australia and potentially New Zealand I will be traveling by bus, potentially again renting a car, depending on who is with me to help pay for it and gas.

Life Cycle

I began thinking about my life and the places I have lived last night, and I realised something that scared me. My life has become one big cycle.

I grew up in Seattle, Washington in the Pacific North West. I lived there, went to school there and spent the majority of my time in Seattle. Every summer my family from the first year of my life would board our sailboat and escape to British Colombia usually starting in Vancouver and then up and around Vancouver Island. The younger I was, the more time we spent on the boat. School was less important when I was 3 then 12. My sister and I spent our summers swimming and exploring islands, using toonies to pay for ice cream and taking in the summer sunshine and air. However, as my sister and I grew older, school was more important, friends and social engagements seemed to matter more, the FOMO on an authentic Seattle summer set in. We began to spend less and less time on the boat each year.

Senior year of high school rolled around, college applications, SAT tests and Seattle parties were in full swing. I had spent maybe a week on the boat that summer. As all my classmates waited nervously for acceptance letters, I sat at ease knowing not only where I was going but exactly what it would be like. I only applied to one school. Call me dumb, but my backup plan was if I didn't get accepted I would figure out what to do then. I applied early and heard back in the first weeks of December. The University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC had accepted me. Canada would be my home again. I was so excited; I thought about visiting Granvilleile Island every weekend for doughnuts and fresh meats and flowers. I thought about the Vancouver Art Gallery and Museum of Anthropology. I could imagine and even taste where I would eat dinner; the classes looked inspiring and interesting. It felt right.

Having only American citizenship, I am considered an international student even though my home address is a closer to UBC then many Canadain student's flights home. I expected a mix of realities, the paperwork they sent for being international was a bit dramatic from the pamphlets I expected EVERYTHING to be different. But I took a deep breath and realised that I knew Vancouver, and moving there would be easy. Now instead of spending 9 months of the year in Seattle and 3 in Vancouver, I would be spending 9 months of the year in Vancouver and 3 in Seattle.

One of my favorite photos I've taken of Vancouver

Seattle sunsets are still some of the best in the world

My realities have switched places; America is where I visit on a break from school and vacation. Canada is where I call home. The rain has replaced sunny afternoons, and swimming has been replaced with studying and toonies are used to buy beer instead of ice cream cones. However, even though I go to school in a country different from my high school, I feel as if nothing has changed. The weather is still the same, still the classic PNW grey. The trees and beaches smell the same. The currency is different, but everything is still expensive. I have always wanted to challenge myself, to explore cultures and see all the corners of the world, but I've realized while UBC might be the right school for me, it is too comforting, it is too similar. The adventure from when I studied in Chile isn't there, and the daily exploration isn't the same.

I'm hoping to break this cycle that has become my living arrangement, To escape the PNW for a little bit and to challenge every aspect of myself; Physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually.

6 months, 6 continents, many more countries, and countless memories.
2017 is going to be defined by my world trip, solo backpacking from South America to Europe to Iceland, Africa, the Middle East and Oceania and Asia. I've taken some time to think about what I want to do in life, why I am in college, why I am paying thousands for a degree and what this means to me. I realized, I don't know. I know WHAT I want to do, but do I know who I am or why getting a degree is the route I need to take. Since I was three I have been in school every year. I was in pre-school, Kindergarten and had 5 years of lower school; followed by 3 years of middle school; then 4 more of high school and all of that time, especially high school, was spent working hard and getting "good" grades so I could get into a good school for University. Now here I am a second-year student at the University of British Colombia and I would like to call some BS on the education system.

Why do we spend so many thousands of dollars and years of mental stress to work students as hard as they can, so they struggle to get the grades they feel they need to be accepted into MORE school. Are professors attempting to make students feel worthless and stressed and exhausted or are those simply the benefits we get from attempting to hold a full term of classes and working and somehow maintaining a social life. First you have high school then college and university, then you've got the opportunity to get a masters then you've got the to figure out a PHD or another masters. Then after spending all of your life in education they throw you to the curb to figure out the rest of life. And when do you get to do what you want, without the fear of missing out on what someone else is doing or on some assignment, or stressing about how to pay for rent and bills, I don't know.

Who told us we need a college degree? Society, our teachers, CEO's, I dont know, but I also know that a college degree is not a measurement of ability? Why do put ourselves on this track that never seems to end, without giving ourselves breathing space to explore? No mom and dad this is not me saying I am dropping out, this is me questioning the worthiness of all the money you have paid in my tuition and taking the time to be sure I am spending all these years headed in the right direction. Is this what I want to do forever and is this the way to get there?

And so, my solution? To leave and to travel. Starting in January, I am headed by myself to first Chile, a second home, and then from there, everywhere, to see what else is out there in the world. I want to hike and to dance and eat while listening to every language. I want to smell spices that I've never tried, and make friendships that only come from traveling together.

I also can't wait to have other friends visit throughout my trip, and reconnect with people all over the globe. I do not have a daily plan, however, I have booked the intercontinental flights. It is my goal to find a way to and from one airport to the next somewhere else in the world and the means for how that is happening are yet to be determined. I will be updating this blog as I plan and travel whenever I find wifi, with photos and stories and making sure to alert you all that I am still alive and doing well.