Around the World

21 July 2013

Have you ever wondered why people are so different? Like why there are so many languages, beliefs, motives, and ways of living that are drastically different as you travel around the globe? I was just thinking that it would be quite the experience to travel completely around the world. Without an airplane and without any idea of where your next destination will be… Now that would be quite something. Although I don’t know if it is possible with out an airplane, I have very few doubts that I could do with an airplane. As I was walking home from class the other day I saw several posters up in the window of the local travel office advertising “Flights Around the Globe”. They left from London and made stops in Africa, China, Australia, and the USA before returning back to London and the most remarkable part was that the pricing was from 700 pounds. That is only a little over $1000, and to go all the way around the world…what? Unfortunately they were closed or I would have ran in to enquire more on the offer. I know it does not really fit into my life plans at this very moment, but who isn’t to say that in a years time I will be looking for another adventure to go on. I don’t doubt that notion one bit.

I feel as if it is in my blood to travel the world and meet people who are so different than I. My father lived in Brazil for 2 years and my mother backpacked Europe for 3 months, when they were roughly my same age – 20 years old. On both sides of my family I have grandparents who have lived in and loved the world of travel. My Grandma and Grandpa Hilton have traveled all over South America, been to Europe, and even lived in Mexico for a while. My Grandma Carol has traveled all throughout Europe and Asia, as well as experienced the US with my Grandpa Brown from Alaska to New Jersey. I love spending time in their homes learning about their adventures and secretly formulating in my own mind, the next adventure I am going to take… This story is about to come to a peak now when I tell you about my Grandmother Patricia Brown (whom is now looking after me from her place above in Heaven). She was a woman of many talents and many, many interests. She passed away when I was 8 years old, so what little I know about her comes from what I have heard from my father. One of the few things I do know is that after she served her mission in Samoa, she set out on a journey around the world that lasted 9 months. That is all I know, and it kills me… My middle name was given to me in respect to her. Trisha as it is was derived from her first name Patricia. I often imagine how great of a story it would be to say I followed in my namesake’s footsteps – to the extent that I traveled around the world for nine months. Then I realized that in a way, I am doing that. By the time I leave back for the states it will have been 8 months, and I will have traveled to Europe and most definitely Asia (those are future plans you will have to wait to hear). Obviously I would love to extend those continents to South America and Australia, but that is just going to have to wait until a different trip. I hope that by then I am able to discover some more information about my Grandmother’s trip around the world. Maybe she has a journal that is yet to be found, or something that will give me more details on what she did-and ultimately what she was like when she was my age. Until then, I will keep fantasying her journey as I imagine mine to be…so that I have a lot to live up to.

Today Salma came to church with me, and for the entire three hours too! It was great to have her along as such a great friend. I was so glad to be able to answer her questions and have her answer mine as we discussed the similarities and differences between the mormon and muslim religions. It went very well, and who knows…maybe she will want to come again!