Preparation neurosis

So far, I haven't done that much. I got my vaccinations, added extra visa pages to my passport and got my malaria meds. My doctor and I decided that I should take Malarone since I'll be going in and out of malaria zones often and since it'll work against all the various malaria strains, I only have to take that one type of pill. Its a daily pill, which adds a bit more of an annoyance, but its supposed to have less side effects than the others. I'll be glad for them when I'm not getting strange vivid dreams or crippling nausea. For my vaccinations, I got vaccinated for yellow fever, Hep A and typhoid. Getting shots after all these years made me a bit queasy. I don't care what they say, they still hurt! I thought I got Hep B when I was younger but my mother confirmed that I actually did not so I'm going to the local travel clinic to get Hep B. Hopefully, the travel clinic will have more information about health issues. I have a pretty decent first aid kit (courtesy of REI, my now favorite store in the world) and my doctor gave me a prescription for some Cipro if I ever need it. There are some international organizations of doctors or medical professionals that I can join for a small fee, which may be worth it but I have to research it a bit more.

I also still have to get travel insurance. This is a bit harder since I've never bought insurance on my own. Its hard to tell which companies are the most reputable and what type of coverage I need. Since I'm taking a few expensive electronic items (camera, ipod), I think I want one that will cover my belongings. Also, should I get coverage for lost luggage and trip interruption? Or is med evacuation enough?

I also need to start thinking about plane tickets and my RTW ticket (actually, this is what prompted me to procrastinate on my apps and start this blog). Because I traveled so much when I was working, I've amassed a ridiculous number of miles, which will finally pay off! I'm going to use my miles for each of my South American trips, which will save me a ton. Also, since I'm traveling down to South America on separate tickets than my RTW one, I can structure in time at home for Christmas and in the spring. First of all, I would pretty bummed out if I couldn't be home for the holidays so it's very nice that I have the ability to come home. Also, with all that traveling, I think it will be nice to come home, properly clean everything and rest up before heading out again. Traveling for a year non-stop sounds very very hard. So I'm finally putting my miles to good use! The sad part is that even after all my South American trips, I will still have plenty left over.

I will have to eventually book a RTW ticket for Asia and Australia but I think I will book that when I'm home for Christmas. I'm a little apprehensive because one of my best friends just had an absolutely horrid experience with one. One of her flights got canceled but the agent never informed her. Luckily, a couple of weeks before she left (while studying for the bar at the same time), she tried to confirm all her flights and found out one of them no longer existed. Of course she flipped and went straight to her agent who kept brushing her off, telling her not to worry but didn't actually come up with any solutions. She finally had to buy her own ticket, while she was in Africa. Even though the RTW ticket agents can usually get a better deal because they buy tickets in bulk and through weird connections. So I'm not sure.

I've also been on a bit of a gear-frenzy. I need to buy a bunch of security stuff like locks and this weird wire mesh net-thing for my backpack that I can lock up so I don't have to worry about my backpack while on buses, trains or in the hostels. Its a bit hefty (2lbs!) but since I'm on my own, I want to feel secure about my belongings. Especially, since I bought a new digital camera a couple of months ago and a new 20GB color iPod. I got a Canon S2 IS and its fantastic. Great photos, easy to use and best of all, it takes AA batteries (not many outlets in the great outdoors). And of course, I had to get a color iPod so that I can store all those great pictures. Best of all, it was my birthday a few days ago so I was really able to cash in on some gear including ugly yet practical mosquito pants that's supposed to repel bugs. Especially good for malaria zones since I'll be visiting quite a few.

Well, that's probably enough for one post :). I know, I get obsessed with this stuff. Okay, back to applications. This whole year will be for naught if I can't even finish my applications!

Facing the gauntlet

So I have 6 weeks left before I head to Argentina. Its a bit off schedule but last month my doctor decided I should have a second procedure done on my knee. For those who don't know, I hurt myself in an unfortunate roller-skating incident (don’t drink and skate!) and tore my medial meniscus. I had surgery back in February but I still had some lingering knee pain, which has baffled my doctor until now. So here I am, quasi-bedridden as my knee heals up. The bad thing is that I have to delay my trip but its not like I have any hugely pressing plans like a job or anything. Also, it'll give me more time to work on my applications so I don't have to deal with apps and trying to survive in a foreign country where I don't even speak the language. So I've taken a que sera attitude towards it and I'm just happy that my knee will be in perfect working order during my travels even if it means delaying it a bit.

So how did I get here? Last I’m sure you heard, I was working like a dog in my big-time banking job, making dough and eating power lunches on Wall Street. I've worked so hard my entire life to get to this point and now I’m just going to walk away?? Yeah, basically. After two years in NY, I started to follow what everyone else in my position does and interviewed to get the next step, even bigger-time finance job. After getting rejected from my top-choice firm, I wanted to cry. I've basically gotten every job I wanted my entire life so it was eye-opening to not get something for once. And then I started to think. Why was I pushing myself so hard to get this job where I would be working for even bigger jerks, for longer hours and on things I was already bored out of my mind with? I was so driven to succeed, I never actually stopped to consider if I actually wanted it all. So I decided to move to LA and work for one more year while I figured out what I actually wanted to do. I always wanted to travel, especially since I never had the chance in college, and break free from the confines of my own life. It took me a WHOLE YEAR to convince myself that I could take time off to do basically nothing, without responsibility, a job or even a home, but I finally decided to do it! I knew I wanted to go to business school so I knew this would probably the last time I could do something like this sooooooooo here I am!

You can't even imagine how excited I am about this trip. I've lived my life pretty much by the book, limited by the boundaries that I put on myself. I'm obsessed with making plans and to-do lists - its hard for me to take on anything unless I have a step-by-step plan laid out. So this year will be good for me. I'm not doing too much planning (by my standards at least) and I'm taking off basically with a plane ticket, passport and guide book in hand. I know what countries I want to visit and when I'll be there but what I do while I'm there is completely up to me. I have some ideas from friends, other travel blogs and guide books but I'm going to let the moment take me wherever I go. I really hope that this year will be fun, exciting and most importantly, a challenging and meaningful experience in my life.

So, I’m taking an entire year off. I also wanted to spend some time doing volunteer work, hands-on, working with people and not behind a desk. Actually feel like I can make a difference in someone’s life rather than just making rich companies even richer. Maybe I could actually do something productive with my career and help those in need. Recently, I've really felt the pull towards non-profit and economic development so maybe this year will help me start a new direction in my career as well. I also wanted to work on my language skills and relearn Spanish, which I started in high school. So I decided to move to Argentina where I could take intensive language classes while also doing volunteer work. But I also wanted to travel around the world so I’m breaking up my year between living and working in Buenos Aires and traveling around. I’m spending 5 months in South America so hopefully my Spanish will be quite good by the end (maybe even, gasp, fluent??). I also want to spend time in China, Southeast Asia and Australia. I originally wanted to go everywhere but a year is just not enough time. Also, since this will be a budget trip, budget destinations are the way to go. So that Mediterranean cruise will just have to wait until next time :). This year is going to be so different from my current life so I hope I can give my life a fresh perspective. I don't want to live my life just working on my career, making money and never really experiencing things. This is my last chance to do something so wild and challenging that I'll be able to remember for a lifetime.

Well, enough with the cheese (which you all know I hate with a passion anyway). I just hope you guys enjoy the blog. This way I can keep in touch with everyone so you will know I'm still alive (kidding, Mom!) and hopefully, give you a chance to experience the trip with me.

The Year of Jane

What: A travel blog, of course!

Who: Type-A, former investment banker, neurotic over-analyzer, prada purse carrying world adventurer. I worked my butt off for the last 3 years as an investment banker, 4 years before that at an Ivy League school, and 4 years before that working to have the esteemed honor of attending such institution, not including the most horrifying internship experiences possible. Was it worth it? Well, any answer but yes will make me cry.

Why: This is going to be the Year of Jane. I've decided there's more to life than back of the envelope merger plans and 6am worknights so I'm taking a year off for a modern day Grand Tour. That's right, I packed up my pencils, gave my notice and here I am, facing unemployment for at least 3 years. I'm taking just 30lbs of stuff (shocking, I know), a camera and this blog and hopefully have the time of my life!

When: Is there any better time than the present? I have 6 weeks left but a mountain of business school applications to get through before I leave.

How: Gut wrenching soul-searching, budgets, travel books, web researching, lots of to-do lists. I know this year is supposed to teach me to take more chances and push myself outside of my boundaries but let go of my to-do lists?? I'm becoming a world adventurer, not a crazy person.

Where: Well, now there's the question! For at least until the end of the year I will be in Argentina and Patagonia but I'm still trying to work out the rest. I have a whole YEAR for godssake!!

It'll be lonely traveling on my own so if any of you feel a bit of wanderlust, I would LOVE the company! Also, please leave me comments. I will definitely be missing everyone at home.