I’ve resisted the pop culture push to start a blog for a long time. I was convinced that act was a grand expression of narcissism. It was too much even for me to chronicle my life, believing that someone at the other end would really care.

But I think I’ve found some good reasons to start a blog!

I’m studying abroad in France for the next year, taking a number of engineering credit hours and planning to travel a lot. I was thrilled at the number of people that have already asked me how my trip to Copenhagen went last week, and I think an online log of my travels should help keep people up to date without me missing some details in the different versions of stories that I inevitably tell people.

I’ve also got a more philosophical reason for pursuing a blog. I realized that by writing about my experience for others to read, I might actually find a way to describe my time in Europe as something besides “awesome”, “life-changing”, or “unreal”. While I don’t doubt the sincerity of those types of remarks, I want to remember concrete details, ridiculous stories, and life lessons.

And so, I decided to call the blog “Not Wandering” because as I make my way through Europe, I want to do more than let experiences just flow through me. I want the lessons that I learn to stick and fit into a grander concept of meaning in my life. If that sounds too heavy, don’t worry—that means that I’ll primarily try to make my entries funny, interesting, or unique instead of indulging in dense musings or uninspired trip summaries.

After all, who wants to read another travel blog about every cobblestone someone stepped on while walking through Rome?

As an aside, the ability to tell stories is one of a few skills that Daniel Pink argues in A Whole New Mind that will become increasingly important in our generation’s economy. I’d recommend flipping through it the next time that you’re in a bookstore because it’s very simply organized.