Short answer:
Joel asked me to go with him to India; then Mom asked me to go with her to Europe. I said yes to both. Living in Hawaii, as far as I'm concerned, India and Europe might as well border.
Long answer:
Last year I was talking with Joel about my upcoming China trip and he suggested that he and I go to India together at some point. While we had no specific plans, I know that (especially when it comes to traveling) if I say I'm going to do something, I do it.
A few months ago, Joel brought up India again, but now in the context of "do you want to go this summer?" ...So it was soon time to look for flights.
My mother has caught the travel bug something feirce recently (the impending retirement and all) and asked me if I wanted to go on a trip with her to Eastern Europe this summer. My only hesitation in accepting this was the potential for conflicting dates, but a week separated the two, so voila!
Mom invited the rest of the Brodie clan but only Krista was able to go. So it'll be the Brodie women.
I'm spending just over three weeks in India and two weeks in Europe. I don't know what either itinerary is going to look like yet. I do know that Joel has mentioned the Himalayas and Mom wants to go to Italy to see family--yes yes, I know that that doesn't qualify as Eastern Europe.
I've also learned that Joel and I are venturing to India at the absolute worst time of year to go: monsoon season. When it's not overbearingly hot, it will be pouring; but it's not like that's stopping us. "Oh no, I'll just wait for the next India trip to come along and hope it will be during a nicer season." Yeah, right.
So I'm hoping to see as many friends as possible while I make my usual East Coast pit stop. Ideally, I'd love to hang out for longer than what appears to be a speed-dating stint.
