Remote Year

On June 1st, I’m leaving the country for a year. The plan is to spend one month in twelve different cities across the world. The trip includes 75 others and is organized by Remote Year. Here’s where we’ll be from June 2015 - May 2016:

• Prague, Czech Republic (Jun)
• Ljubljana, Slovenia (Jul)
• Cavtat, Croatia (Aug)
• Istanbul, Turkey (Sep)
• Penang, Malaysia (Oct)
• Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand (Nov)
• Hanoi, Vietnam (Dec)
• Kyoto, Japan (Jan)
• Buenos Aires, Argentina (Feb)
• Montevideo, Uruguay (Mar)
• Santiago, Chile (Apr)
• Lima, Peru (May)

When I describe my trip to friends, many respond initially out of fear, while others are able to respond with joy.

Fear:

• “How do you think this will affect your career?”
• “Do you have travel insurance?”
• “Make sure to not drink the water.”

Joy:

• “This is the best decision of your life.”
• “I’m so excited for you.”
• “Have all the fun in the world. This is the right thing to do.”

I get it. I’m one of those people who watches a movie and worries about what terrible thing will happen next. When Reese Witherspoon was gently petting a horse in Wild, I wasn’t appreciating the connection she was feeling towards her horse-loving mom. Instead, I was scared that the horse might snap and kick her.