June 17, USA!

USA!

 

 I hope you don't mind my absence of posts, I started making real memories which are expensive and don't take checks, only time. If you aren't a fan of riddles, I just haven't had time. Not only did I lack in time, but there are simply some memories I've made that are just better told in person, and some that just aren't meant for everyone to see. So I could tell you the details of my breakfast and the way the Eiffel Tower looks, or I could tell you what I learned. If you would rather choice number 1, I'm sure Yelp has you covered. Check it out.  

This trip was an absolute dream; I traveled from France to Italy to Rome and back to France. Ive been terrified staring into black water alone on a floating death trap and Ive laughed so hard in the card room I couldn't breathe. I've walked high end shopping streets and taken wrong turns down alleyways. Ive had pigeon and wine in a five star restaurant and had lamb hotdogs on the river at midnight. I've been called madam and treated with the utmost respect and been harassed in a cafe at midnight while teenagers partied in St.Michael's fountain. I've seen the Eiffel Tower and so many cathedrals I stopped keeping count. Ive cried (once), laughed (a million times), and learned (so much). 

Things I've learned that I hadn't already said:

1. Wear your seatbelt 

2. Be yourself but learn to adjust; be aware but bold 

*Don't forget who you are (of course you don't know who you are, you won't till you're dead! But don't lose the puzzle pieces you've already found because you think you want a new picture) But learn to deal with different types of people. You can still be yourself and act differently around different groups of people, find balance. 

*be aware of who you're dealing with and the situation at hand, but don't be afraid to voice an unpopular opinion. Just be aware of how you approach it. Don't be afraid to rock the boat, but be cautious not to sink it. 

3. Don't let things that aren't there ruin the moment

* let a good moment be a good moment, don't let outside thoughts/things and overthinking ruin it. It's not worth it. That can wait. 

4. It's okay to be lost but don't get comfortable.

* it's alright to be lost, forget who you are, forget all your goals, forget what you want, forget what you need, forget what you deserve, forget your eye color, how you like you hair, or what makes you special, but don't stay there for too long. Be attentive. Stay anywhere too long you get comfortable, and comfort is almost as addictive of a drug as love or self loathing--and just as dangerous. If you're comfortable you're not learning. If you're not learning, are you living? But that's a personal opinion.

5. Comparing your physical features to another persons is just a waste of time.

* everyone in Europe is beautiful, hard not to get lost in the sad sauce. Got to remember everyone's different, everyone likes different things, and you don't know everyone's age or story. They could be terrible people (or amazing), and most importantly they aren't you. I'm sounding like a Hallmark card but for real, just because the girl you saw for 5 seconds had perfect hair doesn't mean she smiles like you do. Just because the guy that walked by looked straight out of a yeezy catalog doesn't mean you aren't attractive. No matter what the physical properties are, it doesn't matter. Looks fade and wrinkle with time; just stay healthy, stay happy, wear sunscreen, stay interesting, stay passionate, stay learning, and stay yourself and you'll never age, you'll always be stunning.

6. No matter how many people you meet, they will never replace the ones who mean the most to you. 

* I've met some great people this trip, but I still end up in contact with the same people. Not because I feel inclined to but because I miss them. I mean it when I say I don't miss much, really truly it takes a lot out of me to actually miss someone, I'm rarely ever homesick. But there are some people that I guess I built a home in. It's hard to find people who understand you, it's hard to find people who will stick with you either through one hard year or four great ones, it's hard to find people that care, and it's hard to find people who make an effort to keep contact with you even if you're thousands of miles away. I feel like when people think of travel they think of escape. That what I was doing in the beginning of this trip. I wanted to come a home a brand new person with brand new experiences and brand new friends. But no matter how many people you meet, they'll never replace the ones who mean the most to you. I've met people who make me laugh till I cry, who are totally different and new, who've had new experiences and have different vibes and are just overall a walking adventure to explore but just like any other exploring I do in the end I always come home. That's something I think a lot of people haven't figured out yet, that on the surface there's a lot out there that's "better" but in reality you don't want to go more then a week without hearing from some people. Its just like a support system, a rock to lean on or a pillow you can always fall back on. I've met some people at home that are irreplaceable, and no boarding pass can change that.

7.* Pack light 

clothes are disposable,but not walking an extra mile because your backpack or suitcase is too heavy is irreplaceable. If you're walking around all day don't be afraid to bring water instead of your phone, or ditch the camera for a smaller bag. Don't let anything disposable slow you down because those things are replaceable but it's the time and experiences you'll never get back. 

8. Be attentive not afraid

Don't be afraid of the world around you but be aware and watch your surroundings. There's a scary world around us, but that shouldn't alter your travels or plans in mind. Be attentive but never be so afraid that you won't leave the house. There will always be bad in this world, if you let it control you, you give in. You let them win. It's when you keep on living your life normally that we as a community of human beings show them that they can't control us, that we won't let them take our life away, that we are stronger than that. Whether it's terrorists, bullies, the weather, or anything at all really no matter what you can't stop living, you can't stop walking, you can't stop meeting friends at that coffee shop, you can't give in. Though that doesn't mean ignore what is happening. Be attentive as in on your way to a movie maybe take a different street, but don't cancel your tickets. 

 Im sure there's more but that's all for today, here are some non-aesthetically pleasing bad quality pictures I took on my iPhone in Paris because I haven't gone through my camera yet and some selfies with some historical homies: