I went a little Monica Gellar crazy last weekend...

I love "Friends," and the quirks I have that resemble Monica scare me, for she can be neurotically crazy, yet they warm my heart, for I always live in a really freaking clean apartment.  But last weekend, I did something extreme.  In two days, I completely redid my entire apartment, almost entirely by myself.  I mean I really flipped the thing around.  Here are some pictures if you would like to check it out:

I put together this vacuum all by myself.  With a screwdriver.  Accomplishment #1.

I proceeded to use the vacuum cleaner through the whole house accompanied by pet fresh. Linus could be a model.

 I proceeded to fix the chairs that have been broken since the first time we put them together--a year ago...

...and I had to use the toolbox to do it.  It is weird, I know, but with every successful, tiny repair I made, I felt a little more confident about who I am and my place in the world.

 I think Lucy likes the new bed spread!

 I even made new Arizona tea lanterns--a task I was never trusted with because the combination of my clumsiness and the use of a knife was thought to be lethal.  Probably accurate, but I did it! 

 Loving the table by the window...

 ...but not as much as I adore our new houseplants.  To fill my heart with another thing to take care of rather than adopting another dog, these plants are just perfect. 

 The most adorable little leash-hangers the world has ever seen.

 Check out the glorious new rug.  Oh, and that nice, new, flat screen TV my roommate and I just invested in.  Definitely the best decision of the weekend.

There you have it! I would like to thank IKEA for allowing me to blow lots of money and tricking me into thinking I'm shopping smart because things are so cheap.  I would like to thank my mother for shopping with me and not judging me for spending an entire paycheck on apartment decor. I would like to thank my roommate, David, for letting me loudly clean until 4 a.m. and helping me with the living room.  

I think the apartment flip was much-needed.  It makes my apartment feel a little more like home, after it felt like just a place to crash for a while there.  A little fact about me? I'm obsessed with cute apartments.  I can't wait until our lease is up and I can find another cute place in the city.  I really can't wait to move to London and find an adorable little flat.  I love feeling at home, and I like having a place where I can run around and dance in my underwear and nobody will judge me.

Honesty

It's a human thing.  Why is it so damn hard for us to admit that we are sad, or having a hard time, or breathing heavier than usual?  If you complain too much on social media, you are considered annoying.  If you only post pictures about your happy life and perfect relationship, you are considered superficial.  So here I am, trying to break those extremes with some honesty.

Since returning from my almost dream-like trip to India, I have been a bit of an emotional mess.  The past few days weeks have been some of the most difficult I can remember.  I have been made painfully aware of my flaws--to the point where I let them become my identity.  I feel like I have spent 43,829 minutes worrying and over analyzing things over the last month.  That's a lot--considering it is literally every minute.   

"They" say that everyone experiences heartbreak--everyone goes through a time in their life where they feel totally lost. Well "they" are full of shit because nothing "they" could have said could prepare me for it.  So that's my honesty piece.

But here is the beauty in it all--the silver lining, if you will, or perhaps just a happy perspective:

It is all okay.  So much of life seems to be about the perspective we have on it.  So right now, my perspective is that these dark days and heavy feelings will serve a purpose.  I have never really spent this much time with myself, and let me tell you, it is perhaps the best and worst thing that has ever happened to me.  It is the worst because I am confronted face-to-face with my every insecurity, every flaw, and every bit of self-doubt.  And truthfully, that gets lonely.  That is not to say I don't have wonderful friends and family in my life, because I do--this has just been the most me I have ever had to handle.  But already, this has been absolutely essential in my life journey.  These days will help me strengthen my independence, and help me to rekindle my passion for life.  They will help me to rediscover me.

So who am I? Well, right now I am not really sure how to answer that question.  The other day, I had the intense urge to jump on a plane to anywhere (let's be real, that is an every day thought).  But the then I had the thought that being a fire-fighter would be pretty cool.  Then I thought trading lives with my dog would be the most stellar thing in the world. Point is, for the first time, this obsessive planner and big dreamer doesn't know what the future holds.  For the first time, I am actually living in the moment, day-to-day.  And that is okay for now.  I am working on myself, from the inside out.  Right now, I know that I want to make a difference in the world (I don't know how).  I want to treat everyone with kindness (sometimes I fail).  I enjoy reading comedian's memoirs (I envy their natural ability to make clever jokes).  Running, oddly enough, makes me extremely happy (I'm really slow).  There's more, but that is a pretty good summary of what I have.  But right now, it is what I need.
I will take this time for me.  But I will be back with the firey passion, loud opinions, failed attempts at ridiculous jokes, and crazy dreams in no time.  

The Most Important Travel Lesson I Learned

I learned and grew so much during my five weeks spent in India.  I feel more in tune with myself, more humbled and grateful for the privileges and blessings I have every day, more compelled to study up on the happenings of the world, and more desire to live my life in such a way that will make a difference in the world.
It would be impossible for me to articulate to you all just how much I learned on this trip about myself.  This week, I will post about all I learned regarding the current situation in Tibet.  Other than that, my lessons seemed very internal and personal.  My journal from my travels has the privilege of hearing those inner thoughts, but I'm not sure if I could ever express them on my blog.  That being said, I would love to share with you all the most important lesson I learned about travel in general:
Never compare the places you travel.  Never go into a new country with expectations based on past travel experiences.  It will throw you off.
In 2011 traveled to Nairobi, Kenya with International Volunteer Headquarters--the same organization I traveled to India with.  Kenya will always hold a very special place in my heart, as it was my first real experience of this big, wide world.
I went to India thinking of all the things that would be the same and different as my experience in Kenya.  Let me tell you, NOTHING was the same.  Absolutely nothing.  Not the volunteer organization, not the people, not the food, not the weather--nothing!  It took me a few days to realize that I had to stop comparing my time in India to my time in Kenya.  When I did that, I was free to embrace the culture and life I was experiencing in India.  I was able to gain so much on a totally different level than I would have if I was constantly comparing the two.
Here is what I firmly believe:
Every place you travel, you will gain something new.  There will be one main thing that impacts you, and can sum up your experience in that country.
In Kenya, what stood out to me was the genuine happiness and love the people embraced, despite all the struggles they deal with.  Resiliency.

I was living in the second largest slum in all of Africa.  The poverty and devastating circumstances there overwhelm me to this day.  I remember being astounded that the majority of the students at my school didn't know who their parents were--they were orphans in the slum.  I remember the day my students took me to see the body of a man who had just been killed by the mob the previous night--a terrible image so vivid and clear in my memory.  I was brought to tears to see the women and children who were literally living in mountains of garbage, yet they still had smiles on their faces.  Realizing the number of people I was surrounded with struggling with AIDS, yet living as best as they can was emotional.  Yet the Kenyan people have a happiness and a smile that I swear can light up the world.  They came rolling up in matatus (vans) blasting reggae music, ready to adventure, laugh, and joke.  They welcomed us into their homes with open arms and loving brightness. I am forever grateful for those experiences.  I learned through my friends in Kenya that positivity and happiness are so powerful.
In India, what stood out to me was spirituality.

There are many places in Dharamsala, such as temples, where you are not allowed to take pictures.  I have less pictures to show the spirituality in Tibet. The final two pictures are  not mine--click on the picture for photo credit!

Religion and spirituality rule every aspect of life in India and Tibet, and it is truly beautiful.  We only got to experience Hinduism a little, but I can talk forever about Tibetan Buddhism.  The Tibetan people we were privileged to be surrounded by were the most spiritual I have ever met.  Most of the town of Dharamsala was monks and nuns, dedicating their lives to learning the teachings of the Buddha and striving to live the best life possible in order to be happy in the next life.  Love and compassion, the two fundamental principles of Buddhism are truly what the Tibetan people live.  Their spirituality was deeply personal and so modest, yet so beautiful.  Right now, they are unable to practice their religion in Tibet, so many of them cross the Himalayan mountains to seek refugee status in neighboring countries.  They have three ambitions: to meet the Dalai Lama, to learn English, and to practice Buddhism.  They risk their lives for these ambitions, and it humbled me to see that.  I feel as if I gained a whole new appreciation for spirituality in my life.  It really can be the thing that keeps a person going when all else seems to crash down.  It is a beautiful thing, and I have an all new appreciation for the freedom we have here in America to practice whatever religious and spiritual beliefs we want.
Sorry for the extremely long post--there was just so much to say! If you read this much, thanks, and I would love to hear your thoughts!
Go out and see the world.  You will grow unimaginable amounts in the journey of figuring out your beliefs and place in the world.  I know I have.

I'm Home: Thank You Letter

I'm back in the United States! First, I have to apologize that I did not update my blog more while I was in India.  The Internet was very hit-and-miss, as the electricity in the town was constantly out.  I must admit--it was kinda nice being "unplugged" from social networking for a while, though. My days were also so busy and full of excitement that I just couldn't find the time to blog.  Lucky for you, I am prepared to post all about my trip, my thoughts, and my experiences.

First and foremost, I would like to say THANK YOU!
Words cannot describe how grateful I am for all of you who provided support while I was preparing for this journey--financially, emotionally, and in every way possible.
To my family, thank you! You supported me when I was preparing to travel to Kenya, and you supported me on this humanitarian trip.   Although I will not be asking for financial support in the future, as it is time for me to get myself around the world, I am so grateful for it. This trip would not have been possible without you! Thank you for keeping up with my posts on Facebook and constantly showing your love.
To my mom, thank you for being the most supportive person throughout my whole life.  I love that I can always count on a message from you--even while I am traveling, and I can feel close to you even from across the world.
To my work and Lacey, thank you! You were so supportive and allowed me to take time off.  You were understanding while my trip got delayed so many times, and I really appreciate that.  I am so excited to get back to work next week!
To my friends--old and new, thank you for your continuous support, and to my new friends, thank you for making India such a wonderful experience.
To the Tibetan people, thank you.  Thank you for making me a better person by being a constant example of love and compassion.  Thank you for sharing your stories with me and opening my mind and heart to the struggles in the world, yet the resiliency and strength of human beings.  Thank you for welcoming me into your homes and always serving me tea.  Thank you for being you.
To Quincy, thank you for traveling to India with me.  Thank you for taking care of me when I was sick, and laughing with me on 3-day-long plane/bus rides and continuously throughout the trip.  Thank you for sharing adventures and making memories with me. Thank you for helping me do bug checks in our "lovely" living arrangement. Thank you for being the most wonderful travel partner a girl could ever ask for.

I look forward to sharing pictures and stories with you all! 

Kids will be Kids

My mornings here are spent volunteering at a day care/school for the children of Tibetan refugees. They are so cute! I feel in my element when I am working with kids-- I must just be a big kid myself.  I love kids so much because they are so pure and innocent, yet so creative and fun. They are the least judgmental tiny humans, and they are so full of potential. 

One amazing thing that I have noticed everywhere I have been is that children are all the same! In Kenya, the kids would play soccer with a rock, but they would still play soccer. Here, the little two and three year olds set up tea parties with dolls, play dress up, and run around. All kids everywhere just want to be held and cuddled and thrown in the air and loved. Kids are just universally cute!

One thing that is lovely about the culture here is that independence is encouraged. The two and three year olds in my class can put on their own shoes completely independently, use the bathroom independently, and function better than any other two or three year olds I know! It's pretty amazing. Another thing I love about the day care is the fact that sensory play and practical skills are worked on every day. Every school should be more hands on, in my opinion. The final wonderful thing about the school is the staff that work there. They are the sweetest Tibetan women. The principal is especially sweet. She is so young, and so kind. She takes a large amount of her day and spends it playing with all of the kids who absolutely adore her.

I can't wait to spend the next couple weeks at the day care--it's so much fun, and gives me the opportunity to hang out with my favorite age group of humans until I can go home and get back to the sweet kids I work with there!

Traveling with MS

This is my very first trip traveling with my least favorite travel companion--shots and medications for Multiple Sclerosis.  Take a look at what my carry-on bag consists of:

Along with my daily shots and ridiculous amount of medication, I have cooling bandannas and letters from my doctor explaining that I can travel with all of these shots and meds.  A couple weeks ago, I had my steroid infusions, which give me a lot of strength.  I feel like superwoman for a few days after I get those!  MS is definitely an added stress for someone who plans to travel the world.  But once again, it is all worth it.  No matter what, another travel tip is to do research about where you are traveling, and make sure you pack everything to meet your health needs.  Now I just have some extra baggage.  The good thing is that on the trip home, I won't have to worry about bringing these things back because they will be gone! 

I am prepared to take extra precautions this summer to make sure I am a healthy girl in India!  I will be posting one more time before I leave, but as always, thank you for reading!

Lessons Learned

Photo credit.

Well folks, I am beyond thrilled to announce that we ARE going to India, and we are leaving this TOMORROW! 
I can't believe I actually get to type those words because of everything that has gone wrong in the planning process.
I learned a couple lessons while planning this trip:
1. Get your visas before you book plane tickets.
When I went to Kenya, we got our visas as we entered the country.  This is how I assumed most places where.  THIS IS NOT THE CASE! We went to hell and back trying to get our visas processed with the most frustrating company in the world. Literally...the world. I can't blame it all on them, because it was our fault completely, but the whole situation was just an absolute disaster.  Finally (and after we ultimately decided to postpone our trip), the visas arrived.  So we quickly rescheduled (despite some terribly unfortunate airline fees), and we are on track again!
2. Go for your traveling dreams, no matter what.  Don't let anything stop you!
The visas were a huge obstacle.  Then we were unsure if we could delay the trip because of school schedules.  Then we had to clear everything up with work to make sure it was still okay to go.  Then I got a terrible infection, and was worried I would have to cancel the trip.  But I realized that nothing could stop me from getting on that plane tomorrow.  Traveling and adventure and the learning that happens from those things are essential!  I am so incredibly excited.  For the past few years I have lived my life based on a Swahili proverb: "Baada ya dhiki faraja."  Translated, it means "After hardship comes relief."  I truly believe this.  Sometimes, it feels as if life gives so many unbelievably difficult trials that it is impossible to overcome them.  But strength comes.  Resiliency is beautiful.  
I am all packed.
I am fighting off this infection.
I am excited.
I am thrilled to be traveling with my very best friend.
I am ready for this adventure!

Hello, World...

As new chapters in life seem to constantly begin, so comes the time for new blog beginnings.  I would like to start with an introduction to this blog, and an introduction to me.

My name is Ashley Earp.  For the past few years, I have enjoyed venting and opening up to a small community of mostly my mother and best friends on my former blog, Living the Dream.

As I enter my 20's and turn pages in my life story, it is time for me to create a more sophisticated, more consistent blog.

The Story Behind "Wandering the World (With MS)"

"Not all those who wander are lost." -J.R.R. Tolkien

I have a passion for traveling, and plan to make it a life-long regularity.  I thrive on adventure, service, and diversity.  In 2011, I had the privilege of traveling to Kenya on a humanitarian trip.  I plan to share some of those memories on this blog, while I document new stories of far-off travels.  In less than a week, I will be traveling to India for another humanitarian trip.  Words can not describe my excitement and anticipation, although I will try to articulate the indescribable feelings as much as possible.  The point is, there is beauty in travel.  It is not only a hobby, but a passion.  I plan to document all of my wanderings on this blog...one magical destination at a time.

"The secret of learning to be sick is this: Illness doesn't make you less of what you were. You are still you." -Tony Snow

One thing that adds some barriers, struggles, strengths, and unpredictabilities to my life wanderings is Multiple Sclerosis.  After numerous hospitalizations, I was diagnosed with this chronic autoimmune disease at age 18.  Although it does not define me, it has a profound effect on my life every day.  It is my hope that through this blog I am able to inform on this disease, open up about the challenges it presents to me personally, and connect with other individuals who are affected by MS.

So there you have it! All of you wonderful readers will get to know me more through my writings and rants, and I hope to get to know you, as well. Follow (you can also Follow my blog with Bloglovin) and share if you would like, and certainly enjoy and connect as much as possible!