Gliding through the soft buttery waters by Tortola (not TORTOGA), I could feel the wind on my face like blades on my seasoned skin in the British Virgin Islands. The adventure begins with sailing on a 44-48 foot catamaran. I find myself infused with the people, the food, the very different woman of this strange land, as I was stranded on a beach away from the catamaran called " Nowhere To Be." For hours, I sat on that beach next to a rock built grave while my family was scuba diving to the Wreck of the Rhoun. I hiked all across that island to the top of it, to the bottom. Then as I saw my vessel docked I made a very graceful effort to make that swim, as the latter fell into the water, I saw a hand. My father dipping Tostitos into mild Pace sauce, my oldest and middle brother telling each other their way of cooking meat is better. My mother just sitting and smiling at her grown boys arguing. I sat down with the water dripping off me like the sweat of my neck during track season. I smiled while the whole world was happening right around me. Boats flying past, party boats making noise I know all too well, the waves crashing around the cove and our boat, birds, the beer boat gliding around.
Hundreds of miles away from my current country of which I reside in at the current moment. A stranger in a strange land. Where I wasn't born, nor raised. I fed on the food of the people of these islands: lobster, crab, fish, fish, did I say fish? Strangers all around me circling me like hawks in the desert. I look both ways, up and down and even back. Then I look forward to that glistening horizon to a better future. Nay! I look to the glowing sea set horizon to everything. Isn't that beautiful? I look forward to everything travel has to offer me. You'll find me in a small town in a hut in Australia or at a fancy party on a rooftop in New York City at midnight when that ball drops.
In 4 years, I'm heading off to Milan. To all of you that reads this, please don't mistake my optimism for arrogance. Trust me I've had tons of people that told me I couldn't do the move. Well, I'd rather be crazy to dream big than to die knowing I could have done it all.
