HELP SEND ME AROUND THE WORLD!

Think I need some more content in this "WanderLoz" blog?? Well, help me wander!

There is this awesome new website called Tripping.com that connects people all over the world through the love of travel. It's like a facebook for wanderlusts! It's a place for people to share their travel tips, stories, photos, and possibly their couches to like-minded travel buddies.

Obviously you want to check this out and start your own profile. All I'm asking from you is while doing so, please put my name (Lauren Nicholl) in the "referred by" box. By doing this, you are helping me fulfill my dream of traveling around the world. And guess what? The winner gets two tickets. ;) IMPORTANT: In order for a referral to be counted, the new member must also have a complete profile compromised of unique responses to each section in the 'Info' tab, 1 profile photo and at least 1 additional photo in the 'Photos' tab.

Thank you to anyone who reads my blog and does me this gigantic favor. I'll see you on tripping.com!

Cheers,

Loz

bittersweet

things don't always work out the way you plan

friends don't always follow through

sometimes you have too much faith in those

who have little faith in you

timing will make or break you

feelings are often unclear

love somehow fades away

to where, I have no idea

despite the bumps/forks/dead ends

you will always find a way

because you have the faith in yourself

to explore another day

sadness, pain, and disappointment:

emotions we must meet,

but help us grow and open doors

thresholding the bitter to the sweet.

Evil Twin

Ugh. I almost didn’t publish this post because it is such a contrast to its prior. Honestly, in this moment, I feel like a different person than the author of “Chais and Chats,” but that’s part of it, right? Ups an downs. And although I usually keep a level head, positive outlook, and am mindful of the big picture, it is important to vent on off-days. This is why I created this thing. So, I’m venting...

I have always been attracted to astrology. I often find myself picking up a birthday book or zodiac calendar at Barnes & Noble thinking that by reading about my sign (for the 100,000th time) will explain things to me; it will provide an answer for which I am so desperately searching. The only thing that becomes more clear to me is that I will never escape this desperation because I will always be a Gemini.

Gemini, the sign of the Twins, is dual-natured, elusive, complex and contradictory. On the one hand it produces the virtue of versatility, and on the other the vices of two-facedness and flightiness. The sign is linked with Mercury, the planet of childhood and youth, and its subjects tend to have the graces and faults of the young. When they are good, they are very attractive; when they are bad they are more the worse for being the charmers they are. Like children they are lively, and happy, if circumstances are right for them, or egocentric, imaginative and restless. They take up new activities enthusiastically but lack application, constantly needing new interests, flitting from project to project as apparently purposelessly as a butterfly dancing from flower to flower. To them life is a game which must always be full of fresh moves and continuous entertainment, free of labor and routine. Changing horses in the middle of the stream is another small quirk in the Gemini personality which makes decision making, and sticking to a decision, particularly hard for them.

I pride myself on being versatile and dynamic. Because of this I have befriended many different kinds of people. I have always enjoyed the jobs I’ve had (to an extent). Because of this, I have been able to travel the world, stay in some questionable hostels, adapt to life in a different culture, and not suffer horribly from homesickness. For this I am grateful. My endless interests and possibilities keep me going.

But some days they drag me down. I imagine it’s similar to coming down from an ecstasy high. All this energy, motivation, feelings of hope, love, and invincibility only to be struck down suddenly, leaving me feeling empty, unsure, and sad. Is there a Geminis Anonymous I can check into?

The last few days I have been doing little more than searching for jobs online and writing cover letter after cover letter. I’m good at writing cover letters because it’s easy for me to momentarily get in the mindset that THIS IS MY DREAM JOB, whether it’s an event coordinator for a high profile venue, a bartender at a spunky new wine bar, a counselor for orphans and foster families, or a media planner for a start-up ad agency (to name a few). My head is spinning. I’ve been riding on my positivity wings for a while, really believing I can do whatever I put my mind to. I just wish sometimes I could put my mind to ONE thing. This is the frustration I’m experiencing today and why this flight has come to a halt, a layover if you will.

I am so jealous of people who know exactly what they want to do. They have a plan. They take the necessary steps. Bam. Pau. They’re there. This makes me want to go back to school where things are planned and orderly; I know how many units I need and how to achieve them. One small problem: I don’t know what I want to study. Again, too many interests! Is there a degree that will give me the knowledge and skills for any and every career? If there is, sign me up! That and GA will have me set. I guess life is the closest thing to such a wildly comprehensive dream program and I’m already signed up for that so I guess it’ll have to do... Ugh.

Chais and Chats

I made it. I am officially in San Francisco and although I've been here a million times, it's different this time because I am here for me. I am not here to visit someone. I am not here for a vacation. I have no return ticket.

I can't help but flash back to my first day in Sydney all those months ago. I have no idea what I'm going to do here. I don't know where I'll be living. I wonder what kind of people I'm going to meet, who will change my life in some way.

I'm very content with my first day so far. Although notably colder than Sydney, San Diego, and Honolulu, it is not raining. I'm properly layered and am currently sitting in the sunny and charming Caffe Capriccio. I am so happy to have found a place that has a great soy chai latte and GOOD coffee. I'm kind of a coffee snob and coming back to the states really had me dreading the change in coffee culture. I think I'll be okay. SF's got my back.

First impressions are pretty entertaining. I'm surrounded by typical San Franciscans. The couple to my left has been having delicate conversations about their relationship. Both are wearing glasses and are attractive in a plain, subtle way. They started off holding hands in the middle of the table and speaking quietly. The woman looked sad and contemplative. The mood seemed to lighten when their food came (mental note: I must get the granola next time!). I was able to hear them discussing their sleeping habits. The man is doing most of the talking. He's telling her how much he likes sleeping next to her. The couple to my right is not as solemn, but they also seem to be having a serious discussion. The woman was reading the man an excerpt from an artsy looking book when they sat down and I've overheard parts of a philosophical conversation sprinkled with words like "zen" and "energy." They're talking about all kinds of things- family dynamics, attraction and compatibility, high school, feelings of success; every topic decorated with colorful metaphors and deep reflection and analysis. Love it.

Oh San Francisco, how much I will learn from you. The fun we will have. I'm looking forward to our time together.

"Swallow Sisters"

For you, C.M. You say I inspire you, and I want you to know the feeling is very mutual (and tell you in a way you'd appreciate). Love you :)

Swallow Sisters :)

Can you believe how we came to be?

Absolute strangers on Regent Street.

It soon became clear we were meant to be mates

Barefoot stroll to 7/11- the first of many dates.

Your zest for life and deep love for food

Cemented our bond and kept up my mood.

As a newbie to Aus, it was hard not to feel

Far away at times. It seemed quite unreal.

But you made me feel so right in place

Not only in Sydney, but in myself, in my space.

From nights in with tarot cards,

sharing magnums, apples/the flu,

facebook chatting side-by-side,

and balling through P.S. I Love You,

To arvos at the Courty

for our jug of Coopers Green,

Red wine on King Street having a laugh,

rating men, and checking the scene.

From kicking ass in Matt’s combat class

and edamame at Sushi Train,

To crazy benders in the X

and the hangovers we sustained.

I will never forget our road trip,

it was off its tit!

With our “cold coca-cola and ice”

and Buulleeeetttproof bit.

Oh Cassa darling, I miss you so.

Your never-ending song, your wit, your glow.

That cackle of a laugh while you watch 30 Rock,

Arj Barker’s “water” and Seinfeld’s “Twist Off!!”

Thank you for being my Thanksgiving,

my Christmas, and New Year.

Thank you for always sharing

your family, food, and gear.

We no longer chat side-by-side,

But you’re with me every day.

Right next to my heart, you are my wings.

And like swallows, we’ll find our way...

Pilot: Up in the Air

Here I am again. Thirty thousand feet above sea level. Traveling from one place to the next. Processing what just happened and anticipating what’s to come. It is here, where many fellow travelers are feeling cramped, uneasy, possibly ill, that I feel most comfortable. Floating. Flying. Free. Amongst the clouds and my thoughts...

I’ve always considered myself a planner. So much so, that I thought it was something I wanted to pursue as a career (got my event planning certification after graduation). However, I’m also an uncontrollable daydreamer. I’m constantly adding to my mental life to-do list that I’ve had to let go of this planning instinct a bit to prevent insanity. I’ve welcomed some spontaneity into my life within the past year and a half and because of it, have gained a sense of empowerment and greater sense of self. Not only do I give up the possibility of not sticking to a plan thus resulting in disappointment, but it turns out that when I leave things up in the air, I usually end up doing things I want to do. My biggest example is the year I just spent in Australia. I had always dreamed of living abroad, on my own, and often thought of Sydney as a desirable spot to do so. Didn’t exactly know why, but wanted to find out. So, without much planning at all, I took off last New Year’s Eve for life down under. On a smaller scale, I had always wanted to try bartending at some point in my life. Thought it would be a fun job. It just so happened that this was my “profession” while living in Oz. Two things I got to check off the never-ending to-do list in my head. Two things I always pictured myself doing, but thought it would remain just that, a picture, a non-reality.

Seeing as my year abroad was the best in my life thus far, I don’t like saying that I have regrets. However, I do wish I had documented it better. I started a journal and a blog down under, but like many of my projects, I didn’t commit properly. Since I never know what the future holds, I want to make sure I take hold of the present. Therefore, I’m going to keep it up this time.

Here I am again. In transition. In-between. Limbo. I knew that coming back to the states when I wasn’t quite ready to do so was going to be difficult. To be clear, I am not on my flight back from Australia. I’ve been home (San Diego) for two months now, trying to figure out my next step. And again, I’ve decided to let go of “the plan” mentality at this time and leave things up in the air. Sitting still trying to figure something out does not work for me. My thoughts simply go around in circles. Another thing I’ve always wanted to do is live in San Francisco. I’ve envisioned it as a future home, but unlike Sydney, it’s a home I was certain about (not just a picture). It was a plan. Ironic, since I haven’t gotten there yet. But I’m on my way. Literally. Hawaiian Airlines flight 12 due to arrive at the SFO airport at 9:25pm. I had to take a slight detour to Honolulu. In addition to adjusting to life back home, I recently lost a family member. My grandfather passed away two days before I was scheduled to start this new chapter in San Francisco. I’m fortunate to not have experienced a death in my family until now. However, the novelty of this feeling is also an adjustment filled with sadness, confusion, and unavoidable loss. I find the good thing about confusion is that with it, comes clarity, or at least perspective. Amidst the jumbled emotions of this past week, I have been reminded of what makes me happy. Amidst the crying, there was so much laughter. Amidst the great loss and the obvious void in all of our lives, we gained friends and family we didn’t know before. Death reminds us of life. It makes us forget about the things that don’t matter and focus on the things that do.

I may never know what I want to be when I grow up. I’m beginning to think that there isn’t a dream job out there for me, but many (day)dream jobs. I’m perfectly okay with this, but I want to make sure I keep checking things off my list and not just have them floating around on an intangible wish list or possibly floating away altogether. I may be risking a lot more confusion for a little clarity, but here it goes...

I dedicate this entry to Raymond Hiroshi Ohara, a man who lived his life to its fullest, who did what he loved to do, and who was singing every day until the day he died. May you rest in peace Papa and sing amongst the angels up in the air.