Meet the Nomads: Jeannie Mark

Jeannie is another inspiration to all the ladies out there who dream of seeing the world. She sold all of her possessions and started travelling last June 2010.

She has been to various countries in South America, Europe and Asia.

Follow this modern day gypsy’s adventure at Nomadic Chick.

Here’s Flip’s short interview with Jeannie.

How did you discover your passion for travelling?

“I met a girl in the cafeteria my first day of college. She wore a clingy, black turtleneck, which doused her with an aloof maturity way beyond her years. After espousing dialogue from the movie “Harold and Maude”, she related her tales of traveling with a rucksack through Spain that past summer. I was awed. Engrossed with what this Spain was and how I could get there; or pondering how to carry off a turtleneck with my bust-line. It was love. For travel, not her.”

What’s the most horrible experience that you’ve had on the road?

“Trying to convince a New York cabbie to take me to Brooklyn! Already 45 minutes late from the last cabbie dropping me at the wrong place, I became a stale piece of sushi on a conveyor belt at a third-rate sushi restaurant, suspect and rejected. I would enter one cab, then be unceremoniously expunged with lazy excuses from “my meter’s off” to “I’m on lunch”, leave that cab, only to slide into another one and endure the same treatment. By the time the 5th one came along and the cabbie launched into his PFO (please fuck off) speech, I lost it. I slid into the skin of a real New Yorker as cabbie and I hurled expletives at each other. I left, slamming the door in utter frustration. Not a proud moment, but travel isn’t always happy-go-lucky.”

What’s the best travel experience that you’ve ever had?

“In India, I was in a town called Pen (Maharashtra) going about my errands. I walked by this Jain temple several times, but it was never open. This time it was. Inside, I saw two lines of women wearing saris the shade of pink carnations, a color that makes me think of spring and contetntment. They faced each other, prayer books propped on small wooden stools, singing, banging on drums and shaking tambourines. They saw me hovering at the door and invited me in. Soon enough they had me banging along with them and dancing. I found out later they meet every Wednesday and Friday for choir practice. It was amazing to be included in something I may have never seen otherwise.”

What’s the biggest realization that you’ve got out of travelling?

“That you can’t run away from your decisions. Every decision you make isn’t muted by daily life, but stares at you unblinking. This discovery has pushed me towards being more honest with myself, and others.”

What keeps you going? What keeps you motivated?

“I’m grateful that I have the opportunity to do this at all, and remember that everyday. Many people in my age group have given up altogether, or seem beaten down by either external or self-inflicted responsibilities. Almost forgetting what excited them or kept them interested. I’ve been asleep to my life and am now awake. It feels like I’m jacked up on coffee 24/7 and I tell ya, it’s the kind of coffee that’s addicting!”

This is a silly and hypothetical one. If you would be given a chance to travel with a popular person or a celebrity, who would it be and why?

“Lady Gaga. Hanging out with her would be reliving Halloween over and over again. I’d try on her wacky costumes and we would crash a few Manga conventions together. I’m guessing the food would be good too.”

Where’s your favourite place in this planet and why?

“Brazil!!! I took a brief trip there in 2008 and got hooked. They just swore in a female president (how neat is that?), and the country is a lovely mix of tradition, celebration, passion and natural resources. Sustenance and nature surround you, it’s as simple as scaling a tree for a coconut, cracking it open and savoring the juice. I like simplicity.”

What’s your best tip for a newbie traveller?

“You will be tested at every turn, but try to approach travel with humor and an open mind. I guarantee, you won’t return as the same person. Not to mention collecting some cool stories and friends along the way.”

What’s the funniest and silliest thing you’ve ever done while travelling?

“Oh god! Okay, I’m so embarrassed to admit it, but I have a serious bladder problem and steal toilet paper sometimes. If the roll in my pack is low, and I spot one in a restroom, it’s going in, sorry. And my deepest apologies to all the restaurants I’ve ever ripped off, which is many!”

What do you think about yourself?

“I’m awesome sauce! Hee.. Seriously, I admire what I did, and the blitz of emails I get from strangers seems to confirm this. It took a lot of focus to drive away fear and continue to live moment-by-moment. I’m wiser and feel a sense of peace that was sorely lacking before. It’s a gift to be comfortable in my own skin.”

“My site really isn’t about travel, that’s the conduit for sure, but what I hope my site does is inspire people at any age to respect the magnitude of their dreams, whether it’s traveling, returning to school, opening a business, or just pursuing what actually fulfills them. Oh, and intermingled with that is travel tips, stories and interviews of people I meet along the way.”- Jeannie

Next: Lisa Egle of Chicky Bus. Previously: Gillian of One giant Step. For more interviews with travel bloggers, check out the archives of Meet the Nomads.