Archive for : November, 2017

By: Melissa Ann Maida November 18, 2017

Galena, Illinois Through the Eyes of a Traveler

It’s funny how we take the places around where we grew up for granted. I put places like Galena, the top of the Sears Tower, and that Thai restaurant in downtown Wheaton into a box. The box of things that have always been there, so I subconsciously assume will always be there and therefore don’t pay them any attention. Yet when I’m traveling, I get geeked over visiting a small town in The Netherlands, seeing the Eiffel Tower lit up at night or dining at a whole in the wall sushi joint in Brisbane…

By: Melissa Ann Maida November 16, 2017

I Booked a One-Way Ticket to Bangkok!

I gave myself Thanksgiving Day as a deadline to pick a city and book a one-way ticket. That’s only a week away and to be honest, I was already making excuses as to why I should put it off another month… or three…

I started to research all the places I’m interested in and was like effff this- everywhere has potential to be awesome. I just need to pick a starting point. With that said, for no reason other than intuition, Bangkok it is!

By: Melissa Ann Maida November 14, 2017

Sweet Home Chicago: First Month Back in My Hometown

Without the familiarity and judgement that used to accompany thoughts of Chicago, I’m free to take pleasure in everyday things. I am free to treat Chicago like any other foreign city I visit. Going places I’ve never gone and doing things I’ve never done. Revisiting places I’ve been before to see how they’ve changed, soak them in, and build new memories. I am immersing myself in the the local community and strengthening the relationships the defined my youth.

By: Melissa Ann Maida November 8, 2017

Untold History: Tennessee

As we drove toward their house outside the city, CrazyTown faded into the distance and The South came into focus. My aunt pointed out various statues, monuments and landmarks pertaining to the American Civil War. Having only ever lived in or traveled through the North and West, this was my first encounter with tangible evidence of the Civil War. It didn’t take me long to notice how Confederate-centric these Civil War displays were. At first, I assumed I wasn’t seeing the the whole picture through the sporadic car window snapshots.

About Me

My name is Melissa. I am a nomad. I prefer the mountains over the beach ... Until I'm back at the beach and am reminded of how glorious sunrise yoga beside the ocean is! My hair is always a different color, I'm usually wearing a bandanna on my head, no make-up, mismatched clothes and a beat up pair of Birks. Everything I own fits in a backpack. But this hasn't always been my life... At the start of 2014, I lived in a nice house in the suburbs, drove a brand new car, and had a successful cosmetology career. Recently engaged, I was in the thick of wedding planning. That spring, everything started to change. My dad passed away, I opened a salon, and my sister got married. The chaos of so many major life events, in such a short time, put pressure on my relationship. That July, I called off my wedding. In the midst of all the chaos, I turned to the internet looking for a blog or a book by someone who'd had a similar experience. I desperately wanted to know there was someone out there who survived what I was going through- and maybe get some tips on how they did it? After incessant searching, I found a few fluff pieces but nothing that was exceptionally raw or honest. In that moment I told myself- "If I ever get to the other side of this, I'm going to write my story down to help the next person who finds herself here"... Well, I'm on the other side and am writing down my story...