A New Challenge Update
Last month I wrote about a new challenge that I was undertaking. By the age of 30, I want to visit a country starting with every letter of the alphabet. It is an ambitious feat, especially now that I started my own business and cannot travel as frequently as my nomadic heart would like. However, after two of my girlfriend's and fellow blogger's, Kristin and Connie, joined me in the challenge, my resolve has only strengthened.
So, to recap, the letters left are: D, E, K, L, O, Q, R, W, X, Y, Z and I have 3 years and 80 days.
I should note that I can now cross off E, as I mistakingly thought England was a state in the country of the United Kingdom. I had been misinformed many years ago about this fact. I can also add Scotland to the places I have visited as well!
I have decided that since there is no country in the English language starting with an X, a valid substitute will either be a city that starts with an X or a country in its native language that starts with an X. Thus, the options are:
Unfortunately, regarding this challenge, the last country I visited (Belize) and the next 2 countries I am visiting (Nicaragua and Argentina) are all letters I have frequented already. So, I need to really start planning if I want to accomplish this goal in time.
So, to recap, the letters left are: D, E, K, L, O, Q, R, W, X, Y, Z and I have 3 years and 80 days.
I should note that I can now cross off E, as I mistakingly thought England was a state in the country of the United Kingdom. I had been misinformed many years ago about this fact. I can also add Scotland to the places I have visited as well!
I have decided that since there is no country in the English language starting with an X, a valid substitute will either be a city that starts with an X or a country in its native language that starts with an X. Thus, the options are:
Cities:
~Xi'an, China
~Xiamen, China
~Xiangkhoang, Laos
~Xai-Xai, Mozambique
~Xinguara, Brazil
Countries:
~Singapore is Xinjiapo in Chinese.
~South Ossetia is Xussar Iryston (Georgian name) or Xyccap (Ossetian name).
Since I have been to Xi'an, China twice, I feel like I have rightly earned the letter X!
Which, now leaves me with: D, K, L, O, Q, R, W, Y, Z. That list is definitely more manageable. Maybe I will start with D? I do not have a strong desire to visit Denmark at the moment. Djibouti is simply too far away. Dominica and the Dominica Republic are much closer and the diving should be pretty special at both places. I think I have found my next letter! I will have to investigate this further and report back...
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