From my Ears to Yours

I'm currently stuck on these two songs by Florence + The Machine! They make me happy :-)

Happy Birthday! (And Merry Christmas)

Today (Christmas day) would have been my Grandpa's 90th birthday!
We went to the cemetery to sing happy birthday and leave a wreath on his grave (I also left him a cookie, as that was one of his very favorite things to eat)

Today was also a really great Christmas spent with my family! I seem to have made out pretty well in the gift department which also caused me to just be grateful for such amazing family, friends and boyfriend regardless of what they give me on Christmas, they give me love and joy every day (as cheesy as it sounds)!

Nostalgically Yours

Semester at Sea LipDub Ship Tour from Semester at Sea on Vimeo.


Seriously, guys, if you've got 10 minutes to spare, watch this video made by the Fall 2011 Semester at Sea students. It really cool and it gives you a great look at the SAS ship and just how cool the people are that participate in the program. Even though the kids in the video aren't from my voyage (was mine really 3 YEARS ago?! Yikes) it is SO representative of the energy, creativity, and adventurous spirit that it still made me tear up a little to see the ship again and all the students hanging out aboard the good 'ol MV Explorer!

Wait...3 years ago?! It's been 3 years since I traveled around the world on a ship? That's hard to believe. The good news is I'm still dreaming of more travel and adventures, I am still in touch with many of the amazing friends I made on that trip, and I am forever changed for the better because of that time in my life! I plan to have many more incredible adventures in my life but I know that Semester at Sea was one that is unrepeatable. I'll never get that same opportunity again. Saying that makes my brain say "dang, I wish I'd done more on the trip and seen more and I wish I hadn't gotten annoyed at my roommate that one time and I wish I had signed up for that one activity and hadn't spent so much time missing the boyfriend I'm not even dating anymore..." but this is where I remind my brain that for every little thing I regret on that trip there's 100 things that were amazing and far more worthy of remembering.

Just  a few of these... involve spending an entire day in an African sand dune playing in the sand with my friends, hiking to the top of Table Mountain in South Africa, playing volleyball in the "Sea Olympics" on the ship, staying with an incredible family in India (homecooked Indian food anyone?! YUM!) going to a hookah bar in Chennai, riding in crowded taxis and rickshaws - being jostled about on foreign roads hoping I end up at the right destination and trying to remember that the journey is the destination, listening to jazz music in a Vietnamese jazz club, eating pho, visiting the homes of two famous jazz musicians in South Africa, getting lost in Shanghai, Japanese subways, Disney World Tokyo at 6am, eating stingray in Malaysia, walking the streets of Langkawi in pouring rain to find a hotel (and finding one right on the beach for unimaginably cheap), having deep conversations with my roommate (miss you Estes!) and the rest of my worldly friends (Kristene, Betharoo, Roy, Kristene, Alison, Paul and more!), sailing through the Panama Canal and learning about locks, riding horses and ziplining in Costa Rica, Thanksgiving on the beach in Hawaii, playing spoons on the ship, taco day, movie nights (especially watching Elf in the union) and so so so sooooo much more!

If a kid entering college asks you for advice tell them what I always say: STUDY ABROAD! Just do it. No matter where you go (athough I would recommend SAS, of course) just study abroad. It will add to your education and change your life forever. You won't regret it. Or...if you're not a student, GO ABROAD! Work, volunteer, backpack Europe, just travel already!

If I had the money right now I would be traveling. Right now. But not to worry, because I know I'll get there! The second I have enough for a plane ticket to somewhere new I'm on it. It doesn't take a fortune to travel, guys! It really doesn't. Money is NOT an excuse for not traveling. When I'm not actually traveling I'm reading and dreaming about it and planning where I will go and always looking at ways to make it happen. Just make it happen! This world is huge and I intend to see as much of it as I possibly can while I'm here. You can always come home again after an adventure. Don't be afraid to leave home...it will always be there waiting for you when you return!

Happy Travels, all you beloved friends and family of mine :-)

p.s. here's a sort of related thought for the day: comedian Demetri Martin said "The definition of 'adventure' depends upon how boring your life is"...He is so right! I'm definitely inspired to always strive for greatness in my life AND my adventures!

True

HA!! :-)