The reason I am writing about Josh is because he arrived in Africa today. This isn't odd - Josh has spent the last 4 summers traveling across the continent. However, for the first time Josh is participating in a distinguished cross cultural Language program. After beating out thousands of applicants, Josh was selected to stay in Cairo, to be immersed in the Arabic language and culture. This is an amazing accomplishment!!
So, Josh will spend the next 8 weeks in Egypt as he attempts to become fluent in Arabic. He is already conversational, but Im sure when he comes back his fluency will have increased exponentially.
Josh exemplifies what it means to be a true friend. He is 100% percent grounded in Integrity, Character, and Idealism. An all around athlete, Josh was once a Muay Thai champion, BMX biker, and nationally recognized Dancer - however, he has put those amazing talents on the back burner to focus on furthering his intellectual pursuits.
His true passion is experiencing and learning about the beautiful and diverse cultures scattered across the earth, with a special interest in the Near East and Africa. He has an uncanny ability to translate his experiences into poetry and writing - exemplified in his often updated website blog:
My roommate this past spring, Josh is one of the few people I've ever met who share my passion for travel and adventure. In fact - it was several years ago the Josh himself encouraged me to follow my dreams and just "leave" - leading to my first amazing overseas adventure in Ukraine. I've been hooked ever since.
Since then, Josh has continued his escapades across the remote deserts of Africa. I LOVE his mantra when it comes to TRUE ADVENTURE TRAVELING. From Indiana Josh himself:
"Forget all the conventional wisdom of traveling; it just doesn't apply here. One-way tickets, a rucksack with only the bare necessities, a sleeping bag, and a sense of adventure are the only things I travel with. I travel rough, I travel dirty. I've explored the world living off of nothing more than a handful of cash and the contents in my backpack. I've climbed mountains in Africa, jumped off waterfalls in Morocco, gotten totally lost and crossed into hostile territories with rebels and civil wars, trekked through the Sahara Desert with Bedouin nomads, and explored the Middle East by foot, camel, donkey, bike, car, bus, train, and plane. I've been through bustling markets and bazaars, jungles and rainforests, deserts larger than the entire United States, medieval imperial cities, ancient ruins, tribal villages, and that's just for starters..."
However, its the Treks and Journeys we've taken together over the past few years that have been the highlight of our friendship - we leave society behind and embark into the remoteness and serenity of nature. Some of our journeys include:
Insane Waterfalls deep in the Mountains of Colorado (Check out the Video for the complete experience!)
Near the summit of one of the highest peaks in the United States
Dangerous waterfalls in the Ozarks. (If you don't think this waterfall looks intimidating - look at the next picture)
Yeah. It's the same waterfall. Josh and I survived a Flash Flood that ravaged the Canyon we were in.
A Kayak Adventure down the Arkansas River. Winter was coming on - cold conditions.
Stranded in the New Mexico WildernessAs you can see, our adventures never end. We have plotted and planned many trips to come in the future. Of course, we have to find a way to squeeze them in between work, school, travel, and taking over the world. But when you live every day with the expectation that that day might be your last - the time suddenly opens up.
Our motto is a quote from one of our favorite authors, Ralph Waldo Emerson:
Our motto is a quote from one of our favorite authors, Ralph Waldo Emerson:
Always Do What You Are Afraid To Do.
I encourage every person who reads this blog to visit Josh's site. You will be instantly hooked to his prose, his pictures, and his unshakable idealism that the world is ours to explore and to become one with. You can donate money to support his travels (He has been known to live on around a dollar a day in his most extreme ruck-sacking) so something small goes a long way. Not to mention, his writing is so captivating I have no doubt that someday it will be published media. (Not that Josh cares about things like that in the least)
We wish him luck in Cairo and hope he comes back safe. Of course, when he does come back it will only be for a short time. To Josh, a new day means more than a different tie to wear to work. A new day means a new mountain to climb, a new river to navigate, a new culture to explore, a new language to learn, and a new road to travel.
From all of us at Time Trails - Carry On.
I will finish the post with a recent poem Josh composed about his love of the Sahara Desert, a poem called "I Followed the Open Desert".
We wish him luck in Cairo and hope he comes back safe. Of course, when he does come back it will only be for a short time. To Josh, a new day means more than a different tie to wear to work. A new day means a new mountain to climb, a new river to navigate, a new culture to explore, a new language to learn, and a new road to travel.
From all of us at Time Trails - Carry On.
I will finish the post with a recent poem Josh composed about his love of the Sahara Desert, a poem called "I Followed the Open Desert".
I followed the open desert to find
the greatest temple hidden in the palms
of my heart; I sat and considered
how honey gold hills, burnt brown
by seering sun, bled alms of thanks
to my shade.
Brown phallic mountains thrust upward
in cobalt sky, giving birth
to conscience-shackled stillborn clouds
storing drought for a rain that will never come--
unleashing deprivation upon desert
and deserting those who walk in faith and color
and light.
I left the suffering desert to find
the greatest pain burned in the ruins
of my heart; hear my hollowing mind--
how weeping clouds give birth to Life.
the greatest temple hidden in the palms
of my heart; I sat and considered
how honey gold hills, burnt brown
by seering sun, bled alms of thanks
to my shade.
Brown phallic mountains thrust upward
in cobalt sky, giving birth
to conscience-shackled stillborn clouds
storing drought for a rain that will never come--
unleashing deprivation upon desert
and deserting those who walk in faith and color
and light.
I left the suffering desert to find
the greatest pain burned in the ruins
of my heart; hear my hollowing mind--
how weeping clouds give birth to Life.
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