#3 On the Nightstand

So how are we preparing for this around-the-world adventure, you ask? By reading, of course. I'm married to a librarian, aren't I?

The stack of travel guides is high. The internet links are many.

To put me in an ocean-going frame of mind, I’m reading Blue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before by Tony Horwitz. We won't be following Captain Cook's route, but to quote a friend “There’s nothing like reading about the lure of the open sea before experiencing it first-hand.” Cook’s last port will be our first, Hawaii. We hope to find the locals more hospitable.

Books on the nightstand:

Blue Latitudes by Tony Horwitz
The Burma Surgeon by Gordon S. Seagrave
Herman the Worm by George Sroda
Roadtrip Nation by Mike Marriner and Nathan Gebhard
The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman 

Got a good book to suggest for the 48 hours of train time between Indy and San Diego? Perhaps something that might help us better understand where we’re going? Post your comment below.

Yours in seeking suggestions despite the stack on the nightstand,
Kelly

#2 Me and Dr, Dr Jones, Dr Jones, Dr Jones...

Hepatitis A? Hepatitis B? Typhoid Fever? Polio? Malaria? Yup. They’re all around and according to the Center for Disease Control, you should be prepared for all of them. So, three rounds of vaccinations later, we feel somewhat protected. But what about the motion sickness? And the traveler’s diarrhea? And the sun and insects?

Dr. Jeffrey Jones of St. Francis Traveler's Health Center answered all our serious questions, our not-so-serious questions, and helped us to prepare for a voyage where we’re not sure just what might happen.

I particularly liked the gentle, shot-wielding nurse and Kelly particularly liked the world map wallpaper in the doctor’s office.

Yours in playing it medically safe,
Mary

#1 START IT UP

"Unanticipated invitations to travel are dancing lessons from God." - Kurt Vonnegut

Certainly, unanticipated invitations to travel must be dancing lessons from God. We are thrilled to be planning for our semester at sea this fall and are doing quite a bit of celebratory dancing.

Way back in 2003, Mary applied for a librarian position on Semester at Sea, an around-the-world academic voyage. She was just as interested when the phone rang 3 years later. Since that phone call last month, we've been busy with inoculations, visa applications, financial planning and travel guide reading.

We are fortunate to be offered this opportunity and we are doubly blessed in that we can make this trip together. We leave home in August and will use this blog to keep everyone up-to-date. This blog is linked to a photo map to show where in the world we are when we snap each photo.

Yours in accepting unanticipated invitations to travel,
Kelly and Mary