First Introductory Post

Respected Readers!

When it comes to blogging, excitement is always present -- looming within the pit of one's stomach, pumping through the body. The reasons for this excitement are simple: reactions to your opinions and posts from you, the readers.
Generally, if I were to write a blog focusing on myself and my own personal life views, finding the right ideas to post might become a struggle. There would be a lot to talk about -- from the basics (in order to help readers in knowing me better), to how I formed my beliefs and opinions, to the billions of topics available for discussion on the blog itself.

But when the focus is set on a particular topic -- such as a grand canyon expedition -- finding the right posts to create becomes a breeze.

My name is Tamas, though I am called Tomi (pronounced toe-me, which by the way is why I'm sometimes called a toe-truck as an insult or tease). I was born in the nation of Hungary, and lived much of my life there. Although I could write a 5 page entry on how growing up in Hungary was, and the differences in life back there compared to the United States, I don't feel it pertains to this blog much. However, my goal is to help you connect with me not on a "stranger" level, but on a more personal, more profound note.
Therefore, I will be posting my next entry, which will contain my autobiography, or at least the bits and parts of my life which will help you establish this connection with me. For now, all you need to know is that I'm visually impaired, due to a condition known as ROP (retinopathy of Prematurity) and only see light on my right eye.

So. Why am I creating this blog? As I mentioned in the first paragraph, when you know your focus, writing becomes easy. My focus is clear and set: To provide readers with a deep and enriched sense of how I went througha Grand Canyon expedition and accomplished it with success.
So now we're talking. A grand canyon expedition?
Yes, a grand canyon expedition.
There is an organization out there, known as
Global Explorers
. Global Explorers is unique in that they try and integrate all cultures and diversities into their expeditions and trips. Their goal is to help and guide students through any of their trips -- The Grand Canyon is just one of them -- and through this, assist them in gaining a life-long experience. So the program, known as Leading the Way, is one of GX (Global Explorers)
programs.
The goal of leading the way is to help students become better leaders through respecting cultures, working together as a team (teamwork), and performing service. Those are, at least, three of the main goals of the Leading the Way program, though there is a lot more to it at a surface level.
Leading the Way not only offers trips to the Grand Canyon, but also to other places like the Arctic and Amazon. But alas, the Grand Canyon was the trip I have found and applied to.
I applied to the program in October, a few days before the deadline. So I did not expect (but hoped deep within) to be accepted into the program. I knew that 9 others( 5 sighted and 4 blind students) would be accepted as well.
But I received the call from the program's coordinator, Shannon Smiley, congratulating and accepting me into the program -- and rejoyced at the thought of actually experiencing the Grand Canyon.

I knew that there would be a few challenges to overcome in order to experience the canyon -- this was mainly the prospect of raising $2300 in order to go. My stomach sank when I learned of that value after receiving my 89 page braille packet in the mail a few weeks later.

But as it stands today, I will be exploring to the Grand Canyon. Funding is going great -- I have raised around $100-1200 so far, and more money is being collected through churches and community members as we speak!
Ttoday I also received news from the Senge Foundation on receiving their Scholarship, which pays for half of the program costs. I will be posting more about this in future articles.

So there it is, a brief (and hopefully not too long) introduction. You will see many more posts today and through the next few days, as I talk more about some of my funding initiatives, the Scholarship, my autobiography... So please please keep an eye out on this blog.

With all due respect and warm regards:
Tomi