I leave tomorrow morning for a 34 day study abroad program in Southeast Asia. This is the longest and farthest I have every been. My blogger name "travelvirgin" explains the lack of traveling I have done overseas! The farthest I have travel prior to this wonderful journey was Puerto Vallarta, Mexico where margaritas were endless and the beach was my best friend. Needless to say I missed out of some of the wonderful things about traveling....the availability to learn and experience so much from a different country and different culture. So in the senses of travel experiences, I am a "travelvirgin."
This journey to Southeast Asia will take me to Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand. There are 8 students and 3 faculty members in the program. One faculty member, Dr. M., is a combat veteran of the Vietnam War. He served as an infantry advisor to Montagnard forces, he is also my thesis advisor. I think I am the only one in the group who has never traveled overseas.
I am hoping that by the end of this trip I will have a better understanding of the different cultures I will be experiencing. I am getting the opportunity to see so much history in these country that are linked the United States and its history of wars. It is going to be a long 34 days away from A. and my family but this experience is going to be a great one for me because this is my "First Time Overseas"!
