I'll Procrastinate...Tomorrow

If I have learned one thing living in - ahem - developing countries (their preferred terminology), it's that the things you want and need aren't always as accessible as they are at home. That doesn't mean that developing nations are deprived in any way, it just means that your hot water heater might break more often than it would living in New York City. It also means that the someone who can fix that heater for you is a tad harder to track down and hold accountable.

No matter how you slice it, some places come with their fair share of so-called "Third-World-Problems", and these are the decisions we make when we move or travel to faraway lands.

I experienced this re-revelation (one we tend to forget quickly when things are back to "normal") when I moved out of a friend's guest room and into the bottom floor of a large house shared with three other women. The former residence had proved full of nuisances for which my first-world palate was unaccustomed: shoddy internet, no washing machine, a less-than-spotless kitchen and - the greatest tragedy of all - hot water that came and went as it pleased. Now, most of these detractions I can live with, and despite being as internet-dependent as the next person, I would gladly trade time on Facebook for my daily hot shower.

Anyone who knows me well knows that I appreciate having a space to myself where I can retreat from the world as well as other people; having been deprived of that privacy as well as my scrub-and-soak time, I was not the happiest of campers. These, among other reasons (such as proximity to work), led me to go looking for a new abode to call my own.

And after I found one, how I longed for the month to end so I could venture forth, unpack my towel and rack up a nice, high water bill.

To my utmost dismay, I was instead greeted into my new residence by a stream of frigid water. How haughtily it poured from the shower head, refusing to warm as it had promised. "Why, God, why???" I cried aloud, falling to my knees. "Will I never enjoy the warmth of a steamy hot shower again?" (Okay…perhaps an exaggeration, but I was pretty pissed).

I knew all I had to do was tell my new housemates (who lived upstairs) about my predicament. However, two things held me back: first, I wasn't quite confident in my ability to explain the situation properly, what with my sub-par Spanish and their lack of English; second, when I had had similar problems in my previous living arrangement, my concerns had gone unnoticed and it had only created tension. Hoping to avoid a repeat offense, I bit my tongue and alternated employing the jump-in-jump-out method with the occasional hot shower at friend's apartment - all the while praying to the hot water gods to forgive whatever sin I had committed and magically restore my showers to me.

Alas, my memo to the water gods must have gotten lost in the shuffle and the hot water never came back. So, after three weeks, I plucked up the courage (and a translator) and brought my issue forth to the powers-that-be. And what happened? The girl apologized, said the heater must be broken and that they would bring someone in to fix it the next day. And they did.

Problem solved, just like that. I've had hot water ever since and now my biggest showering problem is finding that elusive balance between too hot and too cold.

I suppose the moral of the story is twofold. Not only should we all be aware of our self-destructive procrastination, but we would be doing ourselves a big favor by forgoing the concept of "I'll get to it tomorrow." Having a cold shower might not be the end-all and be-all of lifetime hardships, but if you can do something about it, then why put it off? A task easier said than done, of course, but to at least put forth the effort to change our hardwired habits is a start. And who knows? Maybe when you finally get around to that epic list of "Things I Want To Do" something great and unexpected will come out of it.

In addition to the anti-procrastination advice, I suggest this: take advantage of what you have when you have it. You never know when the proverbial hot water heater will break down, and the chances we lose rarely come back for a do-over. So just go out and do it: enjoy that hot shower while it's there; take that new job even though it scares the hell out of you; tell the person you like how you feel about them (unless they're with someone else - don't be that guy). In most cases, we genuinely have nothing to lose and - cliche alert - everything to gain. 

But who am I to lecture you on promptness and carpe diem? After all, I told myself this post would be up three weeks ago. 

No quiero que te vayas

The phrase "No quiero que te vayas" is one with which we are all familiar. Well, at least it's English equivalent: "I don't want you to go". Sometimes it's being said by our boyfriends or girlfriends; sometimes our parents and siblings; sometimes our best friends. Too often it is being said by ourselves to ourselves.

The biggest mistake you can make when deciding whether or not to travel, study or live abroad is to allow that fear to cloud your vision.

Can it be terrifying to think of leaving your home and the people you care about for a strange city full of even stranger people? Absolutely. Even the most seasoned of travelers will tell you that they get nervous before venturing off to foreign lands unknown. But they would also tell you that the unlocked potential waiting inside each and every trip abroad far outweighs any list of apprehensions you can concoct within your own consciousness.

The problem is this: the ropes that tether you to that fear, that inner voice begging you not to risk it, are always going to be more formidable than the waves of excitement pushing you forward. If you've ever weighed the decision to go abroad or accept new job or even which school to attend, then you understand the feeling of push-and-pull accompanying that decision. It helps to keep in mind that you are not actually tethered to those fears and that the only person who can bind them tighter or allow them to loosen is yourself; but, of course, keeping hold of that rationale can be very, very difficult.

Now here's the good news: it's all in your head.

Do you need to think about your decision before you make it? Of course. Is traveling abroad the right move for everyone? Definitely not. But, if it is right for you, never ever let a list of 'what-ifs' stop you from the adventure of a lifetime.

So, enough of the metaphors and the pep talks. Here is a list of the classic do's and don'ts of moving/living/traveling abroad, in my oh-so-humble opinion:

• DO your research and see if this is a place you are genuinely attracted to. Just because your BFF thinks the Eiffel Tower is the most stunning piece of architecture known to man, doesn't mean you need to drop an entire paycheck on a flight to Paris. Conversely, just because someone tells you how unappealing an indigenous excursion "really is", doesn't mean you won't love camping in the outback or trekking through the Andes. This trip is yours and no one else's. 
• DO look at your finances beforehand and make sure you are covered. Nothing ruins a trip like running out of money for food and accommodations. Remember: you can alert your credit card companies regarding upcoming travel, so bringing along a commonly accepted card is a good safety net. 
• DO remind yourself of the amazing adventure you're about to embark on. If you're a planner, make an itinerary for your travels; if you're more of a Vivian Ward* "fly by the seat of my pants gal" (or guy), then let your gut be your guide. It will rarely lead you astray.
• *Addendum: DO NOT attempt the more salacious aspects of the Vivian Ward lifestyle, either at home or abroad. This fake character was a professional at her job and it should never be attempted by the viewers at home. However, should you run into an Edward Lewis look-a-like who will whisk you away and climb your fire escape with roses in his mouth, then I say go for it. 
• DO talk to people who have done something similar. Ask them why they chose to go abroad and how it compared to their expectations. If they had reservations, they can share those with you and tell you what eventually became of them. And if they have travelled to the same place as you are planning on visiting (or know someone who has), they can give you firsthand tips, tricks and advice to help you ease your mind and prepare for your trip. 

• DON'T be thinking about "all the stuff I'd be missing at home" - this can easily become your excuse not to travel abroad and it is never worth it. If you're in college, I promise you the keg parties will be waiting for you when you get back. If you're worried about missing a friend's birthday party while you're away on a month-long retreat in Thailand, tell her how sorry you are to be missing it; odds are, she'll tell you not to be silly and that she wishes she could be there with you, instead of you being home with her. If you're super cool and in a bowling league like I am, remind yourself that the Spanish word for 'strike' is probably way cooler than ours in English. Plus, think of how many friends you're going to rake in with your sweet alley moves. 
• DON'T give up on an opportunity because it will take you away from your significant other. As much as we like to deny it, this is probably the most difficult item on the list. Make sure you talk to your "other half" and tell them about your concerns. Find out what concerns they have and how this trip will affect the two of you as a couple. Remember that they CAN go with you or visit, and even though five months in Greece can seem like a lifetime now, it's nothing compared to the long haul you plan on battling through with each other. No one who loves you unconditionally and cares for you would want you to miss out on a life-changing experience; and if they truly are a "significant" other, they'll support you no matter what. 
• DON'T expect everything to be a disaster OR expect everything to be perfect. Just like your life at home, your time spent traveling will deal you a fair share of ups and downs. For some people, the first few days can be extremely overwhelming; for others, the homesickness pops up after the initial excitement has died down; and some people never end up homesick and don't want to leave. Your experience is unique and no two people will ever quite understand the road another person travels. This is true at home and it will be true wherever you end up around the world. 

So just remember that sometimes "Ya me despido": "It's time to say goodbye". As the cliché goes, when one door closes, another door opens. Just don't stare too hard at the closed door and let a wonderful experience pass you by.