What's In a Name?

So. Here it is...my blog!

I'm not really sure if there's a proper way to write these things....in all honesty, blogs kind of scare me. But, I do like the idea of tracking my journey and having others follow along with me. I've never been one for keeping a journal, I think I had 10 entries spanning over 7 years in my last one. Let's hope I have more success with this! Perhaps having people read the blog (or not...) will force me to be more accountable to updating it? Time will tell!

Ok. Enough of that.

So. I am off to the airport in six hours. I should be in bed...but I've always believed sleep is over-rated. There's a billion thoughts floating around in my head at the moment. As for what I'm feeling, here are a few words to describe: tired, relieved, stressed, apprehensive, hopeful, worried, excited. I'm sure there are a thousand other things I'm feeling but as my vocabulary is very limited, you're just going to have to make them up yourself.

For those of you who have no idea what's going on, as of today, I have started my Canada World Youth trip! Together with a group of Canadian and South African women, I will be participating in an exchange between Camrose, Alberta and Khayelitsha, South Africa. The focus of the trip is to get involved in community and development with emphasis on Health and Gender. I spend the first three months in Camrose, and the following three months in Khayelitsha. The projects we're to be involved are wide ranging and depend on the needs of the community...obviously these will differ between the two countries. Honestly, I have no idea what to expect. I won't write anymore about the program...I guess you'll find out more about it as I go!

You may be wondering about the name of this blog: 'The Lingering Nomad'. Well, you may not be...but tough, I'm gonna explain the significance behind it anyways. Maybe significance is the wrong word...but, I feel as though if there were two words to describe me, 'lingering' and 'nomad' would do quite well.
I am a restless soul. I always have been, and (I hope) always will be. I can't stay in any one place for an extended period of time. When I think I've gotten settled in and am perfectly content, I have the desire to up and move. There is so much to see in the world, and the thought that I am not living to my fullest potential by going out to see it, makes me a little anxious. Also, for the past few years, I have felt like I am not quite home...and so I wander. Hence 'nomad'.

As for 'lingering'. We've all heard the phrase 'home is where the heart is'. Though I am restless, all that I love, isn't. I live a very blessed life here. I adore my family, I have the greatest and most loyal friends, and life is moving (for the most part) very smoothly. My heart is here...and it's hard to leave it behind. It's always when the restlessness kicks in and I've made the decision to move on that I start feeling the hesitation and, even, regret. I guess you could call me the reluctant nomad. I don't think there's anything wrong with lingering though. You're only lingering for as long as is needed...when it's time to keep going, you keep going.

And so I keep going.

You know? I can see the appeal for writing these things. I feel as though I've been talking to a close friend for the past half hour. I've always been a better listener than talker, so this was a welcome change of pace! Thanks for listening, internet.

I would say this is long enough no? I've gotta ease into these things slowly....that and I should probably get a couple hours of sleep....

Oh, one last thing! For each entry I make, I must have a song recommendation as well! And so, my suggestion for the day is:
Death Cab for Cutie: 'Transatlanticism'
I've been listening to it on repeat while writing this. Seemed very fitting.

Check out this fan video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CeZhdNsIDQ


Good night everyone!