My dear friends,
"How much DEET do you want in
your bug spray?"
"What are my options?"
"30% or 98%."
"Jesus Christ! Let's go
with 30% - no need for overkill."
It's an odd conversation to have, no
doubt about it. What's even stranger is that bug repellant containing 98%
DEET even exists (and is illegal in Canada, apparently.) From the
Wikipedia search I just did, I also learned that DEET was created to assist in
jungle warfare, and is an affective solvent, should you need to remove any
paint or varnish.
But the point of this post is not to
share the wonders of DEET; rather, it is to briefly touch upon the oddness of
travel and the ways in which people prepare for it. I know some people
who just throw a bunch of shit in a bag, and they're ready to go. One of
my dearest friends once packed for a trip to Paris in 7 minutes and all she
forgot was her watch. Power to her! Some folk, however, approach it
very differently; they need all new clothes, gadgets, and maybe even a
personalized airline seat cover. Yes, they do exist. Other bizarre
travel accessories include a solar powered cooling helmet, an 80,000 volt
electric suitcase, a portable washing machine, and a laptop USB fragrance
burner. Oh yes, and the "Pillowig", featured on the right.
I'm more a mix of the two.
Because I will admit, I did acquire a few new things to accompany me to the
lovely country of Costa Rica, and I did get a fabulous new backpack
(Osprey + crimson + carry-on = sexy time). The thing I've been the
most excited about, though, is my research! Thanks to Lonely Planet, I now know
all about Costa Rica: like how they abolished their army in 1948, and how this
one country (about the size of NH and VT put together) has more biodiversity
than the United States and Europe put together. If that
doesn't blow your mind I'm not sure what will. I've googled bus
schedules, done more images searches than I care to admit to, and plagued the
administrators at the school I'll be attending for information. My guide
is well-thumbed as I search for exactly the "right" places to go
during my three weekends there, with the "right" hostels and the
"right" activities highlighted. So I guess rather than hoarding
things I am hoarding knowledge, in the hopes that I will have a
more enriching experience and become a linguistic beast in Spanish.
But spending my time with my nose
buried in a travel guide is a detractor from my last little bit of time home
with my love. It also takes part of the spontaneity out of travel, and it
also doesn't do much to calm my nerves. It's going to be a little scary,
living with an anonymous host family, and really finding out just how good (or
bad) my Spanish is... But a little bit of fear never hurt anyone.
It's like bungee jumping, and we all know how fun that is!
I must relax, and trust in the fact
that I will see my love in only a month - and I must make it a point to love
every moment of my Costa Rican adventure. It doesn't matter if my hostel
isn't perfect (whatever that means), or if I don't get to do every single thing
on my list, or if I even struggle a wee bit with my Spanish. The thing to
remember, I suppose, is that it's not the percentage of DEET in your bug spray
- it's the quality and kick-ass-ishness of your adventures that matters.
Wise counsel for you and me. Happy adventuring!
*Olivia
“Half
the fun of the travel is the aesthetic of lostness.” - Ray Bradbury
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