13 Little Blue Envelopes

Maureen Johnson

Rule #1:
You may bring only what fits in your backpack. Don't try to fake it with a purse or a carry-on.

Rule #2:
You may not bring guidebooks, phrase books, or any kind of foreign language aid. And no journals.

Rule #3:
You cannot bring extra money or credit/debit cards, traveler's checks, etc. I'll take care of that.

Rule #4:

No electronic crutches. This means no laptop, no cell phone, no music, and no camera. You can't call home or communicate with people in the US by Internet or telephone. Postcards and letters are acceptable and encouraged.

That's all you need to know for now. See you at 4th Noodle.

Ginny's Aunt Peg leaves her a package in a Chinese restaurant containing 13 little blue envelopes. This isn't entirely surprising, because Aunt Peg was always rather eccentric. But Ginny is surprised nonetheless, because Aunt Peg has been dead for three months.

Inside the first blue envelope is $1000 cash, and instructions to get a passport, a one-way ticket from New York to London, and a backpack. Oh, and a set of rules and STRICT instructions to only open the next envelope once she has completed her task.

So begins the biggest adventure Ginny has ever had - one that will take her to fancy London department stores, park benches, dramatic Scottish castles and Greek islands. Lessons learnt: freedom, art, love, loss, and what to do with starving artists.

Check out Maureen in the Residence from Monday January 21!

AND check out our 13 Little Blue Envelopes competition on YourSay!