Carolinian

Issue date: 10/3/06 Section: Life

Media Credit: CHRIS BIGGERS/THE CAROLINIAN So close yet so far, a forgotten passport left Chris temporarily trapped on foreign soil.

This past month has brought much remembrance to many students here at UNCG, as well as the nation. When the terrorist attacks of five years ago first occurred, little did I realize how much of an impact they would have on crossing the borders of the US. This article commemorates that day in which those surreal events became a rude reality.

From interstate, to city, to backward roads, the quest to find something new and exciting has always found its way to the forefront of my mind. Traveling has allowed me to experience a catharsis, as the open road and lively music allowed the leaving behind of all the problems the world can produce. In doing so, the world became a free place and no longer one of bondage. Those monotonous days, characterized by lethargy built up over the school year were left behind as the world became a smaller place and more accessible than ever before.

The development of my 'wanderlust' emerged quite early in my life. From the time I was 16 my travel wings were born and I set off with my best friend down the road of the unknown. The first year we traversed all along the east coast making our way up to the tip of Maine and back down to the Florida peninsula. Since that first trip, we made a pact to travel to some new place every year. So far we've kept that pact and that dream alive.

As this pact developed into a tradition, we found ourselves empowered with freedom as each year we went farther than the one before. As Joseph Campbell once said, "The journey outward is the journey inward." We learned a great deal about ourselves and each other. Unfortunately, no matter how empowered we became or how much we learned, we were not prepared for a simple excursion over the border. How sad.

Following the summer of Sept. 11, we packed up the car as usual and set out on our way. We had no clue what our destination would be, nevertheless we started off traveling north. By the time we reached New York State, we had decided Niagara Falls would be included on the tour. So over the Canadian border we went without any problems. The Canadian officials were very kind and welcomed us to their country with open arms without asking for any identification whatsoever.

Continued...

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