Adventure Interview

Name: Janice Friend

Occupation: Court Reporter/Realtime Captioner

What is your idea of the perfect adventure?
Encountering new and unexpected experiences that enrich me, open my world view, give me broadened understanding, help me be less afraid and more embracing.

Where have you traveled?
Around the world – 1973-1974 – most overland
Egypt and Israel – 1976
US and Canada – Car and Bus
West Coast of South America – 1979
New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea – 1980-1981
Europe – once a year, various places – 1981-1996
Solitary 2-3 day retreats on the McKenzie River in Oregon, annually 1995-2005
NYC – annually since 2005 for opera and art
Vienna/Amsterdam - 2005
Antarctica – 2005
Chicago – 2005 and 2006
Las Vegas - 2006
Russia – 2006
Galapagos - 2007
Netherlands River Trip to see the Dutch Masters - 2007
Estonia – 2007
Poland - 2007
Norway and the Arctic – 2008
Tanzania, Africa – 2009

Do you prefer to travel solo or with a companion?
I much prefer to travel with my husband. He is a kick in the pants, not to mention has a much better sense of direction than I do.

When were you the most afraid on your travels?
We had hitched a ride on a cattle trailer. I was standing there being jostled along in the back of an open-sided trailer carrying cattle. I thought I was going to be trampled.

What item do you always pack?
Sleeping pills. I know that sounds incredibly whimpy and
non-PC. But taking a sleeping pill at night has enhanced my travels immeasurably. I feel alert and not totally sleep-deprived. This is a new practice for me since rounding into the next ½ century of my life. I was a champion sleeper in my first 50 years. Not so now.

What is your favorite spot in the world?
When I’m asked this question, I answer it in pieces. I have favorite spots for different reasons. I suppose if I had to absolutely pick one and one only, it would be Antarctica. It was by far the most spiritual place on earth for me. I can elaborate further if you wish for more detail.

What great hotel/B&B/lodge can you recommend?
Gibbs Farm in Tanzania, Africa. It was in such a gorgeous setting, the service was superb, the food outstanding, the rooms were gigantic and beautiful. My husband especially enjoyed the outdoor shower.

What female role-model has inspired you?
Sarah Bernhardt. Actress who lived out loud, self-promoter, entrepreneur, lover of fine things. She lost a leg to infection and continued acting on the stage. Her life motto: No Matter What.

What propels you to leave home and go?
Life-long desire to learn, see beautiful things, read, read, read fiction I don’t give myself permission to take the time for at home.

What childhood book most influenced you?
The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking. Now, there was a girl who traveled.

What is your most cherished travel souvenir?
A Papua New Guinea Mask I carried out of the jungle on a two-hour walk.

What type of camera do you use?
A new-to-me Canon 5D.

Where are you going next and why?
3-day Tour of Transylvania, then a river trip from Bucharest to Nuremburg. I’ve never been in these areas of the world, and I love rivers, along with Europe’s grand old cities filled with great art and architecture.

What is your best piece of travel advice?
Don’t worry about the pile of “business” when you return home. Just go wherever it is you love and be there instead of at home in your head or on your phone or on the internet. Do something different than you do at home.

What is your adventure motto? Relax, it never goes as intended.