Luck vs. Fortune
You know, I think it finally hit me yesterday that I’m going to Thailand, a developing country, tomorrow. I took out the Frommer’s guide and the language book I bought and I started to think about how, as much as I want this, I’m not prepared for a trip like this at all. Not only do I know next to nothing about the country, the bug repellant I searched the supermarket for doesn’t have DEET in it. The label said “tropical strength” on it though so hopefully I won’t come back looking like a giant zit.
I’m jealous of spontaneous travelers, people who are able to jump from country to country at the drop of a hat. Me? I’m sitting here on my bank’s security website trying to figure out how to ensure I’ll be able to use my Visa card in Asia. Actually, I booked this trip through a travel agent so it’s been relatively painless. Still, there are always things to do before going anywhere.
I probably won’t have much internet access while I’m riding my elephant through the hills of Northern Thailand so expect some seriously long entries when I get back. As far as expectations go, I’m expecting to be completely, well, surprised. I understand Bangkok is fairly westernized but that’s about it. Thailand is one of the more popular tourist destinations in Southeast Asia and the country even has a special police for its non-Thai speaking visitors. As much as I’ve loved being in Australia these past (almost) two months, these next two weeks will be a different kind of adventure. I just hope I can find my way out of Don Muang airport tomorrow...
A little bit about today though... I had a great day today riding the ferry across Sydney Harbour with one of my housemates to the Taronga Zoo. Built on a hill across the water from the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, we rode a sky tram to the zoo’s entrance. Topped off later by two trips to the supermarket and a delicious Mexican dinner at my friends’ apartment, my last day in Australia for the month could not have been better. I spent the ten minute or so trip across the Harbour just looking out across the city. The weather was perfect, the water a beautiful blue, and, for the first time probably since I’ve been here, the past year or so hit me like a ton of bricks.
With crisp Australian air in my lungs and a fantastic trip coming up soon, it got me thinking about how lucky I really am. Then, I started to reconsider that. Am I really lucky? Fortunate? Definitely. It goes without say that my parents have worked hard to give me the life I live and I’ve worked too. I’ve saved money, worked hard in school, and planned meticulously so I could ride across Sydney Harbour today and fly off to Bangkok tomorrow. Maybe I’m naïve, but I’m a huge believer in priorities. I knew what I wanted and I’m making it happen. I couldn’t help but feel satisfied today, watching the giraffes at Taronga with the incredible Sydney skyline in the background.
In my interview with Brett Mason (which you’ll see in Episode 3!), this 21 year old news anchor told me he cringes when people say how lucky he is to be so young and successful. I understand that now. I think luck implies chance was a greater factor in getting to this particular point in my life than it actually was and understates how much effort I put into, well, everything. I’m fortunate in that circumstances have smiled on me: I have parents, family, and friends who support me and encourage me to take advantage of every opportunity. I don’t know. Maybe I’m wrong but I see real difference between those two terms. To attribute all of my good fortune to luck just doesn’t feel right and I see everything I’m doing now more as the culmination of motivation, not luck. What do you think?
Anyway, I want to sign off just by thanking all of the people who have been e-mailing me and posting comments on my blog. Michelle Brito, your idea was delicious. Oporto’s is everywhere here. (Chances are, if you’re looking at a 7-11 and a Hungry Jacks on a Sydney street, there can’t be an Oporto’s far away.) There’s one right down the road from here at the Mac Centre and I will absolutely take up your suggestion when I get back. For everyone who’s written, I’ll do the best I can to respond but if I miss yours, please know that I appreciate your input and I hope you’ll keep it coming!
Dee-o pop gun mai! (a.k.a. See you later!)
Jason
P.S.
Seppo: septic tank, rhyming slang for yank, an american person
would of been a good palace if it wasn't full of seppo wankers
Vegemite: Delicious Australian spread, made from used brewer's yeast. Non-Australians tend to give descriptions of it similar to 'tastes like a mixture of salt and battery acid'. This is because they are wimps, and need to drink more beer, eat more pies, and of course, eat more Vegemite. (These aren’t my definitions, I swear.)
|
