Just the Two of Us

It is hard to believe that this semester is just flying by. Julia and I have traveled so much that I feel like we are a team on the Amazing Race. Could you imagine a dreadlock damsel duo winning the Amazing Race…It’s bound to happen soon enough.

Studying abroad can be summed up in one word: NEW. We see a new place every weekend, take a new adventure every day and find a new surprise around every corner. I must force Julia sit down and write in her journal occasionally. This is a daunting task since she wants to see it all. We want to see every nook and cranny of Prague. I want to brush against the corner of every old building and be shown-off to every local who points at Julia’s head and asks, “What’s That?” It is, without a doubt, important to see all the sights that Europe has to offer, but it might be equally as important for Julia to reflect on the experience.

I’ve watched Julia change throughout the semester, and the main thing that she has gained is independence. It’s great how often just Julia and I hangout without another human around. We go out to eat together, go to museums together and walk everywhere together. Did I say we walk everywhere together? Wow, so much walking! Thank god Julia’s dragging me along because if I had legs, I don’t think I could keep up. We don’t mind being alone, just us two. It is amazing how frequently I have asked Julia, “What do you want to do?” without considering a million different opinions or expectations of others.

I know you’re probably thinking how selfish this all sounds, but isn’t this the only time in her life that she is allowed to be a little bit selfish? She is past the time in her life when she permanently lives at home and though she (of course) abides by those deeply rooted morals instilled in her by her parents, she doesn’t have to answer to them (even though she FaceTimes them every-other-day). It is also before the time in her life when society demands she become a real person with a real job and real responsibilities; maybe eventually settling down and popping out some rugrats that she will have to put before her always. Right now, she is living for her. Asking what she truly wants to do… and doing it. Is there any truer form of freedom?

People of London

Long before I was ever dreaded; months before I watched Julia realize they served free, legal wine on British Airways; and years before the cold, dry air of Prague was numbed by the beauty of the city; I listened to plenty of people preach to Julia about all things dangerous. “There’s a lot of scary people out there that will rip you off” was a common warning along with copious amounts of “Taken” references. I’m not going to lie, it was a little intimidating. After all, I’m only one dreadlock in a sea of hair follicles. It’s tough out here for a tiny man like me. 

Through all the warnings, Julia excitedly stepped off the plane in London. We made it; but I was just relieved that we were alive. Minding all the scare tactics, Julia held her purse so close it almost molded to her body. As she walked the streets of London, I did what any faithful dreadlock would do and held watch for the predators that seemed inevitable. As I looked around, I saw something very different. I saw people in love, people in awe, and people showing genuine acts of kindness. Sure, there were a couple creeps begging for money to buy a beer at the pub, but at least they were honest! 

The highlight of the quick two days in London was when Julia spotted a man sitting on the cold street surrounded by a mountain of rings. He didn’t look up. He was busy turning wire and beads into beautiful handmade rings that he added to the pile. He faced the concrete with his beanie hung low and a modest sign lay at his feet. “FREE RINGS. Why Free? Because it will make everyone happy!” Julia watched in awe at the kind man and the crowd that grabbed at rings like savages. He sat in the middle of the chaos making a big difference in such a small way. 

If everyone worked to make people a little bit happier, in my opinion, the  world would be a much better place; but I am just a simple dreadlock, what do I know about humanity and world peace? The only thing I can say for sure is that there are good people everywhere. Listening to years of warnings about going abroad made Julia and I suspicious of everything that moved. It is good to know that there are people everywhere that will do the right thing and try to make the world a little bit brighter. So, whether we were watching a couple fall in love on the tube, watching a little boy fearlessly face a dinosaur at the Natural History Museum, or watching a man give away his livelihood to make someone’s day; the people of London are good and not everyone is trying to pillage you. 

All over the world there are people who genuinely mean well—so go find them!

Until next time,

Carlos

Let Me Introduce Myself

Hi I’m Carlos, a passionate, adventurous dreadlock with dreams to travel the world and I'm dragging my friend Julia with me! Julia plays volleyball at Saint Michael's College and double-majors in Media Studies, Journalism, Digital Arts and Environmental Science. She is a stand-up comedian and enjoys juggling in her spare time, but like I said, she's just along for the ride. We are headed to Prague, Czech Republic where I can freely flap in the wind as Julia explores the beautiful city and “Czechs” Europe off her bucket list. Can’t wait to tell you about all our wild adventures!

https://www.instagram.com/neverdreadtravel/