Well, I’ve returned from the aforementioned backpacking trip. I’ve included some pictures below that I’ve posted on flickr. I had fun for the most part and I’ve definitely discovered how much new equipment I’ll have to buy if I end up making this a habbit. For example, I’ll need a new tent (see the picture), my own stove, a bigger backpack, etc.
The best part about taking this trip was the lack of noise. It’s noisy with the wind and the river rushing through the canyon, but there’s no cars, no trains, no music, no TV, no radio, no Starbucks, no neighbors, no mothers (unless you take yours with you), no nothing but nature and hikers. I loved it.
The things I thought about with the silence surprised me. Recent emotional scarring I’ve chosen to ignore began running through my thoughts again. Work, unfortunately, cropped up in my difficult attempts to sleep on the hard ground. Harry Potter, with my recent obsession, crept into my thoughts quite a bit. Mostly I’m just disappointed I don’t have another book to read or movie to watch as I’ve read/seen them all in the last month. Thoughts of the future came to the front quite a bit as well. What’s next, eh? What’s next?
I don’t know what’s next. And I’m okay with it. Mostly. I read an article entitled “Is grad school right for you?” yesterday. Basically, it pointed out that grad school is a bad idea if just being done to delay the inevitable entrance into real life or if it won’t help get a better job in a specific field anyway. While I already know this, it’s still something I need to investigate a little better. I also need to check into other schools that offer master’s degrees in linguistics, japanese, or east asian language/culture. I’ve got one on my list, but it’s probably a good idea to find out which schools are the most well respected.
In any case, I could still end up in a few different directions, but the choices have definitely narrowed since graduating. I’m okay with that. But which path to choose?
