For reals, this amateur dabbler of travel blogging is coming out of retirement!
Nearly 12 years ago, I wrote my last blog entry as I wrapped up Peace Corps service and left Albania, returning to my home in the U.S. At the time, I assumed "that's it," Same Shqip, Different Day had served its purpose. How could I have known a day would come when another international adventure would present itself and the SAME blog title would apply?!
As of January 2, 2025, I'll be embarking on the MV Odessey, a cruise ship that serves as a floating university for Semester at Sea. And for the next four months, the WORLD is our campus.
And look at that - Same Shqip, Different Day works perfectly. Well, except for that pesky Albanian Q*, but I'm going for it! Now I know that some of you are sticklers for accurate spelling. And for you all, I offer a few points of consideration:
- Its MY damn blog and I can take any liberties I want.
- In my Facilitator experience, I've learned the rule/request of SDK when scribing responses from multiple participants in real time: Spelling Don't Kount.
- I couldn't actually figure out HOW to update the formal blog on the back end and gave up after an extensive 90-120 seconds, so here we are. Ship/Shqip. PoTAYto/PoTOToh.
"But how did you GET this GIG?!" asked in dismay and disbelief...
I get it. I'm still pretty baffled myself.
I have no experience in higher education and nautical know-how comes solely from watching The Love Boat in the early 80's.
My role on the ship is that of a Care Companion, essentially a bonus adult/auntie, for the kids of the Dean of Student Life.
Once again, no Nanny experience. No children of my own. And the last time I had a legit, paying babysitting gig, Color Me Badd and C+C Music Factory were topping the Billboard charts.
As I said, BAFFLED. But, here's the thing...
There is nothing greater than the power of COMMUNITY.
Over the past several years, I've participated in personal and professional development through group coaching and communities of practice. Between Dr. Kathy Obear's Year of Transformation program and Dr. Alysondra Duke's The Brink Academy, I've met and built community with some of the most amazing humans on the planet.
These humans (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE) have irrevocably changed my life.
They've inspired my leaps of faith.
They've cheered and championed my successes.
They've shown up to draw me out of my darkest moments.
One might consider them Life-preservers.
(yep, Imma be playing up the nautical puns, and this one is 1000% sincere.)
On the daily, I'm overwhelmed with gratitude for these folks - and the many life-preserving family and friends who've buoyed my path to this moment. I feel so incredibly lucky that we each made decisions that placed us in each other's worlds. What's more... I know they feel this same way about me.
So when one of these amazing humans (what's up, Amy Newcomb??) sent me a text...
"I have an idea I want to float by you. Its a little crazy..."
I knew something BIG was in the works.
My response: "Whatever it is, I'm IN."
Fast-forward 7 months and I'm sitting here in a Bangkok hotel, sharing this story with you and prepping to board a ship that will take me and 700+ other passengers (university students, staculty, and life-long learners) to 11 port cities in 10 countries across Southeast Asia, Africa and Europe.
And it will be my high honor to bring you along for it all!
Peace, Love and Life-Preservers
P.S. Who's gonna shout out the other un-named 90's artist who got a nod in this post???
*Te dua that pesky Albanian Q, even if I never truly mastered the pronunciation. And te dua, Vjollca for never giving up on me in spite of it!
