Cincinnati: What have we learned?

I always like to process these experiences by trying to figure out what I have learned from them. With no further ado, here are my lessons from South Africa:

I. Personal Lessons

A. Listen to your body. It probably knows what you should or shouldn't be doing.

B. Push yourself. "If you know your limits, you will never surpass them." You're more likely to accomplish amazing things if you push yourself as far as you can go and beyond.

C. I'm awesome. Oh wait, I knew that one before this trip.

D. There is always another way--when one door closes, another opens.

E. If not, why not? (Also, if so, why so?)

F. Go with the flow. Most of the awesome things in my life have been the consequence of spur-of-the-moment decisions and a willingness to go off the beaten path.

II. Work Lessons

A. Dealing with management is an art. It requires a great amount of patience and social skill, but is essential to success in your career. Practice makes perfect, I hope?

B. That said, you have to ask for what you want. And if it's important enough to you, fight for it. No one is going to hand you success on a silver platter, and you have to find a balance between what your bosses want and what you want.

C. Let your work speak for itself.

III. Travel Lessons

A. The world is not as scary as you think it is (most of the time). Don't let fear or uncertainty stop you from traveling! (Unless that fear is substantiated by something like a civil war in the country you want to visit. Then don't go, stupid.)

B. Travelling is a surefire way to achieve self-growth. That doesn't mean you'll like it, but change is good for you. Challenge yourself.

C. Bad things happen, unfortunately. There is no advice that will keep you from being mugged, overcharged, losing your luggage, getting lost, etc., 100% of the time. Accept it and move on.

D. Common sense and intuition are great ways to avoid 90% of the bad things that happen to people in foreign countries. If you feel like you're in danger or that something isn't right, get out of there. It could be nothing, but you also could have just prevented catastrophe. Nothing is more important than your own well-being--is that something worth gambling with? Here are some other tips in the same vein:

      1. Safety is a state of mind. Always be aware of your surroundings and where you're going.

      2. If you're lost, don't act like it. Walk with purpose--standing around looking confused is a great way to get herded somewhere you don't want to go, where you may be mugged or worse.

      3. Don't be afraid to be rude. People are obsessed with politeness these days, and I'm not saying it's not appropriate most of the time. But if someone is following you, harassing you or pressuring you, tell them to fuck off. Sometimes, you have to be a jerk to get people to leave you alone.

      4. DO NOT EVER get into an unmarked cab. Anywhere. Period.

       5. Try not to carry your passport on you if you can avoid it. Most things are replaceable, but it's a HUGE hassle to get around without a passport in a foreign country.

E. Packing: This list has everything essential for international travel.
    1. Wallet (credit cards, money, ID)
    2. Passport!!!
    3. Phone

Other than that, just throw shit in a bag and it will work out. Trust me.

Well guys, this is the end. With over 2000 views and 50 posts, the past year has been amazing. As far as I know, I'm not going abroad again anytime soon, but if I do, anyone following this blog will know. Thank you for all the amazing support!!! I hope to see you on my next adventure...