Travel Studies Seminar: Class Presentations

"Most travel is best in the anticipation,
or the remembering;
the reality has more to do with lost luggage."
—Regina Nadelson

In our travels we've visited several faraway emergency rooms. We once had ants in our bed, and another time I had a miscarriage. Dee left his wallet in a food-court; our hip-hop taxi driver and his girlfriend (Foxy) joined our family (uninvited) for a visit to the San Francisco Zoo; we had food poisoning in Amsterdam and spent a cozy night huddled together over an unappealing and ancient toilet . . . these are the realities of travel. They make for good stories, but sometimes other people's stories are better.

Our first class presentation today is from Emilie at Mickelmonkeys about her disastrous honeymoon.

Art by Ronald Anderson

"Unfortunately, we were plagued with several hiccups right from the start. On the day before we flew out to my parents house, we sat down on the grass waiting for a bus and we were bitten by little bugs. Chiggers, mites, who knows? But we were both itchy and miserable and covered in red welts the day before we got married." Click here for the whole funny story.

On Deck

Don't suggest a Caribbean cruise to Alana! She wrote:

"My ideal vacation is simply any vacation not afloat at sea, imprisoned with slobivius americanus. I'm talking to you, Cruise Ship.

"Cruise ships are a virtual petri dish of communicable disease afloat at sea. At sea! Do you know what happens at sea? . . . Hurricanes, walls of water that swallow ships whole, sinking. Sinking! I said sinking! If I managed to return home it could be with hoof and mouth, meningitis, staphylococcus, and most certainly an exacerbated case of claustrophobia. Where do they store the buffet food? How is human waste treated, stored or expelled? Have you asked yourself these questions?

"Possibly, I could make good use of the gambling available while in international waters. Or the 24-hour-bar. And if you watch Primetime Crime, you know you can throw just about anybody overboard and get away with it. (Increase husband's policy—check.) This is as far as my exploding optimism can throw me.

"I don't like to suffer and/or die when I'm on vacation. I go away so I can come back."

Suffering was a big part of our early family vacations. Five days with four sick kids in one crowded California hotel room (two queens, a roll-a-way and a crib,) pouring rain, and a missed flight was pretty miserable. Another good story, but dismal as it happened. Other trips were better.

CMN, you had a comment:

"Here's my tip and it's worked like a charm every time . . .

"Have four basic Vacation Rules:
1 - Stay with the Parent/Adult
2 - Don't Spend a lot of Money
3 - No whining or complaining (Set a key phrase for a child to use instead -- "I need a break" is my favorite. Whenever a child uses the key phrase, be prepared to stop, listen, and outline for them a plan to remedy -- "okay, we're going to finish this activity which will take five minutes and then we're going to go sit under that tree and enjoy a rest." Also agree what the penalties will be for breaking this one...)
4 - Have fun!

"Discussing the rules several times before we leave helps each child get them in mind and plan to follow them. Then once we're traveling, all it takes is a simple reminder -- 'Rule #1!' -- and the kids react.

"Having easy and basic rules is priceless. Especially when the kids remind you of them too . . . 'Rule #2!'"

You guys have the best ideas. And I love your comments on my ideas.

Oma's suitcase

I admit it. I have an obsessive, compulsive disorder when it comes to packing. I wrote,

"I pack kits so I can unpack and pack quickly: Nightstand kit: little flashlight, tissues, lotion, chapstick. Secretary kit: Check register, calculator, pen, envelope for receipts. Recharge kit: camera and phone chargers, extra batteries, memory card. Toiletries, Make-up, the usual."

I got a comment from Wrath of Khandrea that cracked me up:

"i cannot even wrap my mind around this.

and yet . . .

i'm a teeny bit turned on by it all."

Thanks for putting up with my eccentricities! And thanks for all your contributions to our travel studies seminar.

"I haven't been everywhere,
but it's on my list."
—Susan Sonntag

Homework: Do any or all or be inspired.

~Turn on the Travel Channel and take a trip for free. (I'd suggest Rick Steves or Samantha Brown.)

~Visit Barnes and Noble. Browse the travel section, and take a few books to the cafe. Order a bagel and a hot chocolate, and daydream.

~Have you ever been sick on a trip? Write a paragraph about it. Prompt: "I thought I was going to die. I was in______"


*If you do any part of this assignment on your blog, please link it back to TravelinOma and provide proper attribution. Leave a comment here (with a link to your homework if you want to share it) and/or a link to your blog (so we can get to know you.) School Days has open enrollment so join anytime. No make-up work required! If you're new, click here for an orientation.