My body is a wonderland

Just thought you should be updated on what's going on with my body:

1.  The four awful shots I got on Monday gave me some sort of allergic reaction (no idea which shot did it, as they were all on the same arm).  My arm swelled up like I got bit by a giant mosquito (I can't believe I forgot to take a picture!) and it actually hurt for a couple days.  Then I got to the itching stage where I broke out in tiny bumps and couldn't scratch my arm enough (I have no self-control).  Now everything's fine (I just have really sensitive skin) , but this is why I don't do needles, people!  With all the technology they have in the world now, why can't they find a better way to distribute vaccinations?  Figure it out instead of wasting time creating robots that do the robot all day!  

2.  I started taking the Typhoid pills and I figured if anyone's going to have a bad reaction, it's going to be me.  However, I haven't felt anything so far.  So, it's 4 pills and you take 1 every other day, at the same time every time until complete.  You can't take them with any food (1 hour before eating and/or 2 hours after eating), so I just take them at 7am and then wait to eat breakfast for an hour.  The reason some people have a bad reaction is because you can't take them with food and oh yea, it's LIVE TYPHOID!  But, I've been fine, so bring it on Mary (Typhoid Mary, anyone?)!

3.  My body hurts and I'm tired.  

THE END!

In other newsworthy news, we're taking the dogs to the vet today to get all the vaccinations they will need for the next year.  We don't want to burden Ryan and Sophia with having to worry about it while we're gone (which I'm sure they would have done without a problem).  Now, it's not exactly recommended that you get dog vaccinations early, so don't get any bright ideas, but the vet said it was fine in our case.  We're also getting Kane microchipped, which I'm rather nervous about because I heard it's a huge needle.  They usually pair it with neutering, but we got him neutered somewhere else, so now he has to get the shot while awake.  I offered to pay for anesthesia, so I'm not a terrible person, but they said it's unnecessary and he'll be fine.  Well, which is it?? Is it a giant needle that's going to feel like an ax in his body or is it tiny and he'll be fine?  I'm obviously going to be in a panic until it's over.

Other than that, we're still just making the rounds and seeing people one last time.  Aaron's sister, Melissa, decided to throw a small going away party, so that's what we'll be doing tonight.  My rashy, typhoid-infested self will be drowning my itchiness in a giant beer.  Cheers!

It's getting real!

I think it's starting to finally hit me that we're leaving because I'm starting to say goodbye to people who are a big part of my life and whom I won't see for an entire year.  It's daunting and I'm sad.  In fact, I'm overwhelmingly sad.

Yesterday, I said my first goodbyes to my dear friends from work Karina and Elsa.  They got me gifts!

I got a little case to carry my phone and chargers in and a really cool, weird, fill-in-yourself book.  Thanks guys!!  I miss you already!

Then we had dinner with Lisa, John and Andrew (Aaron's mom, step-dad and younger brother, respectively).  It was nice to hang out and look at old pictures.  What? You wanna see old pictures of Aaron too?  Lucky for you, I took some pictures of the pictures for you to see.  He was actually an adorable baby.

  My photo skills are nonexistent, but isn't my boyfriend the cutest?  He even won a baby pagent!

Omg could you die??  Getting a haircut:

Even back then, he was obsessive about his hair!  Here he is as a kid:

Aww what a chunk!  And look at those teeth!  He's gonna kill me.  Oh well, might as well keep going at this point:

Andrew is on the left and Aaron on the right with their mom squished in the middle.  This picture is just the best!

Here they are a little older:

Omg they're smiling!!!!  Yup, now I'm really dead.  

Hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane (especially since it's costing me my life).  As hard as it is to say goodbye, it's definitely nice to see everyone before we go.  I'll carry those memories (and these pictures) with me around the world.

P.S.  Happy Lunar New Year to all who celebrate!  My mom is making a feast!  Fyi it's the year of the sheep.  

新年快乐

I really hope this says Happy New Year.  I copied it from my Google Translate app.  Anyway, health, wealth and happiness to all!

Travel Apps

Let's talk about apps, baby!  That was just wrong, I apologize.  Anyway, what apps are great for travelling?  There are so many out there, for literally every purpose you can imagine.  There are apps to let you know when to apply more sunscreen, apps that make a lighting schedule for you (to recover from jet-lag) and apps that play sounds of home to help you sleep (city nights, public places, household).  Let's weed through the crazy, shall we?

Here's a screenshot of some of the travel apps I've acquired thus far.  Some I haven't really used yet, but downloaded based on recommendations.  I never pay for apps, so all the apps I'm talking about are FREE!  Let's go through one by one.  Stick with me (I have lots of pictures this time) and yes, I'll go in order.

Google Translate: translates from any language to any other language.  It gives written translation, written phonetic translation and it will even say the word(s) for you out loud, if you're not too embarrassed to be an ignorant idiot.

At the top is the word I typed, and in blue is the word in my chosen language (Greek).  If I click the megaphone symbol, it will say the word out loud.  I can also copy the word or expand it, in case I need to show someone.  Pretty nifty.

XE Currency: converts currency and gives accurate exchange rates.

I have US dollars at the top and I added all our destinations.  It updates every so often, so the exchange rate is pretty precise.  Yes, it has ads, but most free apps do.

Dropbox: I can access all my pics and files from my phone.  Very handy!

Skype:  makes free calls around the globe at dirt cheap prices (or free if Skype to Skype).  Tell everyone you know to make an acct!

I just put 2 payments of $4.99 on my account through my AppleID.  Not sure if there are other ways to do it, but on my phone there were no other options.  $10 should go pretty far, so now I'm set for awhile.

WhatsApp: free texting around the globe, but both parties must have Whatsapp.  Tell all your folks to download WhatsApp too!

Yelp: Popular in the US, but did you know it's worldwide?  Awesome!  Can look up restaurants and businesses in your immediate area, with reviews and ratings from customers.

Here are all the restaurants in my area.  I can click on any one of them and get a detailed description, sometimes including pictures and menus.

World Clock:  Tells me the time anywhere in the world.  Not crucial, but kinda cool.

Especially useful if you're going to lots of different places (or if you know people in different places).  Now we'll be able to keep track of what time it is back home.

Weather Free:  tells you the weather anywhere in the world.  Can bookmark the places you check often.

As you can see, they're pretty detailed.  Nice for when we're taking weekend getaways to neighboring countries and need to know the weather conditions.  I will say the iPhone weather app works great too.

Wi-Fi Finder:  does just that, finds Wi-Fi anywhere in the world.

In green are the free Wi-Fi hot spots and in blue are the ones you have to pay for.  I'm sure this will come in handy.

Foodspotting: finds food in your area based on dishes.  You can search for any dish and also get recommendations.  What I like about it are the pictures.

Who knew there were bacon cupcakes near me??!  I need 5 of those in my mouth immediately!  This app isn't especially useful if you're looking for a certain place, it's more for whimsy.  If you're in a fun mood and want to explore and experiment with new places then this is the app for you!

TripIt: organizes all your travel plans in one place.  It basically makes an itinerary for you, so you don't have any excuse to be stressed or confused (yea, right!).  Not sure if I'll make use of this, since I'm basically  a walking TripIt, but I'll let you know if it comes in handy.

Another pointless picture, but I haven't really put too much info into it yet.  You can put your flight and hotel confirmations and it'll hold onto all the info and make a schedule for you.  If you're unorganized or have lots of people in your party (kids) then this might be for you!

Hostel World: helps you find hostels anywhere in the world.  best part, has reviews from people who've stayed there.

I searched Costa Rica and immediately found at least 7 for cheap in the area.  Now you have to be careful with hostels because some can be gross.  They are definitely not for everyone, as they usually have shared bathrooms and some even have shared rooms.  However, for the price they can't be beat.  Again, it goes back to priorities and what's on your list.  We are going to be paying for apartments year-round, so on side trips we're looking for rooms on the cheap (since we'll be paying double).  Hostels might just work for us.  I've stayed in hostels in Europe in my teenage years and loved the shared experience (although I usually knew everyone in the hostel), but I'm not quite sure how my 30-year old self will handle it.  An app worth having, just in case.

eBook Search and iBooks:  eBook search is an app with lots of free books (most of which you can read in iBooks or in Kindle).  Keep in mind, not everything is free (it's mostly older stuff, which suits me fine because I like old classics).  I'll probably still end up buying books for my book club (yup, we're still doing book club), but this will be good for leisure.

On the left are the free books from eBook Search and on the right is iBooks.  What's happening in the world when 50 Shades of Moron is on the best seller list?

Uber:  a service connecting you with a ride in minutes.  It's basically like a taxi service, but instead of cabs, it's people's cars.  They're pretty much global, so they should be in most countries we visit.  I wouldn't do this alone, but if you're with a man or in a group then go for it (I know that sounds sexist, but that's just the way it is, honey).

I haven't registered yet, so this is as far as I can get.  Might be handy at airports.

Onavo Protect: is a service that you install on your phone that keeps your phone and info safe when you browse public Wi-Fi.  It'll warn you when a website you're visiting is insecure and encrypts your phone's traffic for added security.  I had never heard of it before, but I saw it in 2 different articles, so I went for it.

No idea how or if it works, but I did it and at the very least it hasn't done anything bad to my phone.

Postagram: is an app that makes personalized postcards and mails them for you!  It sounds fantastic, I can't wait to try it!

I'm sure it won't be nearly as cheap as a regular postcard, but it'll be worth it.

Panoramio: tells you where the most picturesque sight are for taking pictures.  Type in your location/destination and it will point out all the sights, as well as include pictures others have taken.

Haven't fiddled with it too much yet, but it seems pretty cool.

So those are the apps I have so far.  I also have apps for my bank, Google Maps and Netflix, which although not necessarily for travel, will prove useful.  I definitely like having apps, I think they'll be fun and super functional, BUT I'm not relying on them for anything major.  I have everything I need in my travel books or on paper, just in case the Wi-Fi/cell service isn't great in our location.  Don't depend on the internet, as you can't be sure you'll have it once you land.
If you are going on a trip, have fun checking out all the different apps.  There really is something for everyone.

Travelling with Technology

Sorry, if my posts have been rather bland lately, but travel isn't always so glamorous.  One must go through the motions of monotonous precautions in order to achieve a full, happy-go-lucky experience.
Today we are talking about technology and how it all works while travelling.  Now, as I have said before, I'm no expert, I'm simply relaying information I've researched and telling you what our plans are (which basically entails panicking, figuring it out on the fly and learning from our mistakes).

First things first, decide what you NEED to take.  Don't take stuff just for the hell of it because there's a good chance it'll get lost, stolen or broken and who wants to risk that with expensive electronics?  Plus the point is to unwind and unplug!  You don't want to go across the world just to Facebook people and Twitter folks back home (I obviously have no idea how any of that shit works).  Of course, you'll take your cell phone (we're not cavemen!).  You can pretty much do everything from most cell phones nowadays.  It can be your computer, book, TV, camera and iPod all in one.  If you can get away with just that, then you're golden!  However, if you just can't live life without being plugged in like a robot, a good rule of thumb is to think of a laptop as a method of creating (working, blogging, etc.) and a tablet as a method of consuming (movies, music, books).  If you don't need to DO both, then you don't need both.  Simple.  Btw, I didn't make that up, I read it in an article.

Now that we know what we're taking on our travels, how do we keep all this crap charged up?  I've read articles disputing the need for clunky adapters, but this requires some knowledge of voltages (who wants to deal with that on vacation?), so a fool-proof way to make sure you don't fry your stuff (or yourself) is to buy an adapter.  Let me back up a bit: in some countries, wall plugs looks different than in America.  In order to use them, you need to buy adapters (you can get them at places like Best Buy or REI).  You can plug the adapter into the wall and then your plug into the adapter.  Here's an example of a universal adapter:

With a universal adapter, you should be able to travel most places in the world having a plug for every outlet.  If you're only going to one part of the world, only buy that particular adapter.  For example, here's Europe:

Super cheap and compact!  Now that you have your adapter, you should know that most places (even hotels) don't provide very many outlets.  Therefore, it might be convenient to bring a small power strip, so you only need one outlet to charge multiple devices.

Perfect!  We bought a USB Hub to charge up to 4 devices at a time.

This can plug into a laptop if we're short on outlets (of course, the laptop needs to be plugged in).
Also, consider purchasing an extra USB battery pack, so you can charge your phone while out and about.

FYI: these pictures are just examples so you get a sense what this stuff looks like.  I do not recommend or endorse these actual products/brands.

Now that we've brought our phone and charged it up, HOW DO WE USE IT??  Seems simple, but it isn't.  Unless you want to incur crazy roaming charges or pay for an international phone plan (you don't), here's what you do!
Make sure your phone is unlocked (I know for a fact my iPhone 5 comes unlocked, so I'm sure the 6 does as well).  Most androids don't come unlocked, but you can call your phone company and tell them to unlock it.  If you're in good standing with your phone company and your phone is paid off, I think they usually will.  If you can't get your phone unlocked, don't bring it and don't use it because it's NOT worth it!  You will have HUGE international data and roaming charges, so high you could probably pay for another vacation.  You might as well just buy a burner at your destination, if you need a phone so bad.
If you get your phone unlocked, take it with you.  Keep it in airplane mode on the plane and until you buy a local SIM card (once at your destination) and install it.  You pay for minutes and data up front, like you would a burner and depending on the place, it can be quite cheap.  Here's where it goes in the iPhone:

You remove the cover with a paperclip (oh yea, bring a paperclip) and insert the card into the slot.  Then you need to activate it, which you can probably do when you buy it at the airport (if not, you have to go to a local mobile store and activate it).  The SIM card will store your information (not sure how much), such as your address book and identity, as well as give you a local number.  Just FYI, iMessage to iMessage is still free and can even be used in airplane mode (or so I've heard).  I know I made that seem really complicated, but it's a cheap way to use your phone while abroad.  It's by far the best option I've heard of.
Even though you have minutes and data on your SIM, use Skype to call and talk on the phone when possible.  Set up an account and put money on it (a little goes a LONG way), and use the phone anywhere!  Super handy and pretty cheap!  Not the best service ever (let's be honest, we've all had our faces frozen making stupid faces on Skype), but better than nothing.  I should mention that Skype to Skype calls are free!

Are you bringing a camera?  If so, be careful because most DSLRs are too big and bulky to conceal and carry easily.  I've got no great ideas on that front, I guess I'll let you know how it goes with mine!
Since you will be taking tons of pictures, consider purchasing a cloud storage package to keep everything safe, even if your camera/laptop/phone gets stolen/lost/wet/broken.  I recently downloaded Dropbox and so far I really like it.  My criteria: easy to find, share and download photos/documents onto any computer and Dropbox definitely does that.  Full disclosure, it's not free.  You get 2GB free and then 1 terabyte (basically a butt-load) for $99/year.  It sounds expensive (and it is), but pictures really mean the world to me and to lose them would be heartbreaking.  If you're a rational human being and think $99 is ridiculous, then Picasa is Google's version of cloud storage.  It's free, but has a lot of hiccups, in my opinion.

I think that about does it for technology around the world.  It can be daunting, confusing and pretty pricey, but if you do your homework and plan ahead, you can save yourself a lot of trouble and money.  If you got anything from this post (I know it's lots of words and too few pictures), these are the highlights:
Take only what you really need (phone, camera, laptop) and buy an adapter if you need one, as well as an extra battery pack.  Get your phone unlocked and buy a SIM data/minutes plan once you land and get it activated.  Use Skype to make calls if possible and put a little money on your account.  Dropbox holds all your documents/photos, so even if you lose your laptop, you haven't lost your files.  Alrighty people, thanks for cruising with me down the information super highway!  I hope you learned something!  Next post we will talk about travel apps.  Stay tuned!

Jaycie and Ben

Aaron is in Twenty-Nine Palms, spending time with his goddaughter, Jaycie, and her 3-month old brother, Ben.  Just thought I'd share some pictures of his visit.  Here's baby Ben:

He makes so many facial expressions, it's frickin adorable!

Jaycie seems to be doing great!  She's almost halfway through with chemo (she has 12 more rounds to go).  Aaron says she's obsessed with Play-Dough and likes to play with him, but also gets really shy.  She finally posed for some pictures:

Aww!  Overall, Aaron is seriously over the moon he got a chance to visit (I mean, look at his face contort into a smile!) and I'm sure they are too.  He leaves tomorrow morning, so they're making the most of their last night (I imagine the whole house will be covered in Play-Dough!).  

Vaccinations

Anytime you're travelling, you should definitely check with the CDC and your doctor/travel clinic to find out what immunizations/vaccinations you need.  If you have all the normal vaccines you got as a child, most others are optional (if you're from the US, anyway).  Some places require you to be further vaccinated if you're coming from a country with a high prevalence of certain diseases, but America is not one of those countries (yet).

SIDEBAR:  I told myself I wouldn't do this because I don't like to alienate people, but I just have to say that I'm a firm believer in having kids vaccinated.  I am literally shocked that this is a discussion people have.  These vaccines could save lives and people are listening to random celebrities instead of doctors.  The fact vaccinations aren't mandatory makes me crazy because I think in order to go to school or certain public places you need to be vaccinated.  If someone's kid is the reason my baby gets measles, I think that parent should face criminal charges.  Yes, I know these laws will probably never be real, and I know this will probably make me wildly unpopular, but what's happening right now is just insanity.  In this instance, I do not support a parent's right to choose.  I do however, support a child's right to live.  The benefits of vaccines far outweigh the risks (which are rare anyway).  Would you rather your child have a sore arm for a day or measles until death?

Sorry, I just had to do it.  Diseases like measles should have been eradicated long ago.  Get your kids vaccinated!

So, today I had an appointment with a private travel clinic in Pleasant Hill called Passport Health.  The nurse, Masooda, was fantastic, but it was daunting how many vaccinations I needed, not only because we're going around the world, but also because most of the places we're staying are near water and water=humidity=mosquitoes=disease.  It was really informative, since I've been reading so much conflicting information.  Let's break it all down, shall we?

Like I said before, make sure you're up to date on all your childhood vaccines: Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR), Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (TDAP), Hepatitis B, Varicella (chicken pox-unless you've had chicken pox before), Polio and Tuberculosis Tests (TB Test).  Those are the basic shots you get as a child, you might have had more (pneumococcal- if you're at risk for developing pneumonia or Hib (flu shots)).  This stuff you should really have, even if you're not travelling anywhere.  

If you've laid all that groundwork, here's what you need now:  boosters for MMR, TDAP and Polio (if you haven't had boosters before..ask your dr).  I think Polio and TDAP last a lifetime and MMR lasts 10 years, but don't quote me on that.  It might be TDAP that's 10 years.  I couldn't focus while she was prepping the shots.

You need Hepatitis A, which most people get at some point, but since it's not a vaccination you need as a child or for school I opted out (my intense fear of needles might have had something to do with it).  However, it's a good one to have, since you can get Hepatitis A from food and water (scary!).  It's a series of 2 shots spaced 6 months apart, so plan ahead (which I didn't, I just got my first one today...oops!). 

You should get a flu shot, just to be safe, even if you don't usually get one (me!). 

I got the pneumococcal because I have asthma, meaning I'm at higher risk for getting pneumonia.  Usually this is reserved for people over 50, smokers and those with chronic diseases (asthma, diabetes, etc).  

Now, let's talk strictly about traveling vaccinations.  It totally depends where you're going, so check the CDC website I gave at the beginning of this post (super easy, choose your country and it'll tell you everything you need to know, health-wise).  They update it regularly, so if there's an outbreak of something they'll be the first to know.  For our trip, there are quite a few recommended vaccinations.  Again, none of these are really mandatory, just recommended for your safety.

First up, rabies can be caught from rabid animal bites.  It's a series of 3 shots.  Dose 2 should be given a week after Dose 1 and Dose 3 should be given 3 weeks after Dose 2.  This is probably only really necessary if you're a vet or going to be working with bats or something.  I doubt I'm going to get it, as it's very expensive and seems kind of unnecessary.

Next, yellow fever is transmitted from mosquitoes and recommended in Argentina.  50% of people with yellow fever will die, so this one is important to avoid.  It's just one shot and when you get it, they give you something called a yellow card.

It's a small booklet and it's (you guessed it!) yellow.  Inside it lists the vaccines you've received with dates.  Some countries require a yellow card with entry (almost as important as a passport).  None of the countries we're going to require a yellow card, but I figured I'd get one since she was offering.  It's an internationally recognized way to display your vaccines.

Japanese Encephalitis is also spread through mosquitoes and is prevalent in Thailand.  This one is also important because Encephalitis means inflammation of the brain.  You really don't want this!  However, we were told that it's very rare, unless we're planning on trekking through jungles for weeks at a time.  It's a series of 2 shots 1 month apart.  We didn't get it and probably won't (it's another really expensive one).

Typhoid is transmitted through water contaminated with the feces of a person with typhoid and is recommended for Costa Rica, Argentina and Thailand.  Seriously gross and seriously painful, you basically wither away slowly.  Either you can get a shot (good for 2 years), or you can take a week's worth of pills (good for 5 years).  The pills contain live vaccine, so they can make you queasy, as you aren't supposed to take them with food.  Hey, anything to not have to get a shot!

Malaria is transmitted through mosquitoes and is somewhat of a risk in Thailand.  It's a pretty serious disease and sometimes hard to diagnose, leading to complications and sometimes death.  There is no vaccine for malaria, so this one is complicated and very expensive.  It's a pill you have to take every day you are in a risk area, starting 2 days before you enter and 1 week after you leave.  Did I mention it's $7 PER PILL!  Yup, you heard me!  Masooda was nice enough to tell me Costco sold malaria medication cheaper, so it'll be about $5 per pill.  What a bargain.  The other thing about malaria medication is there can be crazy side effects, like nightmares and hallucinations.  She told me the best malaria medication, with few if any side effects, is called Malarone.  

At this point, I'm feeling a lot like a Debbie Downer.  All I really want to do is travel the world, care-free and now I've got to worry about hallucinating!  Can't anything just be simple?  The easy answer: NOPE!

Moving on!  

Now that we've had all our vaccinations, we're safe from everything in the world, right??  WRONG!  I got 6 rounds of an anti-diarrhea medication called Cipro.  If there's ever a time when we get really sick with crazy diarrhea, we take 5 days of antibiotics and hopefully feel right as rain.  

I also got 5 altitude pills for traveling at high altitudes called Diamax.  It's just one pill and you take it the day before you climb up that mountain.  I get altitude sickness sometimes because of my asthma.  I'm just a mess.

We also need to get 20-30% DEET insect repellent to keep away the mosquitoes (your worst enemy when travelling to humid places).  Anything higher than 30% isn't more effective and can really dehydrate your skin.

Permethrin is a spray you put on clothes and bedding for mosquitoes.  One good spray can last 6 weeks (even through the washing machine)!

Also, you need a good first aid kit with Neosporin, bandages and pain medication.  They even recommend a sort of powder Neosporin for humid conditions, since a moist wound will fester.

Man oh man, I got 4 shots today (my worst nightmare) and I didn't pass out!  I did hyperventilate, but I guess you can't have it all.  Here's my poor, defenseless arm:

I got my MMR and Polio boosters, as well as pneumococcal and Hepatitis A #1.  My arm feels like I've been in a really bad fight (which I've never been in a real fight in my life, so I'm just guessing that's what it would feel like).  Masooda said you can get up to 7 vaccinations in a day, crazy!

Here are all my goods:

These are my Cipro (anti-diarrhea).  I have to go back and get one more round of Cipro, the Diamax (altitude) and the Malarone (malaria).  The rest of these papers are informative pamphlets and copies of the prescriptions, which they might want to see at customs (to prove I'm not just a really dumb drug smuggler).
My visit today: the consultation, the 4 shots, the anti-diarrhea x 6, the Diamax x 5 and the typhoid pills altogether costs me $857!  This shit ain't cheap when you don't have insurance!  I definitely think it's worth it for the peace of mind I'll have while travelling.  The last thing you want to think about while staring at Machu Picchu is what diseases you could be catching.  I still have to get Yellow Fever and the malaria meds, so I'm probably gonna be too broke to travel by the time I'm done.  I'll just pitch a tent in my backyard and pretend I'm in The Amazon.  If you'd like to join me, feel free.  No vaccinations required!

Budgeting

I'm coming up with a budget, and while I know it's tacky to discuss finances, this might help you if you're trying to plan your own trip around the world.

First of all, decide how much money you're willing to spend total (duh!).  The reason this is important is because when you're out experiencing the world and feeling the vitality of nature or whatever, it's hard to stop yourself from just blowing it all!  Do some research about the places you're going in order to approximate what things cost and make a budget (give yourself a little more than you think you need).  Also, make sure you have a little extra money set aside, in case of emergencies (back home or on your travels).  Not only did I make a yearly and monthly budget, but I even broke it down by week and day.  Of course I'm not going to keep track of every single penny, but it's good to try to approximate how much you're spending.  In some countries we'll stay well under budget and in others we'll be spending more just on necessities.  In the end, I'm hoping it will average out.

Decide what's important to you.  Is it nice accommodations, expensive food or fun excursions?  Unless you're Tom Cruise (totally dated reference, sorry), you can't afford to have it all.  Our bucket list includes lots of excursions and even visits to neighboring countries.  Lower on our list are expensive restaurants and super fancy condos.  We want really basic apartments (since we don't plan to be there often), but some sort of kitchen and internet are on our must-have list!

Don't forget the stuff you still need to pay for back home!  We still have to pay for our storage space, our phone bill, our travel agent, our dogs (if something happens) and Aaron's union dues.  Try not to give yourself bills to keep track of every month.  If you can't pay them off for the length of time you're going to be gone, find someone you trust and give them the money to pay your bills monthly (my mom is in charge of our phone bill).

Don't forget to notify your bank/credit card companies of your travels.  For Capital One, it can easily be done online (but only for two months at a time, meaning I have to remember to update it every two months).  Failure to do this will result in a freeze on your account because they will think it has been stolen.  And without money you will be sleeping on the street in a foreign country.  No bueno.

Our monthly budget includes room and board, food, transportation and excursions, but not flights (we're purchasing our flights separate).  While neither of us is particularly good at budgeting, we're going to have to get good fast because we won't even make it half a year without really sticking to it.  This means no excessive shopping, eating at home or on the cheap whenever possible and taking public transportation.  I know it sounds less like a vacation and more like just plain shitty, but I think once our fat asses get used to it, we'll actually really get the feel for each place, having really lived like locals.  Plus we'll be saving money to do way more fun stuff!  That's the goal anyway.

HOMEWORK:  Start a vacation fund!  Find an old jar, shoebox, even open a bank account and put a tiny bit of every paycheck into it.  It can be as little as $1, as I know saving extra money can be hard.  I can tell you it will be well worth it because having the dream to travel and something to look forward to (even if it's way in the future) can really keep you going in times of stress, sorrow and hopelessness.  I can tell you that I have felt all three just in the last week, and the thought of being on a beach with the waves crashing at my feet calms me.  It hasn't been easy to pack up and situate my entire life into boxes and plan to leave my pups behind, but my wanderlust sustains me.  I hope it can do the same for you.