Jamie Broker

I’ve never been outside the United States. It’s a great annoyance of mine, to be honest. Spouse and I had planned on international travel in the summer of 2020, and you can guess what happened to those plans. So, for today’s post, I thought I might talk about some of the places I’d like to visit someday.

Ireland. Like a huge number of Americans, I can trace at least part of my ancestry back to Ireland. It’s also breathtakingly beautiful. I’d really love to spend about a week traveling around the country, enjoying the view, and taking it slow. Maybe hike out to some old abbey ruins or sites connected with ancient stories, places that are older than the country I live in. Watch the ocean on the western coastline. Try to keep my mouth shut so I don’t say anything embarrassing. You know the drill.

France. I want to walk the streets of Paris and eat slowly in small restaurants and pray in la Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris. I want to see the countryside and the lavender fields of Provence and eat more things, still slowly. Wander around a place that hums with some of my favorite music of all time. Once again try to keep my mouth shut, unless I am hacking my awkward way through “please,” “thank you,” or “I am so sorry, I think I’m lost.”

Japan. What is it like to move through a space created with an entirely different cultural and religious context than the one I was born to? And it looks stunning, to boot. I have a friend who absolutely loves Yoshitsune and the legends surrounding him, and thanks to their interest, I’ve learned a few things about Japanese history. Catholicism in Japan has a fascinating history, as well. Yes, I’d love to see Tokyo and buy fancy stationery and walk past Shueisha, I’d also like to just go on a walk through normal neighborhoods and down regular streets and buy from everyday shops. Do I know Japanese? Well, I know more of it than French…

There are probably a dozen other places I’d like to experience, sights I’d like to see, languages I’d like to hear spoken all around me. And Spouse has plenty of places on their list, too, and more adventures await. I look forward to someday seeing new skies and distant shores!