"knapsacking abroad"

Today my family and I went to my grandmother's house. We're in the process of cleaning it out so that she can sell it and move into an assisted living home. This seems like a daunting task, and it has definitely been a challenging and emotional process, but there is a bright side. And that bright side is basically that I get to go through all of her awesome stuff from the 1960's and take what I want. (Vintage stand mixer, anyone?!) So I was in my dad's old bedroom and was rummaging through the bookshelf when I found this gem from 1967 --

It's called Knapsacking Abroad. My dad told me that he bought it when he was a senior in high school, which made me giggle. Now I don't need to wonder where I got that travel bug from.

christmas swag

I love Christmas and not just because of the gifts. Being with family is great, and we always eat sushi for Christmas lunch. (These are the perks of being in a Korean family.) But gifts are still pretty sweet, and I definitely cleaned up this year. My family has been asking me incessantly about my semester abroad, and their gifts show how interested they are in my future as I am. They got me guidebooks to India and to Israel, as well as a boatload of foreign currency. I have to admit, it was really fun opening up a bag full of what looked like Monopoly money. It looks like a lot of dough, but the exchange rates mean that it's not actually that much cash. But any cash is useful, and it will all go a long way.

We can't forget the most useful gift of them all, though --

A camouflage Snuggie! Practical, comfortable and stylish. So I'm going to sit right here, cozy in my Snuggie, and nom on all of the leftover sushi and Christmas cookies while watching even more "How I Met Your Mother" on Netflix.

And thank you to my loving family, who has always supported my desire to travel - both now and in the past - and makes sure that I do it in style. Merry Christmas, everyone!