Disclaimer...

***sigh***

I'm thinking most, if not all of you, who read this blog know me at least a little bit. Good days and bad days, I continue to throw my life into chaos in attempts to find another foreign corner of the world because I love it. Even in my worst moments, where I hate everything and everyone, I know and you know that the moment always passes, the negative energy that was surrounding me clears and I have yet to hop on a plane and run back home. If I have ever found myself in a place that I truly didn't like (Pai, in North Thailand), I move on. I don't stay to write and complain and suffer through. I simply move on to the next amazing adventure.

I'm still here in Pemba because I am finding it interesting, full of potential, and a good challenge for me and my soul. I know very well that I'm not the brightest bulb in the box, but whatever I write are opinions, simply my opinions as I vent to friends and family in my process of learning and growing. Maybe they are ignorant, misinformed opinions, but in no way am I discouraging tourism to this charming island, trying to dissuade others from coming, putting western life on a pedestal, or being naive about the ways of the world where I come from. Yes, this is a public blog and I link it to my facebook but it's a blog. It is opinion. These are my experiences and my thoughts. By no means am I intending to shine a negative spotlight on my newest home. As I said before... those of you who know me, know that I wouldn't still be here if I didn't think it was worth every second of it, good and bad.

If anyone reads my story and gets a knot in their stomach feeling that somehow I am doing an injustice to this small island off the coast of a very big country, please stop nitpicking, please stop focusing on one or two lines and read the whole story, or please stop reading. Send me an email if you think I'm being unfair, but remember, this is MY blog, these are MY feelings, these are MY experiences, and for those simple reasons, there really isn't anything wrong with what I'm sharing. I'm fumbling through, as I did through Asia, and I'm bound to make mistakes. I will share those mistakes here. There are amazing and intelligent people who read my thoughts on this blog. If my facts are wrong or if I'm misquoting bits of information, I'll either eventually figure it out and correct myself or those intelligent people reading this will send me a note and ask me to clarify. Take a deep breath, remember that this is all new to me, and just let me enjoy the ride.

Thanks.
Janice