i wrote this a few weeks ago for a women's networking group i've been participating in. it was one of our 'assignments'. it's one possible view on what the next couple of years could look like for me. maybe in a bit i'll post an alternative view.It seemed like only days ago, Aja was beginning to piece together plans for this trip. But here she is, two years later, getting the last of her immunization shots, moving her belongings to storage, and running last minute errands, because at the end of the week, she’s headed to the airport to begin the journey she’s been dreaming about for years!
The past year, especially, has been a busy one—researching, emailing people all over the world, taking courses in cheese-making, and gaining some practical experience (a month working at the Farm Sanctuary upstate, another month interning at an organic farm in Vermont), but this is merely the beginning.
To start things off, she’s headed first to Texas to work on her mom’s ranch for a couple of weeks, helping her with her organic garden and enjoying herself, riding horses around the property, and then she and her family will head off to Southern California for her brother’s college graduation. From L.A., she’s off to Hawaii to work as a chef at a yoga retreat center for a month. She’ll continue on to revisit Fiji for fun and pleasure, then travel New Zealand and Australia, picking up working along the way if she can. Heading north, to Thailand, she will stay with friends, take cooking lessons, and eat to her heart’s content!
Her travels in Asia continue to Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Bali. Aja then does a 2 week trek through the mountains in Nepal. Next, she heads to India, studies yoga, cooks at another retreat, and learns traditional Aruveydic cooking technique.
Aja’s journey takes her next through Europe—with special food focuses in Italy, Greece, and France where she works in organic farms, olive groves, and vineyards. Backpacking through the highlights of Western Europe she meets other travelers, eats at amazing restaurants, and has an outstanding time!
She heads back to New York—it’s been a bit over a year. Here she regroups, works for a few months, and before she knows it, has head back out for a South American adventure: Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Trinidad, Brazil. In these countries she works with non-profit organizations to help create more sustainable agriculture in various communities, picks up some great food ideas, and heads back to New York soon after she recovers from Carnival.
Throughout her travels she has been photographing and documenting, filling up notebook after notebook—her mom’s pleads to write a book ringing in her head. Upon her return she begins to compile her ideas, edit her photographs, and piece together recipes—she’s not sure what it will be yet, but it’s the beginning of something great.
Meanwhile, the money she invested before her trip has made a killing. That, and she’s found some great investors for her sandwich shop. She’s barely had time to unpack her bags before things start coming together with the shop faster than she can imagine and the doors to the shop open by the end of the year.
Since she’s been back, people keep asking Aja what her next adventure will be, especially now that she’s seen so much! “There’s always the North and South Poles,” she says.
