The Amazing Eurasian Odyssey
as told by characters Matthew Garrick and Stephen Williams

Matthew Garrick, age 21

The characters:
Matthew Garrick, age 21

Matthew Garrick, son of Frank and Kathy Garrick of Columbia, is a senior at the University of South Carolina, and a 2004 graduate of Dreher High School. He was an honors student at Dreher, lettered in cross country, football and his favorite sport, baseball. He is also an Eagle Scout.

At USC, he is majoring in sports and entertainment management and is president of the Student Gamecock Club.

Last summer, the day before traveling to Australia on a class trip to study the Olympic venues as part of his major, the possibility of an internship as the personal assistant to the owner a professional basketball team was mentioned. While his classmates were returning home, he flew to New Zealand for 10 weeks working with the Canterbury RAMS.

From his success in New Zealand, he was offered the opportunity to spend this past semester as a student at the University of Macau.

Stephen J.Williams, age 21

Stephen J. Williams of Batesburg- Leesville, is a rising senior at the University of South Carolina. Williams's major is Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management. Having recently completed a semester at the Institute for Tourism Studies in Macau, he will be attending the University of Guam in Mangilao as an exchange student this fall. He is a son of David B. Williams and Anna Williams, also of Batesburg- Leesville. A summer of Welcome to one of the Greatest Adventures imaginable!

Stephen J.Williams, age 21

The story told by the characters

Starting in Bangkok, Matthew Garrick and I, Stephen Williams, will be traveling across Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Russia and into the European Union. We haven't done a lot of planning, but that's part of the fun.

Of note, it is the first significant backpacking trip for both of us, and we are fully prepared to take part in the usual customs. Firstly, we will avoid getting a hair cut and shave for as long as humanly possible. We are mean, rugged men of the outdoors! Clearly.

The mascots

Second, we each have a mascot. It's customary for backpackers or cyclists to have a mascot on long journeys for good luck. It could really be anything. Matthew has a mini- Cocky, and I have bootleg Chip 'n Dale.

The characters' chosen mascots

Last beer and bakery

To celebrate our departure from Macau, we decided to have one last round of balcony beers. But this one would be special, because I had a surprise for Matthew, in fact, a rarity in China: an ice cold Coors Light. Then, to satiate our monstrous appetites (and for old times' sake), we made our way to the bakery one last time... the bakery that nourished us like a foster mother... the bakery that literally kept us alive through our time in Macau. We had to pay our respects like any good child would. Goodbye, bakery. We will miss you dearly.

Then we began the arduous process of packing... because tomorrow, June 8, 2007, we will begin our Greatest Adventure to date - The Amazing Eurasian Odyssey!

Unfortunately I must inform you readers that you probably won't see updates on any regular basis. Naturally, when traveling through the Third World, Internet access can be rare at best. However, I invite you to check back here at least once a week for the latest and greatest from across the world.

Characters say good- bye to their favorite bakery in Macau.

We are Matthew and Stephen, adventurers extraordinaire!

Check back soon for the first report. See more at www.stevo.org/adventures/e urasia.