Wandern Levels Up

[Wandern]

I changed my display name: I was LuckyMe. Because wandering around: walking, hiking and exploring are my preferred methods of getting exercise, Wandern works better, I think.  That, and "wanderer" was taken and I have wanderwegs on the brain right now…

 

The Main Quest

Take the girls on the Big Family Vacation to Europe. I’ve been able to tag along with my husband on his occasional business trips across the pond, so am not a complete noob at this travel thing. But, taking the kids and spending a good chunk of purely vacation time abroad is a bucket-list, level-up sort of life goal that we’ve been dreaming of for years.

 

The Motivation

Elder daughter is 15, and she’s already talking about looking for summer jobs and doing stuff that doesn’t involve her parents and younger sister. The window for the Big Family Vacation to Europe is rapidly closing.

 

The Goals:

Instead of three goals, I’m giving myself mini-challenges for each phase of the challenge.

 

Phase 1: Pre-Departure (two weeks) In addition to the pre-departure checklist:

 

Goal 1: I maintain my current level of fitness and avoid injury by getting to the gym and completing a Rebel Fitness workout 3 times a week. 6 points possible: 6 points = A , 5 points = B. An “A†will get me +3 CON, a “B†+2 CON

 

Goal 2: I complete the Pimsleur German Level 1 up to Unit 20 (currently on 9).  I finished Unit 1 in Italian a couple weeks ago, but need to have a few words in German so I can at least try. I’ve depended on my husband’s German skills in the past, but that really isn’t best. 11 points possible: 10-11 = A (+2 CHA), 8-9 = B (+1 CHA)

 

Goal 3: Meditate 10 minutes 5 days a week. 10 points possible 9-10 = A (+2WIS); 7-8 = B (+1WIS )

 

Phase 2: The Journey (3 weeks)

 

Goal 1: A digital fast: I will delete the work email account and all social media from my phone and bookmarks.  No social media for the entire 3 weeks. No email except to let my parents know that we’re still alive. 19-21 points = A(+2 STA); 15-18 points =  B (+1 STA)

 

Goal 2: Meditate 10 minutes 5 days a week. 15 points possible 13-15 = A (+2DEX); 9-12 = B (+1DEX )

 

Phase 3: Recovery (1 week) In addition to all the stuff that will have built up while I'm gone:

 

Goal 1: Back to the gym immediately: 3 Rebel Fitness (or Strength) workouts. 3 = A (+2STR), 2 = B (+1 STR)

 

Goal 2: Eliminate carbs (down to 30 or so grams of carbs/day) for the whole week. 7 days = A (+2 CON), 6 days = B (+1 CON). I’m gonna have to log this (ugh.).

 

Goal 3: Meditate 10 minutes 5 days a week. 5 points possible 5 = A (+1WIS); 

[I am Eve]

Wohooo! There you are :-)

This will be so much fun (for me too)

Traveling with kids is challenging but rewarding both short and longterm. And a digital fast, so refreshing!

[Sunmage]

Awesome!

[DaniRiekwel]

I like your goals! I'm trying to figure out my own at the moment - I might steal your phases... Where in Europe are you going to?

[Wandern]

Wohooo! There you are :-)

This will be so much fun (for me too)

Traveling with kids is challenging but rewarding both short and longterm. And a digital fast, so refreshing!

 

*waves* Hi Evenewbie! The kids are great travelers. I think they're looking forward to a trip that doesn't involve a tent!

 

I like your goals! I'm trying to figure out my own at the moment - I might steal your phases... Where in Europe are you going to?

 

We're spending some time in Switzerland, Italy, Germany, and Austria - Alps. We like mountains :-)

[ScurvySpider]

Ah ha, there you are.  I'm still smiling at your previous challenge report, something like "turns out I do waste time."  In awe of your challenges (the nerd one, AND the travelling with kids one).  Safe wanderings.

[livingroovy]

Yeay!!!!!!!!!!!! Your whole challenge just made me go 'woo-hoo!' Looking forward to hearing about all your adventures

[Wandern]

Thanks, Groovy!

 

Week 1 Check-in:

 

Phase 1: Pre-Departure (two weeks) In addition to the pre-departure checklist:

 

Goal 1: The Gym Goal - Well, I think I'm going to change this to "I will go for a 2+ mile walk or get to the gym Four times a week" - I've just recently declared myself recovered from a back injury, and am paranoid about hurting myself again. Walking's great, but even when I do go to the gym, it's not a terribly effective workout. I did one Rebel Fitness workout, and went for 4 walks this week.

 

Goal 2: German Practice: Made it up through Level 14

 

Goal 3: Meditate: I sat and tried to clear the mind for 10 minutes 5 times this week.

 

Pre-Departure: We're busy scurrying around and getting the little things in order: chargers, documents, itineraries for our parents. I've touched base with our Air B&B hosts. One more week!

[I am Eve]

Wow. How fun!

You're so wise to be careful at the gym I think. Slow and safe!

Horray for kids that like traveling! Ours do to, again, but for a while they only wanted to be with friends...

[Wandern]

Week 2 check-in: End of Phase 1

 

Phase 1: Pre-Departure (two weeks) In addition to the pre-departure checklist:

 

Goal 1: I maintain my current level of fitness and avoid injury by getting to the gym and completing a Rebel Fitness workout 3 times a week. 6 points possible: 6 points = A , 5 points = B. An “A†will get me +3 CON, a “B†+2 CON - I changed this goal so that walks <2 miles would count in place of a gym workout. I managed to do the gym once and walk 3 times this week. Goal Met. A (+3 CON)

 

Goal 2: I complete the Pimsleur German Level 1 up to Unit 20 (currently on 9).  I finished Unit 1 in Italian a couple weeks ago, but need to have a few words in German so I can at least try. I’ve depended on my husband’s German skills in the past, but that really isn’t best. 11 points possible: 10-11 = A (+2 CHA), 8-9 = B (+1 CHA) - I made it to Level 18, so 9 points, which gives me a B (+1CHA). I know enough German, enough Italian, and enough French to allow anyone in Europe to bust a gut laughing at me when I open my mouth and attempt to speak something other than English. Ich habe non capisco Deutsch, comprenez vous? Sigh. Blanket apologies in advance to all those who end up within earshot of me.

 

Goal 3: Meditate 10 minutes 5 days a week. 10 points possible 9-10 = A (+2WIS); 7-8 = B (+1WIS ) - 5 times meditating I completed this week. (apparently, I don't do so well in English, either) A: +2 WIS

 

The packing is done, we start phase 2 of this challenge tomorrow! Wheee! 

[I am Eve]

Hey Wandern!

Any chance of a Europe update ?

Hope you're having a great time!

[RobinStarling]

This sounds like it's been an exciting challenge!

Headed into phase three now for the final week?

[Wandern]

Wow. What an awesome trip. We stood on (and inside) a glacier, went into a salt mine, rode cable cars and inclined trains, saw castles, basilicas, and mosaics; ate fantastic food and gave the girls a taste of the world beyond our borders. The lodgings arranged through airbnb.com worked out beautifully. Except that some of our hiking plans were curtailed by the weather in Austria, it was a perfect trip.
 
Best day (for me): Viewing mosaics in Ravenna, Italy. 1500 years old. Vibrant colors, modern looking geometrics.
Town I'd most like to go back to (tough choice): Wagrain, Austria. It rained the whole time we were there, so we still need to explore more of the hiking there. Hubby would love to come back to ski.
Best food: The gelato sundaes in Verona, Italy. O.M.G. Best. Ever.
 
Phase 2: The Journey (3 weeks)

Goal 1: A digital fast:  I totally did this.  A(+2 STA); 

Goal 2: Meditate 10 minutes 5 days a week. I tried to sit and not think one day, and got about 2 minutes in before getting interrupted. There was just no private, quiet time. 0 points

 

Phase 3 is off to a shaky start. I've been to the gym twice (ow! sore!), but only meditated twice so far this week. I'm not logging the diet. Though I have out the grains again, we came back with a pack full of chocolate, and um, well, I'm having a hard time letting go of vacation. Plus - I didn't gain weight over the trip. Yay! So I don't feel quite the incentive to  go into the ultra-restrictive mode right now.

 

I'd say that it's good to be back, but I really, really liked vacation.

[I am Eve]

Aaaaah, sounds like you had a blast!!