Every once in awhile, this PhD business gets a little overwhelming. I kinda feel like I've been doing this forever, and while I have learned some amazing things about myself, academics, and not to mention speech pathology, every once in awhile I contemplate packing it in, moving into a yurt on the Oregon coast and doing nothing but knitting, baking, and chilling at the beach. When I get to that point, I know it is time to zip up my proverbial (and actual) backpack, head home and return the next day.
But then there are those times that I remember why I decided to do all of this in the first place. Watching a student finally get a tough concept, witnessing the transformation of students from relatively clueless undergrads into budding researchers, engaging in stimulating discussions that seek to ensure all children have the skills to be good communicators. I love those moments.
But, the real reason I'm stoked to be in academia? When the stars align just right, someone will pay for you to travel.
I recently returned from an amazing little Research Summer School/Camp in The Netherlands.
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| Countryside in The Netherlands from a beautiful bike ride. (photo courtesy Sarah Katz) |
The incredibly unique experience of participating in an international student gathering of this sort deserves a whole post on its own. Let's just say that spending 5 days with 46 people from 15 different countries was definitely a Storyworthy Experience.
After my five days researching it up, because I was there and the flight was covered, I thought I might as well take advantage of my location and play. So, play I did. I "convinced" my friend Kendra to meet me in Amsterdam after the conference. What an AWEsome time was had. A few highlights...
I loved Amsterdam.
And, no, not for the reason(s) that others love Amsterdam. The sheer presence of history was astounding there. And the bikes! The cheese! So many things I love all in one glorious place. Highlight of Amsterdam? Discovering Pannenkoeken, or Dutch Pancakes. Well, more precisely, discovering that Dutch Pancakes are what was hands down my favorite breakfast for my entire growing up - something we Cabbages have always called Phankutchens. We never knew where they came from (my mom found the recipe in a random cookbook of hers). I had no less than 5 Pannenkoeken during my time in Amsterdam.
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| This represents the union of two of my favorite things on this planet: phankutchens and nutella. All was right with the world in this superb moment. |
We decided to stop in Bruges, Belgium solely because of The Chocolate Museum mentioned in one of Rick Steves' guidebooks (yes, I am a loyal fan of Rick Steves. Have been for years.). Highlight of Bruges? Two things. First off, Hotel ter Brughe. This hotel was originally built circa the 1500's and had some amazing European charm. It even smelled old, in a completely quaint way.
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| The view from our hotel room window. |
Thing two? We rented a couple of bikes and rode through/around the city to get to The Four Windmills of Bruges.
I'm not sure if it was the magic of riding a bike again without a helmet (no one has helmets there...) or riding up and down the cobblestone streets and trails. But, regardless, it hit the spot. Oh, wait. Third highlight? AMAZING chocolate. Belgian chocolate really is all that it's cracked up to be: heaven in a box.
As Kendra and I were planning our little excursion, we debated back and forth whether or not to make a stop in Paris. In the end, we decided to go for a day. Yep, we spent 24 hours in Paris. That was enough time to stop and see The Eiffel Tower, take a boat tour on the River Seine, eat crepes and shop in a Parisian market.
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| 'Twas a little windy. |
For some reason, we had more language issues here than any other place we went. A highlight? Buying perfume for my sister-in-law (who requested I find her some Parisian perfume. Yes, she wanted me, someone who has donned nary a fragrance in her entire adult life, to find and select some delightfully-smelling parfum) from this Frenchman whose name I wish I knew.
Guy? Jacques? Martin? No idea. But, he was delightful.
Last stop, London. How do I choose one single highlight from London? Would it be the postage stamp dorm room we opted to stay in (how did I not get a picture???)? the most amazing fish'n'chips I've ever had (that is not hyperbole, by the way. It really was the most amazing fish'n'chips I've ever had...)? finding Platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross Station?
strolling the shops of Covent Garden Market? people-watching in Hyde Park? exploring the history of The Tower of London?
No, you know what I think the highlight was?
At the end of a long day of walking (I'm not sure how many miles we walked that day, but we figured it was in the 6-8 mile range), we got off the train at our stop and made our way to the corner grocery market (Budgens) to pick up something to eat because we were too exhausted to find a restaurant at that hour. Something about munching on that cheese, berries, and crackers along with some Viennetta (do you remember Viennetta? That ice cream-y dessert from the 90's?? Oh, yeah, that deliciousness is still all over Europe...) as we sat on our beds chatting was surprisingly fantastic. I'm not sure it was the highlight of London, per se, but that moment perfectly encapsulated the fact that I was on an amazing trip with a very good friend doing something seemingly simple and mundane, and it was completely delightful.
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| Kendra and I. We make pretty great travel buddies. |
So, what's the point? Yes, I'm getting a PhD for several good and noble reasons (bettering the lives of people who struggle to communicate, teaching those that come after me how to speech-pathologize, blah blah blah), but this month, I discovered another reason to continue slogging my way through this PhD and beyond.
Travel, y'all. There's SO much of the world out there, and I want to see it. Who knew someone might actually pay for me to do it???
That's reason enough.
