If you haven’t already discovered this through the progression of my blogs, I am a very black and white person. I wouldn’t set a goal if I believed it to be impossibly elusive. My motto is underpromise, and overdeliver; I would rather keep my goals small and attainable than live with disappointment. Goals are like a set of stairs, why worry about the one at the top before you even take the first step? Rephrasing your goals and keeping them manageable within your current spacial and temporal confines will motivate sustained effort that will ensure that no goal is ever elusive. For instance:

1. I will learn as many languages as possible, starting with Portuguese: (rather than I will learn Italian, Portuguese, French, Russian, Japanese, Swahili, Urdu, and Tagalog). Learning languages has become somewhat of a hobby of mine; even my free time can be used productively to attempt to decipher a magazine in one of my target languages. This is how I was able to perfect my Spanish grammar that I had initially learned informally as a toddler by speaking with my fluent parents. Portuguese is my next conquest, as I would love to honor my father and his birthplace and be able to speak to the family members who still live in the “motherland.” Becoming a lusophone is also a prerequisite for my trip to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. On that note…
2. Attend a sporting event at the Olympic Games: In the Summer of 2012 I was in London between the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which only worsened the Olympic spirit that I originally caught watching the “Magnificent Seven” take home gymnastics gold in 1996. I have already joined the preliminary list for the ticket lottery, and would gladly attend any event from swimming to shooting just to trade pins with the athletes of the world.
3. Witness Easter Mass in Saint Peter’s Square, Rome: As a devoted Catholic, this is my Mecca. My time in Rome brought me chills; I felt an intense connection between the spiritual history and the story of my own relatives that had walked its cobblestone streets. The election of our new Pope at this Easter season of new life has brought this goal to the forefront of my mind.

There is so much in life that is uncontrollable, but my goals are not one of them. It is simply imperative to reevaluate one’s own life and means to decide what objectives are now within reach. Of course, I look forward to getting married, becoming a mother, and working as a successful school administrator, but none of these goals are tangible or comprehensible given my current reality. When I complete the prerequisites, so to speak, they will come to the forefront of my list, just like my current objectives did. Baby steps like these will ensure that it is continually possible for me to actualize on the mother of all goals: to be happy.

Part of what makes travel so exhilarating for me is the sense of escape, albeit temporarily, from reality and the norms that dictate everyday life. For its unique culture so different than my own, I would love to visit Japan. I can’t really think of a place on earth that I would not like to visit, but the East Asian island is definitely near the top of my list.

One of the most fascinating aspects of Japan for me is its cuisine. I am constantly awed by the Japanese culinary creativity that transform a few simple ingredients and minimalist preparations into exquisite renditions that blur the lines of food and art. The tradition of bento box lunches are a perfect example of this cohabitation. Japanese mothers are known to spend hours each day preparing their child’s school lunch, carving fruits and vegetables and molding rice into cartoon characters and beautiful nature scenes. Just as an American kindergartener’s snacks promulgate a cafeteria hierarchy, the bento box is considered a tangible representation of a Japanese mother’s love and care for her child. I would love to interview mothers and learn some bento techniques if I were to visit Japan.

Japan also appeals to the tea lover in me. It seems that every aspect of Japanese culture and cuisine is considered carefully. Nowhere is this so clear than in the art of Chanoyu, or the Japanese tea ceremony. The preparation and enjoyment of tea is as spiritual as it is physical; the ritualistic service and ordered consumption reflect the Japanese respect for elders and connection to nature.

Modern Japan beckons to me with its bright lights, vibrant Harajuku colors, and attractive state-of-the art electronics. While these innovative beacons make Tokyo an international cultural center, it is the traditional elements of cuisine and culture that make Japan a coveted stamp in my passport.

Some examples of the beautiful art of bento!