So, a little while ago I said that I had a plan for the new year...I've been doing some calculations, some thoughtful weighing of options, and I've decided that it's going to actually work!
"What is this great new venture?" you ask!!
Well, firstly, some background....
I spent a lot of 2010 working on my family history, and it turns out, I've got quite a lot to live up to...including a vast array of knights, counts, dukes, lords, ladies, over 130 kings and queens of Europe (of course...they all had to be connected because heaven forbid a prince or princess marry outside of royalty), and over 20 actual saints! It's peculiar to know that in these humble veins flows the blood (albeit diluted) of William the
Conqueror, Lady Godiva, the actual "Old King Cole", Charlemagne, and several leaders of the original crusade...not just peculiar, to be fair, some of it is a bit creepy...
Now, let me make this as clear as possible...I don't think that this makes me the slightest bit special. There are thousands of other people descended from the same lines. What I DO love about this is the fact that it covers so many countries...England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Russia, Poland, Turkey, Luxembourg......
Sometimes, when people start doing genealogy, they get into a bit of a pattern of just "finding more", and can tend to forget that the chain of
descendants that they are forging is made of real people, and not just names. I am fascinated about the cultures my ancestors were a part of...the battles they fought...the sordid love triangles...the dying while serving the church...the political alliances through marriage...the good things they did to help people, and the horrible things they did to maintain power...
It all got me thinking about how much world there is out there, and I decided I wanted to experience a bit more of it....but I have a job that doesn't allow me the opportunity to travel the world. But surely, I can do something to learn more about/experience world cultures!!
This brings me to my plan...
This year, I will be delving into the history, music, literature, heritage, and food of a different country per month. I've already selected the 12 countries, and in most case, have
paired them with a month that is culturally important in some way. I will be preparing food, and may or may not have a dinner party to serve it all up in!
Now, I know that given my pickiness, there will be things that I don't want to touch/prepare/eat...but I vow to do my best, and to stay as open-minded as possible....in most cases......maybe......
So, this month, I've chosen Scotland...Robert Burns day is this month, but I won't be making any haggis!
Stay tuned this year for the cheapest world trip imaginable!
