I have received the very best Christmas presents in the whole world and they are as follows:
1. College acceptances to Colorado State, University of Arizona, University of Oregon, and San Diego State! I am beyond excited and grateful to be 4/4 with college acceptances. Go Rams, Wildcats, Ducks, and Aztecs! Now comes the decision process...
2. The best internship and job in the whole wide world. I love working with kids. They are the greatest, and even though sometimes they get on my last nerve, there is nothing more profound than being able to positively impact their lives. I am so lucky and my heart is so full of gratitude for them.
3. My BFFS. I have the very best friends in the whole world and I would be dead in a ditch without them.
4. My tenure as a Peer Counselor! It was the most important thing I have ever done and even though today was my last day I miss it terribly. I am so lucky to be a part of something so special.
5. My family. I can not wait to celebrate the holidays with the best people I have ever had the privilege of knowing.
I wish you a happy holidays spent with those you cherish most! I know I have a lot to celebrate this season. Until next time xxx.
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Monday, November 16, 2015
GOOOO DUCKS!
I am so pleased to announce that my first college acceptance has been to the University of Oregon! It was my first (and only) application in so far. I am finishing up my apps to San Diego State, Colorado State, and University of Arizona. I am thinking of applying to Stanford and the University of Chicago to pursue english, but I am incredibly pleased and thankful for the acceptance to Oregon! It is a gorgeous school, but now I'm just faced with the burden of weighing all my options. Arizona and Oregon are like two different worlds. Do I want to stay in state at CSU, so I don't have to leave my brothers behind? On the other hand, I'm ready for a whole new change in scenery, yet I know it will be a difficult adjustment.
As you can already tell, I am conflicted. A lot of decisions will have to be made in the next few months and I've got a lot to consider, but I am ready for all these exciting changes. I just wanted to share the special news with all of you! Until next time xxx.
As you can already tell, I am conflicted. A lot of decisions will have to be made in the next few months and I've got a lot to consider, but I am ready for all these exciting changes. I just wanted to share the special news with all of you! Until next time xxx.
Sunday, November 15, 2015
Pray for Paris, Pray for Japan, Pray for Mexico, Pray for the World, Pray for Peace
I wanted to make a quick post for my readers in other countries. I have quite a few readers from France, Japan, Mexico, and other corners of the world and I would like them to know that my thoughts and prayers are with them. November 13th was a tragic day in history all across the board, and all I can think about is the people that have been personally affected by these natural disasters and acts of terrorism. We do not understand them. I can not wrap my mind around such senseless tragedies.
November 13th was also World Kindness Day, in all it's irony. I know I can not personally bring solace to those that are grieving, but I wish I could fix everything and reverse time to erase these tragedies. Wear white to symbolize peace, tell your friends and family that you love them, and keep on standing strong and standing united. The world is with you, and we love you, and we will overcome this as not "France" or "Japan" or "Mexico," but as human beings. Until next time xxx.
November 13th was also World Kindness Day, in all it's irony. I know I can not personally bring solace to those that are grieving, but I wish I could fix everything and reverse time to erase these tragedies. Wear white to symbolize peace, tell your friends and family that you love them, and keep on standing strong and standing united. The world is with you, and we love you, and we will overcome this as not "France" or "Japan" or "Mexico," but as human beings. Until next time xxx.
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Fall Break 2015
Being a high schooler during fall is possibly one of the best things to happen to me. While the weather is still a little too hot for "fall," the leaves are changing and life is spinning quite splendidly. I've got some of the most beautiful (inside and out) best friends on the planet and lots of exciting things going on.
Fall break ends today, but lucky me doesn't have to return to school until Thursday. I'm heading up to the mountains for an outdoor ed trip with elementary school kids. It'll be a long three days, but hopefully rewarding and fun.
Over this break I got my hair cut to support The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, spent time with my brothers, went bowling with Daycamp for a field trip, got a very large pumpkin, went to a pumpkin patch, caught up with friends, went to a scary movie (appropriate for the season), went to the corn maze, baked cookies, worked on college applications, went on a sushi date, and all sorts of other cute fall things.
Fall break ends today, but lucky me doesn't have to return to school until Thursday. I'm heading up to the mountains for an outdoor ed trip with elementary school kids. It'll be a long three days, but hopefully rewarding and fun.
Over this break I got my hair cut to support The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, spent time with my brothers, went bowling with Daycamp for a field trip, got a very large pumpkin, went to a pumpkin patch, caught up with friends, went to a scary movie (appropriate for the season), went to the corn maze, baked cookies, worked on college applications, went on a sushi date, and all sorts of other cute fall things.
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| The first night of break spent listening to music and talking for hours about life |
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| Some art by yours truly |
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| the largest of pumpkins |
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| So grateful to see my friend Matthew in The Odd Couple and so #blessed to be photo bombed by Will Smith |
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| sushi dates & chill |
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| only appropriate to see scary movies during the scariest season |
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| all pinked out for BCRF |
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| the wilderness or a friend's backyard? |
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| Our super fab photographer friend Blake took some super cute pics of us |
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| Me n Ri |
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| We almost got lost in the corn maze |
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| typical crying and listening to sad music and stuff with the queens |
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| fall all around |
Until next time xxx.
Saturday, September 5, 2015
Me, The Realist
We all have dreams. Life would be a pathetic, boring mess without them.
Yet, there comes a time in life when it is time to face the music and accept reality for all that it is- including it's wonderful highs and tragic lows. I have come to accept that, as my dad says, "You don't know everything kiddo." (thanks dad?). But it's true. I don't know everything. Out of all the things there are to know in this universe, I probably know nothing. Sometimes, I don't even know the things I think I know. Does that even make sense? I don't know. Do you?
The whole point is that maybe I don't know everything, but there are a few things I have grown to be absolutely certain of. One of these things is that being a realist is the only way I'm going to survive.
Sure, dreaming is a beautiful thing and there is nothing I do more than imagine my life someway it is not. Maybe if I looked different and lived somewhere else and was born in a different time and had a million dollars... stop. I am me and I am here and I have what I have. It is what it is. I am me and you are you.
I have also had to learn that 95% of the things I encounter in my life will be out of my control. There are a thousand and one things that are out of my control. For example, I left California in 5th grade, but a year later I found out one of my closest friends there got cancer and died. I can't control that my 4th grade teacher, "the cool teacher," molested kids for years and now has to spend the rest of his sorry life in jail. I couldn't control that I was an only child for ten years, or that my parents are getting divorced, or that I moved away from California and everything I knew. I can't control the things I can't control. I can control my reactions to the things that are out of my control.
I have also had to learn that 95% of the things I encounter in my life will be out of my control. There are a thousand and one things that are out of my control. For example, I left California in 5th grade, but a year later I found out one of my closest friends there got cancer and died. I can't control that my 4th grade teacher, "the cool teacher," molested kids for years and now has to spend the rest of his sorry life in jail. I couldn't control that I was an only child for ten years, or that my parents are getting divorced, or that I moved away from California and everything I knew. I can't control the things I can't control. I can control my reactions to the things that are out of my control.
Do you think the people on the Titanic wanted it to hit the iceberg? I'm just saying.
It's scary to know that, no matter what you do or what you say, life is going to do what it wants with you. It'll pick you up, swing you around, drop you, save you right before you hit the ground, and sometimes laugh while you fall. So, you can dream all you want. But just know half the things you dream of won't happen and things you never even imagined, a million better things, will happen instead.
Something else I have observed during my time in high school is that all these kids around me have grand plans for the future. It is incredible really. Yes, I have plans of my own. But some of these people sound a lot like, "At 24 I'm going to get engaged to the cute guy I meet at work and by 25 I will have my perfect wedding in the Bahamas and by 28 I will have two kids, one boy and one girl, named Charlotte and Robert, and then I'll be working in New York City and my family will live in a trendy penthouse and every other Saturday we will have friends over for wine tasting and then we will take our yacht out on the Hudson and every summer we will vacation off the coast of Italy and-"
Really? How great. People that sound like this sure seem to have everything sorted out for their futures. Congratulations. Like I said, dreams are great. They make life exciting and they give us purpose. Sure, there are things I would like for my future. I would like to be a journalist or creative writer of some sort. I want to live in a big city like Los Angeles or Chicago. I don't want to get married until I'm at least 27 and I want to travel. I want to have a few kids. Owning a beach house would be nice. The list goes on. Yet, I'm not sitting over here counting on all of these things. I know they are not guaranteed because life does not guarantee us anything. Life doesn't owe us anything and it certainly doesn't owe us time. So, go ahead, create a list of everything you are expecting for your future. In 30 years I encourage you to look back at this list, check off everything that happened, and add on all the unexpected twists. It will probably surprise you. I'm hoping it surprises me.
Something else you are not guaranteed in this life is people. You will meet assholes and you will meet cool people. Some of the cool people will turn out to be assholes. Some of them will genuinely just be cool. Some of the assholes will actually turn out to be the coolest people you've ever known. Some assholes will always be assholes. Some people you just won't get along with. There will be no spark, or no click, but that doesn't mean they are somehow not cool anymore. They can be cool and you can be cool but maybe you can not be cool together. Some people who seem like assholes to you will be cool to other people. To some people you will be the cool person and to others you will be the asshole. Accept it.
Again, you are not guaranteed time. I could die today. I could also live for the next 90 years. It's terrifying.
Accept whatever happens to you and move on with your life. Life will knock you out and leave you there on the ground. Other times life will pick you up and toss you into the stars.
Something else I have observed during my time in high school is that all these kids around me have grand plans for the future. It is incredible really. Yes, I have plans of my own. But some of these people sound a lot like, "At 24 I'm going to get engaged to the cute guy I meet at work and by 25 I will have my perfect wedding in the Bahamas and by 28 I will have two kids, one boy and one girl, named Charlotte and Robert, and then I'll be working in New York City and my family will live in a trendy penthouse and every other Saturday we will have friends over for wine tasting and then we will take our yacht out on the Hudson and every summer we will vacation off the coast of Italy and-"
Really? How great. People that sound like this sure seem to have everything sorted out for their futures. Congratulations. Like I said, dreams are great. They make life exciting and they give us purpose. Sure, there are things I would like for my future. I would like to be a journalist or creative writer of some sort. I want to live in a big city like Los Angeles or Chicago. I don't want to get married until I'm at least 27 and I want to travel. I want to have a few kids. Owning a beach house would be nice. The list goes on. Yet, I'm not sitting over here counting on all of these things. I know they are not guaranteed because life does not guarantee us anything. Life doesn't owe us anything and it certainly doesn't owe us time. So, go ahead, create a list of everything you are expecting for your future. In 30 years I encourage you to look back at this list, check off everything that happened, and add on all the unexpected twists. It will probably surprise you. I'm hoping it surprises me.
Something else you are not guaranteed in this life is people. You will meet assholes and you will meet cool people. Some of the cool people will turn out to be assholes. Some of them will genuinely just be cool. Some of the assholes will actually turn out to be the coolest people you've ever known. Some assholes will always be assholes. Some people you just won't get along with. There will be no spark, or no click, but that doesn't mean they are somehow not cool anymore. They can be cool and you can be cool but maybe you can not be cool together. Some people who seem like assholes to you will be cool to other people. To some people you will be the cool person and to others you will be the asshole. Accept it.
Again, you are not guaranteed time. I could die today. I could also live for the next 90 years. It's terrifying.
Accept whatever happens to you and move on with your life. Life will knock you out and leave you there on the ground. Other times life will pick you up and toss you into the stars.
So, accept things for what they are but don't take life too seriously. If I know anything, it's that you won't be getting out of this alive. Until next time xxx.
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| "You don't know everything." -Dad |
Monday, August 17, 2015
5 Steps to Making Each Day Better
I don't know about you, but ever since school kicked back up I roll out of bed, groan and complain, and run late to my first period class where I proceed to stare at the clock and count down the seconds until the final bell. It is really a drag and significantly brings my mood down 1000%. Something I've thought about lately is how to make each day a little better. Five out of seven days each week are either spent at work or school and people surrounding me are always grumbling about something or other. Each day deserves to be made special in its own way so I composed a little list of 5 ways you can make every day a little happier and better.
1. Wake up each morning and smile. This may sound really dumb and you may even feel a little dumb at first, but it seriously makes the day so much better. I woke up once and automatically smiled and I swear the day was unlike any day I've ever lived. I was smiling the whole day and insanely happy. I genuinely laughed at things that should've brought me down. It was incredible. So, start off each day with a smile and see where it takes you.
2. Compliment at least one person. It can be a stranger, a friend, a teacher, a sibling, or parent. Whoever it is, offer them a genuine compliment and expect nothing in return. You've just made someone else's day better which automatically gives you a positive feeling.
3. EAT BREAKFAST. I rarely do this, so I really shouldn't be suggesting it, but it is a habit of every healthy person. Eating more regularly is something I'm working on this school year. I'm often in such a rush that I run out the door without grabbing anything. Yet, I've realized that when I have had a substantial breakfast I am so much more attentive and productive. And, yes, it makes me happier because I'm not crabby from hunger. So just do it. I started out with an apple this morning and already noticed my mood was boosted.
4. Exercise!! Run, do some yoga, play some tennis, just get up and get moving. Exercise is a normal human thing to do so you'll probably just naturally be 10x happier. I know after a good round of tennis or even just a long walk with my mom at sunset I feel a lot more content.
5. Stay organized. Make to-do lists, mental lists, plans, or whatever else you have to do to keep on top of things. Life gets busy, especially around the start of the new school year and keeping everything organized and in its place will lead to simplicity later down the road.
This was a fairly rudimentary list but it's just a few things I'm working on and recommending to others to make each day a little better than the one before. Until next time xxx.
1. Wake up each morning and smile. This may sound really dumb and you may even feel a little dumb at first, but it seriously makes the day so much better. I woke up once and automatically smiled and I swear the day was unlike any day I've ever lived. I was smiling the whole day and insanely happy. I genuinely laughed at things that should've brought me down. It was incredible. So, start off each day with a smile and see where it takes you.
2. Compliment at least one person. It can be a stranger, a friend, a teacher, a sibling, or parent. Whoever it is, offer them a genuine compliment and expect nothing in return. You've just made someone else's day better which automatically gives you a positive feeling.
3. EAT BREAKFAST. I rarely do this, so I really shouldn't be suggesting it, but it is a habit of every healthy person. Eating more regularly is something I'm working on this school year. I'm often in such a rush that I run out the door without grabbing anything. Yet, I've realized that when I have had a substantial breakfast I am so much more attentive and productive. And, yes, it makes me happier because I'm not crabby from hunger. So just do it. I started out with an apple this morning and already noticed my mood was boosted.
4. Exercise!! Run, do some yoga, play some tennis, just get up and get moving. Exercise is a normal human thing to do so you'll probably just naturally be 10x happier. I know after a good round of tennis or even just a long walk with my mom at sunset I feel a lot more content.
5. Stay organized. Make to-do lists, mental lists, plans, or whatever else you have to do to keep on top of things. Life gets busy, especially around the start of the new school year and keeping everything organized and in its place will lead to simplicity later down the road.
This was a fairly rudimentary list but it's just a few things I'm working on and recommending to others to make each day a little better than the one before. Until next time xxx.
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
How to Heal A Broken Heart... and Other Thoughts on Love
You clicked on this because maybe your heart is hurting and you were wondering what to do. Maybe you clicked on this because you thought "oh gosh, what the hell does this idiot know about love?" Either way, I'm glad you clicked around and ended up here. You most likely don't know me and don't particularly care about my opinion, but I'll tell you a little story anyways and tell you what I'm doing to get over it.
Love. Love is a funny word. It's something that either makes you feel on top of the world or at the bottom of the ocean, drowning with no way out. People have different ideas about what love is, and your idea of it is no more wrong or right than mine is. Love means something different to everyone, but for the most part everyone seems to agree that love can't be bought. It's something that either happens or doesn't. It can't be forced or controlled. Love just is. Love is all around us all the time, whether we realize it or not. It can be a loud whirlwind of reckless emotions or a quiet, simple feeling that rests soundly in your heart. It can be the perfect combination of crazy and calm. Sometimes it'll just be perfect.
Every love is special. I love my dog. I love my parents. I love my brothers and my true friends that stick by me. I love to read and play tennis and travel. I love lots of people and things. Everyone loves something. Yet, one day you will click with someone and it won't be like any other love you've felt before. It'll be love; the kind you read about in John Green novels or watch in Nicholas Sparks' movies. It will make you feel so many different things at once that you know it just must be true.
I thought I felt this kind of love. Actually, I know I did, but we are all young and lost and trying to piece together who we are when we stand alone. Adding another person into the equation just complicates everything, sometimes for the better and other times for the worse. Some days you'll lounge around, wrapped in a blanket, eating ice cream, listening to Taylor Swift songs, and watching Titanic and The Notebook. That's just the way it is, but not the way it will always be.
Anyways, I guess I learned a few things about myself and everyone else. I've talked with lots of friends and we share stories and connect over it and it is truly amazing, despite the fact that we've bonded over sad things. Something I will never doubt is the importance of strong friendships. Heartache and difficult times definitely reveal true friends and I am forever grateful for these true friends I have by my side.
I can't tell you how to heal a broken heart, because your heart is not broken. Sometimes the pain may be so extreme it feels like your heart has split in two, but it is still beating and you are breathing and you are alive. You are so alive in fact, that you are capable of feeling so much pain. In a tragic way, it is sort of incredible. You loved so intensely and deeply and that is never something to be ashamed of.
So you can't heal this heart of yours. You have to stop waiting for the pain to end, enjoy life, and let time do its thing. One day before you can think twice you will realize that the pain is over and you were too busy to even notice.
A few things I learned about this love thing through my experiences and the experiences of others are as follows...
1. Never doubt the love you felt and thought you once had. It was real. Your feelings are real and they mattered then and they matter now. Just because it doesn't seem real now doesn't mean it was never real at all.
2. You will feel everything at once and then nothing at all. Sometimes you will be bitter and angry and confused. Other times, you won't even care and you will laugh and forget you were ever sad at all. It's a rocky road and there will always be good days and bad days.
3. Only say what you truly mean. Whether you are in a relationship or not, just be honest. Don't say you love someone if you don't. If you do love someone, tell them. It is pretty simple and will make life and love a lot less complicated.
4. You fight for the people you love. It is that simple. If you truly love someone with your whole heart then you will do anything to love them forever. Love is love and it can't be restrained.
5. There is unconditional love and conditional love. Never settle for conditional love- that's the love that has to be earned or can be ended by any mistake or rough patch. Unconditional love is the type of love your dog has for you, okay? This love is unlike anything in the whole universe. Unconditional love is not saying "I love you" and holding hands. It is not "I love you if you love me" or "I only love you because..." it is just love with no reason at all.
6. There are more hurt people in this world than you realize. Everyone has either had a broken heart, is dealing with one, or will have one in the future. We are all humans and we all feel whether we want to or not.
7. True love never ends. You don't have to see each other ever again or speak another word to one another. It can go from endless "I love you's" each day to complete silence. They can move to Mars. Others will hold your hand and touch your heart. That doesn't matter. What matters is that if it was true once it will always be true, even if it is over. The end of something doesn't mean it was never real in the first place. It happened and for a time in history it was real and it'll always be that way.
8. Accept that sometimes things end before they truly ended. Does that make sense? Sometimes things fade away before it all is officially over. You will feel this drifting apart I'm talking about. If you've been through it, it makes sense. It's like when you're driving and know a stop is coming up, even if you can't see the red light yet. Sometimes there comes a time when you just know it's going to end and that's okay.
9. You are young and have a lot of life left to live. It may be a bit cheesy to say, but it really is true. You have a lot of people to meet in the future and a lot more to do than focus on love. When love is meant to be it will find a way to be.
10. Sometimes it'll feel like timing was just a bitch and the world was against you and nothing ended up the way it was supposed to. Well, I'll promise you this one thing: the way your life is at this exact moment is the way it is supposed to be. It may not feel like it, but one day you'll look back and all the pieces will fit together.
11. You are allowed to be sad, but you are not allowed to stay sad forever. You won't stay sad forever. You may be allowed to be sad, but you deserve to be happy, too.
Love is everywhere. Love is pure, even when it causes us pain. It is complicated and sometimes too difficult to understand but it is the most powerful thing in this world. Love is worth it. Until next time xxx.
Love. Love is a funny word. It's something that either makes you feel on top of the world or at the bottom of the ocean, drowning with no way out. People have different ideas about what love is, and your idea of it is no more wrong or right than mine is. Love means something different to everyone, but for the most part everyone seems to agree that love can't be bought. It's something that either happens or doesn't. It can't be forced or controlled. Love just is. Love is all around us all the time, whether we realize it or not. It can be a loud whirlwind of reckless emotions or a quiet, simple feeling that rests soundly in your heart. It can be the perfect combination of crazy and calm. Sometimes it'll just be perfect.
Every love is special. I love my dog. I love my parents. I love my brothers and my true friends that stick by me. I love to read and play tennis and travel. I love lots of people and things. Everyone loves something. Yet, one day you will click with someone and it won't be like any other love you've felt before. It'll be love; the kind you read about in John Green novels or watch in Nicholas Sparks' movies. It will make you feel so many different things at once that you know it just must be true.
I thought I felt this kind of love. Actually, I know I did, but we are all young and lost and trying to piece together who we are when we stand alone. Adding another person into the equation just complicates everything, sometimes for the better and other times for the worse. Some days you'll lounge around, wrapped in a blanket, eating ice cream, listening to Taylor Swift songs, and watching Titanic and The Notebook. That's just the way it is, but not the way it will always be.
Anyways, I guess I learned a few things about myself and everyone else. I've talked with lots of friends and we share stories and connect over it and it is truly amazing, despite the fact that we've bonded over sad things. Something I will never doubt is the importance of strong friendships. Heartache and difficult times definitely reveal true friends and I am forever grateful for these true friends I have by my side.
I can't tell you how to heal a broken heart, because your heart is not broken. Sometimes the pain may be so extreme it feels like your heart has split in two, but it is still beating and you are breathing and you are alive. You are so alive in fact, that you are capable of feeling so much pain. In a tragic way, it is sort of incredible. You loved so intensely and deeply and that is never something to be ashamed of.
So you can't heal this heart of yours. You have to stop waiting for the pain to end, enjoy life, and let time do its thing. One day before you can think twice you will realize that the pain is over and you were too busy to even notice.
A few things I learned about this love thing through my experiences and the experiences of others are as follows...
1. Never doubt the love you felt and thought you once had. It was real. Your feelings are real and they mattered then and they matter now. Just because it doesn't seem real now doesn't mean it was never real at all.
2. You will feel everything at once and then nothing at all. Sometimes you will be bitter and angry and confused. Other times, you won't even care and you will laugh and forget you were ever sad at all. It's a rocky road and there will always be good days and bad days.
3. Only say what you truly mean. Whether you are in a relationship or not, just be honest. Don't say you love someone if you don't. If you do love someone, tell them. It is pretty simple and will make life and love a lot less complicated.
4. You fight for the people you love. It is that simple. If you truly love someone with your whole heart then you will do anything to love them forever. Love is love and it can't be restrained.
5. There is unconditional love and conditional love. Never settle for conditional love- that's the love that has to be earned or can be ended by any mistake or rough patch. Unconditional love is the type of love your dog has for you, okay? This love is unlike anything in the whole universe. Unconditional love is not saying "I love you" and holding hands. It is not "I love you if you love me" or "I only love you because..." it is just love with no reason at all.
6. There are more hurt people in this world than you realize. Everyone has either had a broken heart, is dealing with one, or will have one in the future. We are all humans and we all feel whether we want to or not.
7. True love never ends. You don't have to see each other ever again or speak another word to one another. It can go from endless "I love you's" each day to complete silence. They can move to Mars. Others will hold your hand and touch your heart. That doesn't matter. What matters is that if it was true once it will always be true, even if it is over. The end of something doesn't mean it was never real in the first place. It happened and for a time in history it was real and it'll always be that way.
8. Accept that sometimes things end before they truly ended. Does that make sense? Sometimes things fade away before it all is officially over. You will feel this drifting apart I'm talking about. If you've been through it, it makes sense. It's like when you're driving and know a stop is coming up, even if you can't see the red light yet. Sometimes there comes a time when you just know it's going to end and that's okay.
9. You are young and have a lot of life left to live. It may be a bit cheesy to say, but it really is true. You have a lot of people to meet in the future and a lot more to do than focus on love. When love is meant to be it will find a way to be.
10. Sometimes it'll feel like timing was just a bitch and the world was against you and nothing ended up the way it was supposed to. Well, I'll promise you this one thing: the way your life is at this exact moment is the way it is supposed to be. It may not feel like it, but one day you'll look back and all the pieces will fit together.
11. You are allowed to be sad, but you are not allowed to stay sad forever. You won't stay sad forever. You may be allowed to be sad, but you deserve to be happy, too.
Love is everywhere. Love is pure, even when it causes us pain. It is complicated and sometimes too difficult to understand but it is the most powerful thing in this world. Love is worth it. Until next time xxx.
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Senior Year Bucket List
It's officially senior year in five days. While my heart is shattered to see summer coming to an end (and the summer homework is piling up), I am so excited for senior year and all the adventures that await. I'm approaching everything this year with an open mind and heart. In one short year I will be off to college, most likely in Arizona or California (or even Europe; I've been tossing my options around).
While I am excited for the next chapter in my life, I know it will be hard to say goodbye. I have had various friends throughout my three years in high school and time in Colorado. I often wonder what my life would be like if I had never left California. It's crazy that I moved here for a reason and met the people I did for some other reason. Nothing is coincidence, and my life is showing me that. Whether I like to admit it or not, I will really miss a lot of my friends and especially my family once senior year draws to a close. I already grew so close to new people this year and summer. I know these friendships will strengthen within the next 12 months and the goodbyes will be difficult, but people who are meant to stay in your life will.
I've created a bucket list of sorts for things I want to accomplish my senior year.
"A lot can happen in twelve months, but tonight we are here together."
until next time xxx.
While I am excited for the next chapter in my life, I know it will be hard to say goodbye. I have had various friends throughout my three years in high school and time in Colorado. I often wonder what my life would be like if I had never left California. It's crazy that I moved here for a reason and met the people I did for some other reason. Nothing is coincidence, and my life is showing me that. Whether I like to admit it or not, I will really miss a lot of my friends and especially my family once senior year draws to a close. I already grew so close to new people this year and summer. I know these friendships will strengthen within the next 12 months and the goodbyes will be difficult, but people who are meant to stay in your life will.
I've created a bucket list of sorts for things I want to accomplish my senior year.
- Enjoy senior tennis season
- go to every football, baseball, and basketball game
- continue to bond with the peer counselors
- every month do a random act of kindness
- thank all my teachers
- spend time with my brothers and parents
- talk to my grandparents on the phone each weekend
- intern
- meditate when stressed out
- don't get as stressed out- let the universe do it's thing
- apply to multiple colleges
- throw a Halloween party round 2
- have a huge 18th birthday party
- score 4s or 5s on AP tests
- go on sunrise hikes before school
- build strong friendships above everything
- donate books to an underprivileged school or orphanage
- live in the moment
- enjoy everything for what it is
At the end of the day, I just want to enjoy everything while I can and make the most of every experience. Senior year will be over before I can blink.
"A lot can happen in twelve months, but tonight we are here together."
until next time xxx.
Friday, July 10, 2015
52 Lists Project
Inspired by Mackenzie's blog post on the 52 lists, created by Moorea Seal, I've decided to compose my own list. Though it may not be the beginning of the year, it is the end of my 16th year, so technically it is a fresh start for me. I have so much to accomplish this year and am really looking forward to it. I am someone who loves structure, so I thought keeping lists was a genius way to track my mindset throughout the year. Week one is "list the words that touch your soul."
Here are all the words that touch my soul and bring me happiness. Included are things I love, feelings I love, or words that I find particularly beautiful:
Here are all the words that touch my soul and bring me happiness. Included are things I love, feelings I love, or words that I find particularly beautiful:
family
friends
love
comfort
music
movies
travel
beach
ocean
stars
brothers
future
Christmas
birthdays
honesty
laughter
smiles
heart
home
books
freedom
California
reunion
bittersweet
sweet
ineffable
animals
dogs
dancing
reading
writing
tranquility
serendipity
ethereal
light
moon
rain
epiphany
relative
solitude
dawn
twilight
dusk
eloquent
grace
selfless
sonder
rekindle
soul
carefree
youthful
chance
loyalty
forgiveness
felicity
glamour
sunset
sunrise
flowers
trees
leisure
shore
butterfly
wedding
eternity
decadent
It is a random list, I know, but all are words that make me feel something. Do you ever hear a word or a phrase and you feel it deep down in your soul? Well, my soul has been touched. I hope yours has, too. Until next time xxx.
 |
| This picture touches my soul |
Thursday, July 9, 2015
16 Going On 17
In exactly 48 hours from now I will officially be 17 years old. That's pretty scary and weird to think about, since I can remember my 10th birthday like it was just yesterday. My 16th birthday celebration is still fresh in my memory. The fact that that was an entire year ago just blows my mind. It is so crazy that I will never be 16 again. 16 is such a big year. Ever seen 16 candles? It's like the real "welcome to young adulthood" birthday. So much has changed… in a sense, the entire course of my future has changed immensely. Immediately after my 16th birthday, I headed back to Colorado to get my wisdom teeth out. After about a week of recovery time, I was told of the divorce. That really changed everything, whether I liked it or not. When I look back on my 16th year, I realize just how much changed. I've composed a list of sorts of everything crazy that happened during my 16th year of being alive on this earth.
1. My parents announced the divorce. This obviously just changed a lot. I don't think it really needs an explanation because clearly this turns life upside down.
2. I became a peer counselor and it was the best thing that could have happened to me. It really happened at the best time, too. When I was going through a difficult time in my life, I made all sorts of supportive friends and was able to help others as well going through challenging times. Being a peer counselor really changed my perspective on a lot of things.
3. I got my job. My job has impacted me a lot. Not only does it require my time, but I have gotten to meet lots of people. The fact that I am now a role model and influence in so many young kids lives is really astounding.
4. I maybe kind of fell in love?? And then I fell out of it. I don't know everything about love, but lets just say my feelings went on a tumultuous adventure this year. Now the adventure has ended, as all adventures do.
5. I made some new friends in unexpected places. I am grateful for building relationships that will hopefully last out of high school.
6. I went to freaking Europe. I got to see the Eiffel Tower twinkle at night. I saw the freaking Queen and freaking Kate Middleton and freaking Prince Harry and William. That in itself is life changing.
7. I have worked on writing my book more and more. It has actually been about a year since I began, so that is exciting.
So that is all I could think of that was outstanding and interesting. All in all, I grew a lot as a person and my character really developed this past year. It was a super long year, dreadful at times, but it also flew by and I had some of the greatest moments of my life this year. Thanks for everything, 16. I'll miss you lots. Until next time xxx.
1. My parents announced the divorce. This obviously just changed a lot. I don't think it really needs an explanation because clearly this turns life upside down.
2. I became a peer counselor and it was the best thing that could have happened to me. It really happened at the best time, too. When I was going through a difficult time in my life, I made all sorts of supportive friends and was able to help others as well going through challenging times. Being a peer counselor really changed my perspective on a lot of things.
3. I got my job. My job has impacted me a lot. Not only does it require my time, but I have gotten to meet lots of people. The fact that I am now a role model and influence in so many young kids lives is really astounding.
4. I maybe kind of fell in love?? And then I fell out of it. I don't know everything about love, but lets just say my feelings went on a tumultuous adventure this year. Now the adventure has ended, as all adventures do.
5. I made some new friends in unexpected places. I am grateful for building relationships that will hopefully last out of high school.
6. I went to freaking Europe. I got to see the Eiffel Tower twinkle at night. I saw the freaking Queen and freaking Kate Middleton and freaking Prince Harry and William. That in itself is life changing.
7. I have worked on writing my book more and more. It has actually been about a year since I began, so that is exciting.
So that is all I could think of that was outstanding and interesting. All in all, I grew a lot as a person and my character really developed this past year. It was a super long year, dreadful at times, but it also flew by and I had some of the greatest moments of my life this year. Thanks for everything, 16. I'll miss you lots. Until next time xxx.
 |
| 16 |
Friday, July 3, 2015
A European Adventure
On June 11th I took off on an unforgettable trip to Europe. I saw beautiful places and met some amazing people. Needless to say, I made memories that will last a lifetime. Maybe that sounds like a complete cliché, but it's the honest truth. From swimming off the coast of Northern France, getting mooned by drunk Parisians to seeing the British Royal family and walking into a "coffee shop" in Amsterdam, it was definitely a vacation that I will always remember. I would apologize for how long this post is, but here are all the adventures I hold so close to my heart...
Day 1: We leave America, with a few hour layover in the JFK airport. It's the closest I've been to New York. Then, we catch a red-eye to London. When I wake up, we are near landing at Heathrow airport. It's about 8.. the next morning. From the little plane window I see the green expanse of England and old buildings that resemble castles. I feel like I am in a dream and/or have just traveled through time. After we go through customs we wait for our buses and we are off. I exchange some US currency for pounds and buy a sandwich at a British eatery known, cleverly, as "EAT." We have a "short" walking tour that lasts what feels like an eternity. I'm so exhausted I want to fall over and sleep in the middle of Trafalgar Square. I eat macaroons and visit Picadilly Square, which resembles a Times Square.
Day 2: Another day in London. We go on a bus tour and see all the corners of London. Then, we pay a visit to the gates of Buckingham Palace and await the royal family. It's the Queens birthday parade, and in a whimsical moment I see Kate Middleton, Prince Harry, Prince William, Prince Charles, and The Queen herself. I take a tour of Windsor Castle and see the royal guard. At dusk we go on a tour of the infamous Jack the Ripper's killing spots and had a super odd guide for it that dressed in all black and carried a lantern around. That night at the hotel I sit in the sauna with friends and take a dive in the modern infinity pool.
Day 3: The next morning we eat the decadent hotel breakfast and say goodbye to London. It's a sad farewell. We stop in Canterbury, which is sleepy on a Sunday morning. I buy a coffee at a quaint shop and watch a talented street performer. It's a relaxing morning, and from there we head off to Dover to catch a ferry to France. The cliffs of Dover are impressive and majestic in a way. The ferry was big and comfortable. I stood up on deck to watch the cliffs melt away into the clouds. I got a Starbucks and a few friends and I played cards on a couch. In about an hour, we were in France. In Bretagne (Brittany) we go order our own dinner and get ice cream. We eat "pizza margarite" and walk around the water. The buildings are beautiful and remind me of something from an old romance movie. We head off to our hotel, which is a tragically old building that has been remodeled on the inside to look like Ikea. The shower has no door and the toilet is in a separate rooms. It was funny in an uncomfortable, "are you kidding me," sort of way.
Day 4: The breakfast in the morning was decent, and from there we went to the "bitches of Normandy" as our French tour guide called them. He tried his best to pronounce "beaches" but it came out as "bitches, bitches, bitches." We visited a beautiful D-Day museum and explored the American gardens. The American Cemetery was a touching tribute and beautifully executed. We left the beaches of Normandy ("au revoir bitches of Normandy") and headed for Saint Malo. We got to St. Malo in the afternoon and went to a crepe dinner. We had a couple hours of free time in the afternoon and, since the sun sets around 10:30-11 there, friends and I walked along the wall and out on the rocks to watch the sun set over the sea. It was a perfect evening, and Ainsley and I then retreated to our room back at the hotel, which was on the very top floor. It was probably my favorite hotel, the Anne de Bretagne, given it was in the heart of the already small St. Malo. We could come in and out as we pleased and go shopping and for drinks whenever we had free time. Our hotel room was smaller but had a homey feel to it.
Day 5: In the morning, Ainsley and I woke to the screaming of seagulls out our open window. We had left the window open and the room was freezing with that ocean breeze. The birds were so loud they sounded like freaking monkeys had been cut loose in the city. We all had a croissant breakfast and then left for the Mont Saint Michel. It was a breathtaking old monastery. We got to explore it on our own and afterwards we got some ice cream on the walk back down. The view surrounding Mont Saint Michel is unreal, and if the tide had been higher we would have been completely isolated from land. After leaving the monastery, we returned to St. Malo, grabbed a quick fromage (cheese) sandwich and then waited for a one hour walking tour. The tour guide had a thick French accent, and I strained to hear him most of the time. Unfortunately, I was a little too distracted by the blue ocean view and old rooftop skyline. After the walking tour, we had about six or seven hours of free time before dinner. Ainsley and I joined some friends from the other bus and we climbed up to the top of this little island. It had breathtaking views of the sea and walled, ancient city. My group of friends were the only people up there, and while we were there we decided to climb over to a little castle that was most likely used to protect the city from pirates. It required scaling lots of rocks and clams, but once I was sitting up on the rocks beside the little castle it was definitely worth it. The group broke up from there, and Ainsley, Alyssa, and I decided to swim in an isolated part of the ocean. The water was still so it had the swimming pool vibe. The water was freezing, but we all ran in and after awhile it didn't feel so cold. The sunlight kept us warm. Michael joined us and we all sat in the water for some time together. Then, since the other bus ate at a different time then us, Alyssa and Michael had to go get dressed for dinner. So, Ainsley and I waded around for a little bit more. After a bit, we toweled off and said "let's go get a beer." We got two from a little cart and drank the Chat-Malo's on the way back to the hotel. We showered the sea off of us and dressed for an evening of dinner and shopping. Ainsley and I got an ice cream and window shopped around town before joining a few friends in a pub. From there, we headed off to dinner and enjoyed a wonderful salmon salad. We weren't back to the hotel until around 10:30, but of course the sky was still light. We hung out in a friend's hotel room before curfew and this time, we shut our window before falling asleep.
Day 6: Of course, in the morning, the seagulls still roared. We left Saint Malo, which was a true tragedy. But it was okay, given our next stop was Paris. It was about a four hour drive from St. Malo to Paris, but the views were wonderful. We had about an hour to relax in the Paris hotel before having to catch the light rail system to the city. We took the metro from there and headed straight to a delicious dinner. Afterward, we had a bit of free time before our river cruise along the Seine. Seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time was out of this world. The river cruise was particularly fun because it was very peaceful and we got to see all the Parisians sit along the river with wine bottles, music, and food. Some would wave to us, and one very drunk guy mooned us. The river cruise was a little over an hour, and afterwards our tour guide, Romain, made us wait to see the tower twinkle for five minutes. It was a magical experience and everyone became best friends that night.
Day 7: We had a tour of Paris on a rainy day and then got to go to Versailles. It was such a beautiful place and the gardens were incredible. I mostly loved the flowers and how green everything was. It was amazing to say the least. Having great tour guides made it all the better because I learned a lot and was able to see a lot. We had options that afternoon to either go shopping or go to the top of skyscraper that had amazing views of the city. I opted for the latter and am so grateful I did. I got to see the entire city, including Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower.
Day 8: The next day we went to Notre Dame and everyone immediately goes, "Where's Quasimodo?" After we went inside Notre Dame, we walked to the Louvre and spent a couple hours there. I got to see Mona Lisa in real life, and some really beautifully intricate statues. After our time at the Louvre, we ventured to the Opera House, where we were able to break off and explore for a few hours before we had to meet for dinner back at the cathedral. I shopped mostly for my family and got some more ice cream. We did a lot of walking that day, but Mackinzie and I made it back to Notre Dame promptly. We had our last dinner in Paris and bid a bittersweet farewell to the city.
Day 9: The next morning it was up bright and early to get to the train station. I slept on the freezing cement floor of the station for over an hour, waiting for our train to Amsterdam. The train ride was about three hours, and when we reached the Netherlands and got off the train, I was immediately frozen. A cool breeze made my teeth chatter while we waited for our bus. A bunch of Scottish men celebrating a bachelor party waved at our entire group and talked to some of our teachers. We went to Dam Square where we broke off to get lunch. Friends and I got fries in a cone and a dessert waffle before shopping at a boutique. My friend Mikayla and I really needed a bathroom, so the lady working the boutique suggested the "coffee shop" right around the block. Well, it wasn't the cute cafe I was expecting, but some eccentric weed lounge. I nearly passed out from the thick air engulfing us. We were kicked out and ultimately Mikayla and I both had to pay a Euro to use the restroom. After we all met up at Dam Square, we took a boat tour around all of Amsterdam. All the buildings are something else there. We ate an Asian meal for dinner and then waited in line at the Anne Frank house for over an hour. The bench from TFIOS was replaced by a marble bench drilled into the sidewalk, which was funny to see. The Anne Frank house itself was very touching and they did an excellent job keeping it maintained. The tribute to the Frank family left me speechless. It was very sad, but there was also an underlying current of hope. Back at the hotel that night, my roommates and I were down in the lobby playing chess when we made friends with some boys from Florida on a school trip, too. They talked about how they were going to Copenhagen, and for some reason I was very grateful for the places I had traveled to. Though I want to visit Copenhagen after seeing pictures, I loved getting to see London and Paris and, of course, St. Malo.
Day 10: We took a bus tour of Amsterdam and went to a cheese and clog factory. It was this small little place and was weird yet interesting. We all got to pet a calf which was beyond adorable. After the tour we went to the I AMSTERDAM sign and got to shop around this market that was going on. I bought some gifts for my family there, and after our free time in the centre, we went to a cool art museum and saw some incredible paintings and sculptures. After dinner that night we had to get all packed to leave the next morning at yes, 4. I was rooming with Annalysa and Makayla, so we had our other friends come to our room while we packed. Our hotel room was nice and spacious, but the bathroom looked like something from a horror movie. The shower had no curtain, no glass wall, nothing. It just opened up into the rest of the bathroom and the lighting was really creepy and overall I showered as quickly as possible. We all said goodbye to Romain in the hotel lobby and then headed off to bed.
Day 11: I slept for about three hours before we were up again, saying goodbye to Europe. The sky was dark when we woke up, but by the time we were on the bus, the sun was already rising. I slept on the flight back to America, where we had a five hour layover in Detroit. The airport was super nice, and I spent my name sitting and eating American food. The plane trip to Denver was not long at all, and when we saw all our family waiting I thought we would all pass out right there on the airport floor from exhaustion. I gave my family their souvenirs and fell asleep around 8 o'clock, waking up early the next morning. I was back.
When I was in Amsterdam, I could not wait to go home and sleep in my own bed. Now that I am back, I want nothing more than to catch the soonest flight to London and do it all over again. I want to go back to all the places I visited, and then venture off to Germany, Spain, Italy, Greece, and wherever else the wind takes me.
My summer of 2015 is something I will never forget for as long as I live, all because of my time spent in Europe. I'm so grateful for adventures I went on and memories I made there. I had the time of my life. I hope everyone gets an adventure like that at least once. Until next time xxx.
Day 1: We leave America, with a few hour layover in the JFK airport. It's the closest I've been to New York. Then, we catch a red-eye to London. When I wake up, we are near landing at Heathrow airport. It's about 8.. the next morning. From the little plane window I see the green expanse of England and old buildings that resemble castles. I feel like I am in a dream and/or have just traveled through time. After we go through customs we wait for our buses and we are off. I exchange some US currency for pounds and buy a sandwich at a British eatery known, cleverly, as "EAT." We have a "short" walking tour that lasts what feels like an eternity. I'm so exhausted I want to fall over and sleep in the middle of Trafalgar Square. I eat macaroons and visit Picadilly Square, which resembles a Times Square.
 |
| Trafalgar Square |
 |
| Piccadilly |
 |
| St. Paul's |
 |
| Waiting for The Queen (I got that on video) |
 |
| Windsor |
Day 3: The next morning we eat the decadent hotel breakfast and say goodbye to London. It's a sad farewell. We stop in Canterbury, which is sleepy on a Sunday morning. I buy a coffee at a quaint shop and watch a talented street performer. It's a relaxing morning, and from there we head off to Dover to catch a ferry to France. The cliffs of Dover are impressive and majestic in a way. The ferry was big and comfortable. I stood up on deck to watch the cliffs melt away into the clouds. I got a Starbucks and a few friends and I played cards on a couch. In about an hour, we were in France. In Bretagne (Brittany) we go order our own dinner and get ice cream. We eat "pizza margarite" and walk around the water. The buildings are beautiful and remind me of something from an old romance movie. We head off to our hotel, which is a tragically old building that has been remodeled on the inside to look like Ikea. The shower has no door and the toilet is in a separate rooms. It was funny in an uncomfortable, "are you kidding me," sort of way.
 |
| Leaving Dover |
Day 4: The breakfast in the morning was decent, and from there we went to the "bitches of Normandy" as our French tour guide called them. He tried his best to pronounce "beaches" but it came out as "bitches, bitches, bitches." We visited a beautiful D-Day museum and explored the American gardens. The American Cemetery was a touching tribute and beautifully executed. We left the beaches of Normandy ("au revoir bitches of Normandy") and headed for Saint Malo. We got to St. Malo in the afternoon and went to a crepe dinner. We had a couple hours of free time in the afternoon and, since the sun sets around 10:30-11 there, friends and I walked along the wall and out on the rocks to watch the sun set over the sea. It was a perfect evening, and Ainsley and I then retreated to our room back at the hotel, which was on the very top floor. It was probably my favorite hotel, the Anne de Bretagne, given it was in the heart of the already small St. Malo. We could come in and out as we pleased and go shopping and for drinks whenever we had free time. Our hotel room was smaller but had a homey feel to it.
 |
D- Day Museum |
 |
| Omaha Beach |
Day 5: In the morning, Ainsley and I woke to the screaming of seagulls out our open window. We had left the window open and the room was freezing with that ocean breeze. The birds were so loud they sounded like freaking monkeys had been cut loose in the city. We all had a croissant breakfast and then left for the Mont Saint Michel. It was a breathtaking old monastery. We got to explore it on our own and afterwards we got some ice cream on the walk back down. The view surrounding Mont Saint Michel is unreal, and if the tide had been higher we would have been completely isolated from land. After leaving the monastery, we returned to St. Malo, grabbed a quick fromage (cheese) sandwich and then waited for a one hour walking tour. The tour guide had a thick French accent, and I strained to hear him most of the time. Unfortunately, I was a little too distracted by the blue ocean view and old rooftop skyline. After the walking tour, we had about six or seven hours of free time before dinner. Ainsley and I joined some friends from the other bus and we climbed up to the top of this little island. It had breathtaking views of the sea and walled, ancient city. My group of friends were the only people up there, and while we were there we decided to climb over to a little castle that was most likely used to protect the city from pirates. It required scaling lots of rocks and clams, but once I was sitting up on the rocks beside the little castle it was definitely worth it. The group broke up from there, and Ainsley, Alyssa, and I decided to swim in an isolated part of the ocean. The water was still so it had the swimming pool vibe. The water was freezing, but we all ran in and after awhile it didn't feel so cold. The sunlight kept us warm. Michael joined us and we all sat in the water for some time together. Then, since the other bus ate at a different time then us, Alyssa and Michael had to go get dressed for dinner. So, Ainsley and I waded around for a little bit more. After a bit, we toweled off and said "let's go get a beer." We got two from a little cart and drank the Chat-Malo's on the way back to the hotel. We showered the sea off of us and dressed for an evening of dinner and shopping. Ainsley and I got an ice cream and window shopped around town before joining a few friends in a pub. From there, we headed off to dinner and enjoyed a wonderful salmon salad. We weren't back to the hotel until around 10:30, but of course the sky was still light. We hung out in a friend's hotel room before curfew and this time, we shut our window before falling asleep.
 |
| We reached the top of the hill |
Day 6: Of course, in the morning, the seagulls still roared. We left Saint Malo, which was a true tragedy. But it was okay, given our next stop was Paris. It was about a four hour drive from St. Malo to Paris, but the views were wonderful. We had about an hour to relax in the Paris hotel before having to catch the light rail system to the city. We took the metro from there and headed straight to a delicious dinner. Afterward, we had a bit of free time before our river cruise along the Seine. Seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time was out of this world. The river cruise was particularly fun because it was very peaceful and we got to see all the Parisians sit along the river with wine bottles, music, and food. Some would wave to us, and one very drunk guy mooned us. The river cruise was a little over an hour, and afterwards our tour guide, Romain, made us wait to see the tower twinkle for five minutes. It was a magical experience and everyone became best friends that night.
 |
| Tour de Eiffel |
Day 7: We had a tour of Paris on a rainy day and then got to go to Versailles. It was such a beautiful place and the gardens were incredible. I mostly loved the flowers and how green everything was. It was amazing to say the least. Having great tour guides made it all the better because I learned a lot and was able to see a lot. We had options that afternoon to either go shopping or go to the top of skyscraper that had amazing views of the city. I opted for the latter and am so grateful I did. I got to see the entire city, including Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower.
 |
| The best view |
 |
| Hall of Mirrors |
 |
| Versailles |
 |
| Arc de Triomphe |
Day 8: The next day we went to Notre Dame and everyone immediately goes, "Where's Quasimodo?" After we went inside Notre Dame, we walked to the Louvre and spent a couple hours there. I got to see Mona Lisa in real life, and some really beautifully intricate statues. After our time at the Louvre, we ventured to the Opera House, where we were able to break off and explore for a few hours before we had to meet for dinner back at the cathedral. I shopped mostly for my family and got some more ice cream. We did a lot of walking that day, but Mackinzie and I made it back to Notre Dame promptly. We had our last dinner in Paris and bid a bittersweet farewell to the city.
 |
| Notre Dame |
 |
| The Love Lock Bridge that is currently lock-less |
 |
| Louvre |
 |
| Mona |
 |
| Sitting on the Seine |
Day 9: The next morning it was up bright and early to get to the train station. I slept on the freezing cement floor of the station for over an hour, waiting for our train to Amsterdam. The train ride was about three hours, and when we reached the Netherlands and got off the train, I was immediately frozen. A cool breeze made my teeth chatter while we waited for our bus. A bunch of Scottish men celebrating a bachelor party waved at our entire group and talked to some of our teachers. We went to Dam Square where we broke off to get lunch. Friends and I got fries in a cone and a dessert waffle before shopping at a boutique. My friend Mikayla and I really needed a bathroom, so the lady working the boutique suggested the "coffee shop" right around the block. Well, it wasn't the cute cafe I was expecting, but some eccentric weed lounge. I nearly passed out from the thick air engulfing us. We were kicked out and ultimately Mikayla and I both had to pay a Euro to use the restroom. After we all met up at Dam Square, we took a boat tour around all of Amsterdam. All the buildings are something else there. We ate an Asian meal for dinner and then waited in line at the Anne Frank house for over an hour. The bench from TFIOS was replaced by a marble bench drilled into the sidewalk, which was funny to see. The Anne Frank house itself was very touching and they did an excellent job keeping it maintained. The tribute to the Frank family left me speechless. It was very sad, but there was also an underlying current of hope. Back at the hotel that night, my roommates and I were down in the lobby playing chess when we made friends with some boys from Florida on a school trip, too. They talked about how they were going to Copenhagen, and for some reason I was very grateful for the places I had traveled to. Though I want to visit Copenhagen after seeing pictures, I loved getting to see London and Paris and, of course, St. Malo.
 |
| Dam Square |
Day 10: We took a bus tour of Amsterdam and went to a cheese and clog factory. It was this small little place and was weird yet interesting. We all got to pet a calf which was beyond adorable. After the tour we went to the I AMSTERDAM sign and got to shop around this market that was going on. I bought some gifts for my family there, and after our free time in the centre, we went to a cool art museum and saw some incredible paintings and sculptures. After dinner that night we had to get all packed to leave the next morning at yes, 4. I was rooming with Annalysa and Makayla, so we had our other friends come to our room while we packed. Our hotel room was nice and spacious, but the bathroom looked like something from a horror movie. The shower had no curtain, no glass wall, nothing. It just opened up into the rest of the bathroom and the lighting was really creepy and overall I showered as quickly as possible. We all said goodbye to Romain in the hotel lobby and then headed off to bed.
 |
| A cute calf |
 |
| Bikes everywhere |
Day 11: I slept for about three hours before we were up again, saying goodbye to Europe. The sky was dark when we woke up, but by the time we were on the bus, the sun was already rising. I slept on the flight back to America, where we had a five hour layover in Detroit. The airport was super nice, and I spent my name sitting and eating American food. The plane trip to Denver was not long at all, and when we saw all our family waiting I thought we would all pass out right there on the airport floor from exhaustion. I gave my family their souvenirs and fell asleep around 8 o'clock, waking up early the next morning. I was back.
 |
| Beautiful traveling faces |
When I was in Amsterdam, I could not wait to go home and sleep in my own bed. Now that I am back, I want nothing more than to catch the soonest flight to London and do it all over again. I want to go back to all the places I visited, and then venture off to Germany, Spain, Italy, Greece, and wherever else the wind takes me.
My summer of 2015 is something I will never forget for as long as I live, all because of my time spent in Europe. I'm so grateful for adventures I went on and memories I made there. I had the time of my life. I hope everyone gets an adventure like that at least once. Until next time xxx.
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