Recently, I paid a visit to my mom’s house to have breakfast, do laundry (yes, I still go to my mothers to do laundry. Hey, it’s a hell of a lot better than going to a laundromat in my opinion. Does your laundromat serve you scrambled eggs?? I think not) and tell her all about our upcoming trip to Nepal.
I was going on and on and on about our 10 day trek through the mountains, the Buddhist temples we will see, the food we will eat and showing her lots and lots of pictures of animals that we will see during our time in the Chitwan National Park – a Bengal tiger! A one horned Rhinoceros! A crocodile!
When I was done, I looked over and realized that not only did my mom look excited for me but she looked rather amused.
“What’s so funny, Mom”? I asked
She said, “I was just thinking back to when you were a little girl, maybe 7, and I wanted to take you on an African safari during your summer break. I thought it would be any kid’s dream to go to Africa and see all these amazing animals. I was so excited to tell you the news. After explaining that we would be in an open air jeep and sleeping in tents, I looked over and realized you looked pained.
and you said “Can’t we just go somewhere with a pool”?
“Can’t we just go somewhere with a pool??”- I mean really, Kate. A pool won out over an African safari? I’m not quite sure when I became a fan of adventure. When I was a kid, I hated most things that involved being “uncomfortable”. I hated summer camps- especially the organized activity part. I hated swimming in the ocean- so much sand. I hated skiing- so much snow. I hated strenuous things in general.
My, my, how things have changed. Now there is nothing that excites me more than going on an adventure and my fondest memories from my twenties include my travels. My time couchsurfing (translation- sleeping in strangers homes) through Panama still takes the cake.
I got such a laugh out of picturing my 7-year-old self with a pained look saying…”Can’t we just go somewhere with a pool?”
What a brat.
Although, I will admit that I still get glimpses of her sometimes. I definitely looked a bit pained the other day when Brian read me the below paragraph from our Nepal guide-book…
“Outside Kathmandu and Pokhara, the “squat toilet” is the norm…
next to the squat toilet is a bucket and/or tap, which has a twofold function; flushing the toilet and cleaning the nether regions (with the left hand only) while still squatting over the toilet…”,
To which I replied, “please tell me that was a joke”
*
“Life is either a great adventure or nothing.”
Helen Keller
365til30.com 
Haha, i love that!!! Reminds me of when I was 13 and chose a party over a trip to israel for my bat mitzvah. Kids just dont understand the point of international travel i guess! …. unless it’s to somewhere with a pool. 🙂
This made me laugh, Kate, because I know I was exactly the same way. Adults are forever forecasting the future personality of kids. We all seem to do it. And really, it’s such a waste of time.
Seriously funny shit. I nearly did a spit take reading this a few times. And I was reminded of what a brat I was to travel with during the 10-16 year-old years. My poor, poor parents!
No, the squatting and “swashing” is NOT a joke. Toilet paper? Bring your own, seriously. Another bucket is used for bathing- one bucket per person, per day.
I’M NOT SURE YOU WILL MAKE IT ON A BUCKET BATH. The pool does have it’s advantages!!!!
Im not gonna lie… it definetly doesn’t sound like a “vacation,” to me… yet more like a learning experience. Think ‘Naturalists at Large’ 😉 You’ll get some laughs in at minimum.
“…What a brat…”
Have a wonderful time