Anticipation. Longing. Thirst. Wonder. Excitement. Nervousness. Yearning
That is what I felt before my grand adventure. And now it has all past with the blink of my oval eye. I had been granted the privilege to experience new things, meet new people, launch new friendships, and see new things which some only read in books.
After all of that, have I changed? Am I still the same girl who loves rootbeer, prefers plastic utensils to metal ones, obsessed with brushing her teeth, puts milk in her ice cream, and would rather live in a library (with a ginormous bathtub) than a castle? The answer is yes. She is still here. I can’t say I feel any different… tired maybe… nor do I feel any older or wiser. But I do know that my palate has absorbed the sweet flavors of gelato and my eyes have been opened. I have studied the world and how it turns from a historical and Biblical aspect; but sometimes, the mind can’t fully comprehend what it hasn’t experienced or seen. My 2,496 hours across the world revealed the world in which my eyes saw, my heart understood, and my mind comprehended. Through the many smiles and few tears, I don’t regret a single second.
The depravity of man and this world is clearer to me now. I have gained/re-gained a love for people, food, and cultures. I love all sorts of people and have always needed a variety in my life. My 149,760 seconds in Europe re-affirmed that. My food intake had been quite limited, but I am proud to say I have slightly broadened my horizons. I have taken on a greater appreciation for the different ways in which people live and why people do the things they do. I was shown a glimpse into the concept of “time” and the lack of it. Many questions were answered, but even more have risen.
My mentality of the importance of friends and family strengthened during my stay. It seems to me that many are lacking in that department. That, within itself, saddens me. BUT, just because it seems to me it is lacking, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Which was encouraging.
