Another month and a half of travel brings more learnings…here are the Top 10 things I learned in October and November from my travels…enjoy!

10. Everyone assumes that an American traveling outside of the US is a democrat. In a store in South Africa – one shop owner I was talking to said “Since you are traveling outside of the US, I can assume you are a liberal and from a blue state.” Wow…are we that easy to figure out??

9. Ostrich is actually quite tastey. You wouldn’t think so…but it was really good in Africa!

8. One day it hit me…finally…Look Right!!!!! This was the day that I figured out that my brain was re-trained to understand that people drive on the opposite side of the road in Africa, New Zealand and Australia! It’s very strange – but the switch in your brain does happen naturally after time. I honestly can’t remember what side we drive on anymore or where the steering wheel is supposed to be positioned in a car in the US!!

7. I can survive on Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches if I have to.

6. The most common (ex) professions of people doing extended world travel (like myself) is Accountant and Software Engineer. I find this rather interesting as I’m kind of both…my degree was accounting and I worked in IT. What is it about these seemingly boring, logical, professions that drive us to do these crazy things. I think it’s our creative side just trying to leap out of our skins.

5. I really should have rented Lord of the Rings BEFORE I went to New Zealand…

4. Every country has it’s weird sayings…New Zealand’s ‘Sweet As’ took the cake (or should I say pie) though.

3. My knowledge of the metric system has been re-awakened. I think it had been dormant since 5th grade! I am now forced to convert and think in Celcius, meters, and kilos. It took a while – but I think I’ve finally got it!!

2. Plastic grocery bags cost money in Africa. Of course I didn’t learn this important fact until weeks after I had been simply taking the plastic sacks and packing them full of my groceries and leaving (without paying for the sack). The amazing thing is that no one ever stopped me!

1. I have learned that I do have a creative side…and I feel it awaking a bit more every day!