BbI and paying it forward

BbI and paying it forward

(The title BbI is thank you in Russian. The text is not exactly what it should look like, but my computer can only do so much.) Considering I’m where “You can see Russia from land here!” I though a Russian thank you was appropriate for this time around. Hee hee…

*Thank you to Ann. I appreciate your generosity and the fact that you produced a wonderful person Sarah. She has been such a huge help as my intern extraordinaire!

*Thanks Matt for keeping me connected. Without a crackberry or broadband card, this whole blogging on my journey thing would certainly not work!

*Thank you Joe. I had a couch to sleep on last night because of you and a full shower. Oh if I ever take a couch or a shower for granted again…

*Thank you to everyone who has been trying to finagle and connect me with friends and family here in AK. Oh such nice people. I am very appreciative!

As for paying it forward:

I had noted in the top of my website here that I have a separate bank account open and am saving 10% of any donations to pay forward to another traveler, Someone who submits a story to me via snail/comment or email about a place/goal/thing they have always wanted to do. I am a bit disappointed to announce that I have not gotten one “entry” yet and I will likely be out of Alaska by the 20th ready to give the 10% away as promised. It is not going to be a lot, but the point of my creating a pay it forward campaign was to encourage everyone out there to stir up some creative thoughts, hopes, dreams and wishes and share them with us all. I also think it’s just the right thing to do for me to be generous to someone else, if people have been generous to me. I have not told her this yet, but I have decided to give the BLR pay it forward % to my sister if no one submits their traveling wishes. She has applied to the Peace Corps and been in the process for 7 months. (It’s quite and undertaking and extensive process.) During this time she’s paid out of her own pocket hundreds of dollars for medical/dental check-ups, etc. as required by the organization to be a possible candidate for a position. This is her:

She is proudly displaying the Vermonster. All she wanted for her college graduation gift in May was for us (my family) all to go and indulge in a day of ice cream together. It was so fun. She is an amazing, smart young woman (and a cutie too!) and I have no doubt she’d make a perfect Peace Corps volunteer. I figure if she is going to devote 2 years of her life to help others, has already spent hundreds of her own dollars to be able to do it with no guarantee of getting in, she’d be a good pay it forward recipient.

If anyone still would like to submit a story/wish they have I’d love to hear it. $ is up for grabs! If it is after Alaska, that’s Ok- I’ll still take any stories and I always love to hear peoples hopes and wishes. Thank you all for the continued support on this journey!