Here I am. Right now I am sitting in the Montreal Airport, waiting for my flight to London. I feel myself on the cusp of a grander adventure than the previous adventure before. Going home was amazingly good for me. I needed to see the familiar faces that I loved again, I needed to feel completely comfortable again. I think that is the thing that wears on you after awhile when you abroad. You just want to be comfortable again. And it was so good to hug every single last person that loved me; laugh with them again, and share life with them again for a small time.
But now, I am on my way back to Europe and this time I am alone for awhile. Part of me dreads it. The unexpected-ness of it all makes my stomach churn and makes my hands shake. But then again, I can hardly wait. Because I know that going somewhere alone will bring something out of me that I have never known was inside of me before. Of course I am afraid that something bad will happen, but I am learning that as with all of life, all I can do is hold my breath and jump right in. I am sure that London will be fine. At this point I even know how to get to my hostel just fine. I can do this, I just need to believe in myself.
I have to share my gratitude I have for everyone in my life right now. My parents, my best friend Arri, Robin. Tim, Jeff, Justin, Amanda, Sarah #1, Joni, Kristen, Lindsay-loo-who, and alllllllll of Atlas Greeley. These adventures and this beautiful life that I have been gifted with so graciously has all been because of you. I really don't understand sometimes, I don't understand why I was given this chance of a lifetime. But I have been thinking about it a lot lately. Thinking about how I am going to use every moment I have been given and returning it to those I love and the community I call home. I'm thinking about my future, about who I want to become from this, what I want to learn from this. They are all big ideas I guess, but I just very want this moment in my life to become something so beautiful and productive. And now I am thinking about how I can make this semester abroad different. I want it to be something that challenges me and pushes me beyond my limit and safety zones. It's a lot to think about, but I have a 8 hour flight to London to mull it over. :)
So, for now, I am on my way! Bon voyage!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
You know me...
If you know anything about me, you know I LOVE setting goals and thinking about the future. So it's only fitting that I should yet again share my goals that I set for the year 2012!
Buckle up, there's a few ;)
My 10 Goals for 2012
Buckle up, there's a few ;)
My 10 Goals for 2012
- Be more open-minded
- Ask more questions
- Be more curious
- Say yes more
- Be more loving
- Try to think of others more
- Random acts of kindness
- Be more inclusive
- Be more confident
- Stick to my identity
- Be more outgoing and trusting
- Plan more
- Budget for trips
- Future planning
- Be more organized
- Be more creative
- More original thought
- More photography
- More music
- More artwork
- Be more adventurous
- Be with people you normally wouldn't
- Do something everyday that scares you
- Figure out my next steps
- Be more spiritual and thoughtful
- Read more books
- Research and think more
- Study more languages and history
- Stay in touch
- Be quick to respond to others
- Listen and instigate conversation
- Care more
- Be more compassionate
- Put people first
- Love, no matter what
So happy New Year and I hope it's a year of accomplishments for you guys too!
Have you heard of this?
Well, it's been absolutely crazy lately! But I think I say that every time I write a blog post. Still working on my thoughts from the November trip...I actually just left my journal in Lithuania and I can't finish it til I get back! Boo!
But I can give you lots of updates on the months of December and January...no pictures though, sorry. That was one tragedy that I had to face, I dropped my camera from my bed and broke the lens. So for all of the last month and Italy and Spain I was without a camera. Which in a way was sort of liberating because I didn't have the camera attached to my face. But I did go through a moment where I felt artistically stunted, it was a little rough at first, but we got through!
But closing the semester in Siauliai was hard. There were lots of tears from those that had to leave and lots of hugging. There is definitely never going to be anything like what we all experienced that semester together. I am going to miss every single person's presence there...so, saying goodbye was incredibly hard. But somehow we were able to do it!
Kim, myself, Choi (S. Korea), and Hee-Kyung (S. Korea) were invited to spend Christmas with Juan and his family in Madrid. This was my favorite part of the traveling experience so far. I have never met such kind and open people in my whole lifetime! Juan's whole family was more than willing to open up their home for 5 strangers to come and spend all of Christmas with them...incredible. Madrid was beautiful and we saw tons of beautiful things, definitely a place that I will go back to!
After a very, very, very tearful goodbye to Juan and his family we were on our way to Rome! Rome was everything you've ever heard it to be. There were thousands of people though. It was a little overwhelming and a little too busy at times. But after a few days there you get used to the street-peddlers, the different faces, the thousands of languages. Good coffee, amazing pasta and pizza and plenty of incredible sights to see!
And so ends half of my journey across Europe. We rang in the New Year in Vilnius with our friends from Turkey (Ceyhun, Yusuf, and Mert) as well as our German friends (Franci and Boris). I've never experienced anything like that before. We stood in the Cathedral Square with literally thousands of people, fireworks were shooting off everywhere and the excitement of the New Year rolling over everyone. It was probably one of the best New Year's I've ever had!
Now I am back home for a little while. I went to Seattle for a little bit to visit my dearest and bestest friend, Arri (as well as Robin, Tim, and Jeff!). Washington is an absolutely beautiful state. There is so much life there and people seem to just live at their own pace. It was wonderful to see my best friend again. It recharged something within me, I needed to spend time with her again. Then I came back to Denver. My dearest parents saved tons of Christmas stuff for me and we all had a little late Christmas together. I am so happy to be back here and see everyone that I have missed so much!
But, alas, I will go back and a new journey will begin! I leave for Europe on the 23rd of January, the day after my 21st birthday! I arrive to London and I spend a few days in London before I head back to Lietuva! It's all been so exciting and adventurous.
Have you heard of this by the way? This is the Holstee Manifesto...and it is amazing. I've decided that this is going to be my life motto for a little while.
"This is your life. Do what you love and do it often. If you don't like something, change it. If you don't like your job, quit. And if you don't have enough time, stop watching TV. If you are looking for the love of your life, stop; they will be waiting for you when you start doing things you love. Stop over analyzing, life is simple. All emotions are beautiful. When you eat, appreciate every last bite. Open your mind, arms, and heart to new things and people, we are united in our differences. Ask the next person you see what their passion is, and share your inspiring dream with them. Travel often; getting lost will help you find yourself. Some opportunities only come once, seize them. Life is about the people you meet, and the things you create with them, so go out and start creating. LIFE IS SHORT. Live your dream and share your passion." --The Holstee Manifesto
Talk to you later friends! Maybe even see you soon! :)
But I can give you lots of updates on the months of December and January...no pictures though, sorry. That was one tragedy that I had to face, I dropped my camera from my bed and broke the lens. So for all of the last month and Italy and Spain I was without a camera. Which in a way was sort of liberating because I didn't have the camera attached to my face. But I did go through a moment where I felt artistically stunted, it was a little rough at first, but we got through!
But closing the semester in Siauliai was hard. There were lots of tears from those that had to leave and lots of hugging. There is definitely never going to be anything like what we all experienced that semester together. I am going to miss every single person's presence there...so, saying goodbye was incredibly hard. But somehow we were able to do it!
Kim, myself, Choi (S. Korea), and Hee-Kyung (S. Korea) were invited to spend Christmas with Juan and his family in Madrid. This was my favorite part of the traveling experience so far. I have never met such kind and open people in my whole lifetime! Juan's whole family was more than willing to open up their home for 5 strangers to come and spend all of Christmas with them...incredible. Madrid was beautiful and we saw tons of beautiful things, definitely a place that I will go back to!
After a very, very, very tearful goodbye to Juan and his family we were on our way to Rome! Rome was everything you've ever heard it to be. There were thousands of people though. It was a little overwhelming and a little too busy at times. But after a few days there you get used to the street-peddlers, the different faces, the thousands of languages. Good coffee, amazing pasta and pizza and plenty of incredible sights to see!
And so ends half of my journey across Europe. We rang in the New Year in Vilnius with our friends from Turkey (Ceyhun, Yusuf, and Mert) as well as our German friends (Franci and Boris). I've never experienced anything like that before. We stood in the Cathedral Square with literally thousands of people, fireworks were shooting off everywhere and the excitement of the New Year rolling over everyone. It was probably one of the best New Year's I've ever had!
Now I am back home for a little while. I went to Seattle for a little bit to visit my dearest and bestest friend, Arri (as well as Robin, Tim, and Jeff!). Washington is an absolutely beautiful state. There is so much life there and people seem to just live at their own pace. It was wonderful to see my best friend again. It recharged something within me, I needed to spend time with her again. Then I came back to Denver. My dearest parents saved tons of Christmas stuff for me and we all had a little late Christmas together. I am so happy to be back here and see everyone that I have missed so much!
But, alas, I will go back and a new journey will begin! I leave for Europe on the 23rd of January, the day after my 21st birthday! I arrive to London and I spend a few days in London before I head back to Lietuva! It's all been so exciting and adventurous.
Have you heard of this by the way? This is the Holstee Manifesto...and it is amazing. I've decided that this is going to be my life motto for a little while.
"This is your life. Do what you love and do it often. If you don't like something, change it. If you don't like your job, quit. And if you don't have enough time, stop watching TV. If you are looking for the love of your life, stop; they will be waiting for you when you start doing things you love. Stop over analyzing, life is simple. All emotions are beautiful. When you eat, appreciate every last bite. Open your mind, arms, and heart to new things and people, we are united in our differences. Ask the next person you see what their passion is, and share your inspiring dream with them. Travel often; getting lost will help you find yourself. Some opportunities only come once, seize them. Life is about the people you meet, and the things you create with them, so go out and start creating. LIFE IS SHORT. Live your dream and share your passion." --The Holstee Manifesto
Talk to you later friends! Maybe even see you soon! :)
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