Nina In New York: Adventures Abroad

A young professional's take on the trials and tribulations of everyday life in New York City.
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I've got news for you all. I'm on my way to Asia.

For the next two weeks, we'll be living it up Hong Kong style, and then shuffling around southern Vietnam. Or should I say, sweating around southern Vietnam.

We'll be eating all manner of things (no, not really allllll manner, but many manner), visiting temples, taking pictures of giant Buddhas, riding escalators to the sky, buying fish at floating markets, taking pictures of fish at floating markets, driving through rice paddies, bicycling (pray for me) around islands, and it's entirely possible that someone will talk me into getting on a moped. Wait. Let's downgrade that to "within the realm of earthly possibility."

Here are things which have befallen me on vacations over the years:

-Food poisoning ( = weight loss!)

-Severe sunburn

-Fell off bicycle into high-speed oncoming traffic; nearly died

-Got 24-hour flu ( = weight loss!)

-Found lots of bugs

-Ear clogged permanently

-Drank too much

-Ate too much

-Conjunctivitis

-Got bed bugs (we all know that old chestnut)

-Sun poisoning, as indicated by rash which traveled all over my body and caused my ankles to swell to the size of cans of pineapple juice

-So many mosquito bites I can't see the real color of my skin anymore

I've never had to go to the hospital or the police station, but I've had to accompany people to both places, so that counts.

That's not to say I don't have a good time. I do. I know how to relax. I know how to let go of all real world pressures, like work and bills and societal standards for how much one human being should reasonably eat in one sitting. And I am excited. So excited!

It's just that I've realized that I am that person on vacation. Every group or family has one. There has to be one token traveler who will collect all the ailments, all the injuries, all the dermatological and gastroenterological flair-ups. I think it's important to come to terms with being that person. With acceptance comes freedom. I don't have to worry all the time about if and when. Now it's just a guessing game of what and how, which is almost fun! Plus, it takes the stress of the rest of the gang knowing they're safe. It's totally cool.

I'll return at the end of the month with plenty of photos, stories, a few pounds, and probably a cold. Definitely a sunburn. I like to call them "suntans."

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Dear Readers: While I am rarely at a loss for words, I'm always grateful for column ideas. Please feel free to e-mail me your suggestions and follow me on Twitter.

Nina Pajak is a writer and publishing professional living with her husband on the Upper West Side.