“That’s Original”

Today, I went to Dick’s Sporting Goods to buy a few things for my upcoming trip to Europe. When I told the salesman, “I’m backpacking through Europe this summer,” he replied with a very cheeky, “Well that’s original” and laughed at me! I was not too pleased, but I quickly brushed his sarcastic comment off when I thought about what “original” really means. Dictionary.com offers the following definitions:

1. belonging or pertaining to the origin  or beginning of something, or to a thing at its beginning

2. new; fresh; inventive; novel

3. arising or proceeding independently of anything else

4. capable of or given to thinking or acting in an independent, creative, or individual manner

5. created, undertaken, or presented for the first time

No matter what others may have to say, based on the above definitions, my trip is most definitely original, even if just for me! Mackenzie and I are SUPER excited to see what I’ll discover, learn, and experience along the way.

For those that I have not told yet, our current travel itinerary is as follows:

Berlin, Germany – 2 days

Frankfurt, Germany – 3 days

Munich, Germany – 3 days

Italy – 7 days

Bled and Ljubljana, Slovenia – 2 days

Vienna, Austria – 5 days

Bratislava, Slovakia – 1 day

Budapest, Hungary – 5 days

Krakow, Poland – 5 days

Prague, Czech Republic – 4 days

Berlin, Germany – 4 days

Coming Home

     I have to say, coming home is not so easy for me. While of course I enjoy spending time with family and friends, it is hard to have been gone for so long and then suddenly arrive back to a place that should be familiar but is not. Yes, the people and places at home are indeed familiar, but the everyday lives are not at all. I think I do a good job of keeping up with my friends and family, but to step off a plane and into a city or house that I have not lived in for at least a year is surprisingly foreign. I don't expect everyone's lives to stop because I'm not here, or even for them to pause when I arrive, but I have to be honest and say that it's hard to see how my friends' and family members' lives have continued, and I've missed the past year of it. From birthdays to new relationships, from new jobs to preparing for college, I was not here for these changes and developments. What I also find challenging is that my friends and family were not there when I traveled to Nepal and Uganda, when I visited the Grand Mosque, or when I took up salsa lessons. Yes, I've made new friends doing these things on my own, but I do wish I could share these experiences with people that I've known for years. I know I am blessed to have this blog, Facebook, Skype, etc to keep in touch with friends and family. I am also making sure to spend quality time with friends and family while I am here, but I also thought it necessary to reflect on and provide insight into this side of the "living abroad" coin.

I finally made it to the MLK Memorial. It's not as big as I thought it would be, but it's definitely massive.

I have the best friends ever; Nikki and Julie had Ashley, Kelly, and me over for dinner as soon as I arrived in DC. This was my first taste of pork as soon as I got to the States. There's nothing like real pork pepperoni!

With Mia and our grandma on Shaundra'sgraduation day!

My uncle Matthew and Baby Roy. Isn't Roy just the cutest?!

Baby Roy's first time playing at the beach. He did NOT like the sand...but he'll get used to it.

Madonna = Fabulous!!!!

About 2 years ago, I sat down and wrote a “Golden List.” Most might choose to think of this as a bucket list, but to me that implies a list of things you want to do before you die. I prefer to think of my list as experiences and opportunities to help me live my life like it’s golden. (Cue Jill Scott song now.) There are certain things that I want to experience that I feel will enrich my life. My list keeps me focused on life now, rather than death later.

In any event, one of the items I included on my list was to see Madonna live! "Why Madonna?" hyou might ask. Because she's Madonna! Well, about a week before I left Abu Dhabi, I checked that off my list! And it was a great show! Yes, she pushed the limits; I would not be surprised if she offended some members of the audience; and it was not too considerate that she did not begin performing until almost 10:30p.m. Either way, it was an amazing show. She did not just sing and dance around on stage; she performed and had a message. I did not necessarily agree with her message, but it did prompt deep conversation between my friends, coworkers, and I. In the end, it was Madonna and she is and will always be fabulous

Mackenzie and I waiting for the concert to start.

Such a Madonna move.

Look how teeny tiny she is!