This morning I “inserted” my Chinese silk duvet into the 100% cotton world map duvet cover that my brother gave me years ago. I had nearly forgotten what seeing and sleeping under a world map did for me.
World map duvet cover
For many years, it was the shining light at the end of the dark and narrow tunnel of my PhD, which stood for “piled higher and deeper.” I didn’t know when it would end but knew that if I didn’t finish and get that degree, all would be for naught. I would not be able to say “I got my PhD” but only say “I’ve completed the work required for a PhD.” The map kept me going. After I obtained my doctorate, I flew around the world to Houston. From there, I attended conferences in Atlanta, Boston, San Diego, Mexico, Washington, DC — I’ve lost track.
Later in the Netherlands, as a struggling musician in a cold and windy country where I didn’t speak the language well, I experienced cloudy bouts of hopelessness. Where was the conservatory education leading to? What happened to me? The world map duvet cover reminded me there was more to life than my present struggles. And I did eventually travel as a performing musician – to London, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Denmark, and even America.
So it’s timely that I take out this world map duvet cover, after several years of storage in the closet. Although I live in tropical paradise, the Hawaiian islands are also considered the most isolated land mass on earth, 5 hour flight to the nearest “mainland” USA and 7 to 8 hours to Tokyo. I can’t just jump on a plane and go away for a long weekend, unless it’s island hopping. This is not Europe. I shouldn’t complain, but I must not forget my dream.
I want to visit every country before I die.
I have a wanderlust. I cannot rest from travel. Find me a job that pays me to travel.