I read it in the winter of my first year in college,while I was on Maui with my maternal family, and it was so..I don't even know how to describe it or explain it but it was one of those books, like Terry Pratchett's Good Omens,that in the split second between reading the last word on the last page of the book, and looking up in to the environment around you, everything is SO CLEAR . You understand what it's all about,and why we're here and what the point is and wow.
I re-read the book trying to re-capture that feeling, to better hold on to that sense of understanding so I can get through the days,instead of saying,"once I understood,that's gonna have to be enough." Do you understand what I mean? My friend C could explain it so much better,but I've lost the email. Anyways,so that book changed my life, literally.After reading about Ford Prefect and Arthur Dent and their adventures,I realized I was like Arthur,staid and staying in one place, determined to not stand out and not going out of his way to have an adventure, too scared to try anything. But he had Ford Prefect to come along and shake that out of him and take him away from himself,and I don't. I wanted to be Ford Prefect so much that when I realized I was Arthur,I decided that I wasn't going to be lucky like him,I had to make my own Ford Prefect,so I applied for school in Hawaii, and I went there.
My time in Hawaii,the first year at least, wasn't as great and wonderful as I would have liked,but the fact that I tried, I should consider than an accomplishment,shouldn't I?
So anyways. Ever since that book,I've been dwelling on trying to break out of my mold and go experience the world,which is why I decided to be a world traveler(that and also my old roomie from Hawaii, D. inspired me so much with her stories of fun in other countries and her encouragement for me to get out there.) so I started focusing on traveling and reading books about travelers and seeing movies about traveling. I hope I can achieve all my goals on traveling,I even have a list of places to see.
It's a little scary to think that I might have to be going to places by myself,since I'm a naturally shy and 'Arthur Dent'like person,as well as my deaf-ness which is hard enough to live with in America,I don't want to think of how it will be perceived in other cultures. So far, I've been lucky,Jenna's going with me to Japan, E and C want to go on a road trip with me to Metropolis and New Orleans,C. is willing to go to Greece(if she can get the money, and if I can too!) and Mom is up for Australia at a later date. But what about Europe and England and Russia and the UK? I hope by the time I have the money and time to go to those places,my friends will be eager to go world travel,and I can get a buddy.
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