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Archives for March 2017

A Beach Confession

March 19, 2017 By Jen 5 Comments

A Beach Confession

I’m just going to come clean and say the thing that elicits gasps and open-mouthed stares. Here it is: I don’t like the beach.

Before you even ask, no, I do not hate children or puppies. I just hate sand and sunscreen, and especially the combination of sand and sunscreen.

Also, I look stupid in sun hats.

I know, I know, I’m a horrible person. Send your hate mail here.

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True Altitude: A True Love of Airports

March 7, 2017 By Jen Leave a Comment

Airports and airplanes suspend expectations, time and judgement.
The act of traveling is just as rewarding as the travel itself.

I’ve thought a lot about what I love so much about airports, and I think it’s that airports suspend three things: expectation, time and judgement.

We are pleasantly surprised when we get through security fast, find a place to sit at a restaurant and take off on time. Because expectations are low, patience is high. This tends to create an environment where people go with the flow, shrug off minor setbacks and laugh a little easier. Also, expectations from the outside world are diminished. While in transit, coworkers, family and friends expect little communication or results from the traveler.

The only time that is relevant in an airport is individual boarding time. Otherwise, 8:00 in the morning local time could be 5:00 in the afternoon according to the internal clock of the people seated at the bar. It doesn’t matter what time it is outside and, while in the airport, it doesn’t usually matter what time it is at the destination. In those airport hours, time is postponed.

Because both expectation and time are suspended within the airport walls, we are easier to approach and harder to annoy. Grabbing a quick coffee leads to conversations with people we might not otherwise talk to. A drink at the bar at an early hour is greeted with a “cheers” rather than a raised eyebrow. A delayed flight is answered with a shrug and knowing smile with fellow passengers.

The suspension of expectation, time and judgement opens up endless opportunities for unique exchanges, new relationships and great stories.

#TrueAltitude

About Jen

This is my story about recovery, discovery and ditching a Type A lifestyle in favor of, well, life. In what may be the scariest (and best!) thing that I have ever done, I quit my job in June 2018 and set off with a one-way ticket to travel. Since then, I have visited 10 countries, and I am currently somewhere in Southeast Asia. Charles Bridge Prague

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If you like what you see, I am available to freelance and ghostwrite. I have a particular talent with travel guides (surprise, surprise!) and speeches. Hit me up if you have an idea for work or play. Contact

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From the Blog

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  • I am a Scuba School Dropout
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