embracing fear

On the train from Valencia back to Barcelona today, I met a man.

A man from Orange County, California.

He had been laid off, so he decided to take the opportunity to do something he had always dreamed of doing - living and traveling in Europe. He made Valencia his home base - learning Spanish and making new friends. He also made his way all over Europe - on planes, trains, cars, bicycles, and foot. He would make random stops in small towns never mentioned in travel guides. That's how he met this Scot.

He didn't remember the name of this young man, nor do I that of my storyteller. Our young Scot decided to make the same trip - to spends months in Europe. But there was one important difference - he did so without a single shilling. He hitchhiked everywhere and made friends every stop along the way to ensure survival. "What else could you possibly fear after that," said the man from Orange County.

In some ways this trip of mine is also some form of confronting my fears - fear of the inability to communicate with people, fear of being ignored, fear of rejection, fear of humid weather. I can't say that I have or will overcome all of them...

That's all... What? Were you expecting something profound after that sentence?