Annatopia

Luxury, bugs, chicken feet and choice...

As part of my preparations for traveling to Cambodia, I paid a visit to the travel doctor.

His office is not the standard, sterile, cramped space one is accustomed to in walk-in clinics. His office has "travel artifacts", photos and collected pieces from exotic places. This makes me feel like I'm in good hands...

Looking over my travel itinerary, the doctor asked: "So what makes you so lucky that you can leave everything behind for 3 months and travel to exotic places?". The question struck me as odd, because of all the things that I have felt about this trip so far, "lucky" is not one of them. Without giving it much thought, I responded "I choose to go".

I choose to go because I am curious. Because I am not content with only living a surreal existence through tv, movies and books. Because I have the ability to help and contribute and I want to participate in this way. Because I want to see the world through a filter other than then the one I know. Because as culture shocked as I may be due to the differences, I am more shocked and inspired by the similarities shared by humans. Because what I know is neither the end nor the beginning...

The visit with the travel doctor became a reality check - one of many I'm sure - as I looked over the list of some 15 injections and pills I will need to take for immunization against various bugs, parasites and the whole bit - some of which would leave one permanently "damaged". Towards the end of the visit, reviewing this ridiculous list, he looked up again, smiled and asked: "Do you still want to go?". Now nervous, my romanticism blunted by the real risks of 3rd world travel, "yes" was the only answer that sat well with my internal checking system.

Leaving the doctor's office, I was struck by the freedom I live in. The luxury of being able to leave "my life", being able to afford to leave my job for an extended period to work for free...suddenly Dr. B's comment that "volunteering is a luxury" made absolute sense to me.

I don't know what to expect. I don't know how to fully prepare. I know that the spiders and scorpions won't bug me much, but the chicken feet will. All I know is what I'm leaving and who I am leaving...the rest...well, if anything, expect change.

posted by Annatopia @ 3:34 PM