So, we just crossed the Italian border. In the last 8 days I have seen more of the world than the average person. So far it's been 5 countries, and 6 if you include Germany. Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, and now Italy. I just want you to let that soak in for a minute. How absolutely incredible is that? Not many people can say that they've even been to one of those.
I've seen places that people only dream about. Places that I have dreamed about. Something I've really thought about is the border that we have created between countries. The land doesn't immediately look different at the border. It's not like a light switch, changing completely. It's a gradual difference. But it is absolutely mind blowing how different the cultures are, and can be. Those are the real borders. From language differences to a whole different way of dressing, to the mannerisms of a person. Italians talk with their hands, and kiss on the cheek, Germans talk professionally, and shake hands. Austrians are incredibly happy. I've seen that stereotypes aren't real, some are true, but most aren't.
I've truly found out what I need to do in life. I'm not quite sure how I will achieve it though. But I know that I need to write about what I see. I need to experience everything. And I need to share my experiences. Whether it's through words or through actions. I've known my whole life that money doesn't buy happiness and Success isn't happiness. Happiness is the place where you are truly at peace with yourself, and what you have. Some of the happiest people on this planet are people who have nothing but what is on their back and their family. That is what is truly important. Truly happiness. At it's finest.
Just think about the last time you were really and truthfully happy. It's hard right? A time where you had no worries on your mind. A time where you could just enjoy life. I experience that just about every day here. I don't want to leave this niche that I have found for myself.
"For some reason I can't explain, I know saint Peter will call my name."
Sweet Serendipity.
I just found this gem of a journal entry, sorry it's a bit late.
So. You know how when you're in a train, or a car even, and you're passing the side of the road by. You see all the things pass by right before your eyes. You don't have time to really focus on what they are or take in their beauty even. But, when you look at the things after they have passed you, out the rear window, they stay in place. Beautiful as ever. Displaying the vibrant colors, showing the world themselves. But soon you can't hardly see them anymore. They just fade away. all you have is a slight glimpse of what you saw before. There are new sights, new things to see now. It's just like time. When you are in the moment, that's when everything goes by so fast. So fast that you can hardly focus on how amazing it is right now, in this moment. But once you're on the next moment, you reflect on how incredible the previous moment was. But you can't ever get it back, because it's already gone. You can think about it, and recreate it in your head. They are still there, still frames in your memory. Etched there. Embossed with elaborate details that describe that very moment. And sometimes those are the best parts. And sometimes those are the hardest parts because you can't have them back.
It was a day filled with long awaited hellos, and long dreaded see you laters. We had a lot to do, and we got a lot done. the day went by so fast. before i knew it, i was home again. i then did a few things around the house, and went to bed early.
And I laid there, in the dead of night, and cried. I cried my eyes out. I cried because that was the very moment that I realized that what I have now, will soon be gone. And that my friend, is what hurts the most. Almost unbearable. It's a pain that digs deep inside your heart and attacks what is closest to you. It steals what is important to you. It gives this feeling that something is tearing your stomach out. Twisting, pulling in ways you cant even imagine. But then, it just goes numb. And you lay there, alone, thinking, about everything. life, experiences, friends, family, homes, memories. And thinking; thinking is what will kill you. I have come to find.
I have made something here that nothing in the world can replace. And nobody can take it from me. I have countless homes here in Germany that I can run to. Countless families. Countless friends. Countless. Innumerable. Nothing can adequate up to what is here.
Erlebnis.
My time here is coming to an end, but that doesn't mean that I mustn't continue on. Building, going, doing, experiencing, sharing. I will live on in Germany, from what I've showed people, from what I've given, and from what I have taught. And Germany will live on in me, from what I have learned, from what I have experienced, and from what I have seen. I've said this many times already, but I will be back. And until then, I can only relish in the precious memories that reside in my heart.
moments so dear.
how do you measure a year?
in daylights?
in sunsets?
in midnights?
in cups of coffee?
in inches?
in miles?
in laughter?
in strife?
how do you measure a year in the life?
I'm not perfect. Nobody is perfect. I make mistakes. Everybody makes mistakes. I don't do the right things most times. Everybody doesn't do the right thing sometimes.i slack off in school. Everybody slacks off in school. I put other things first. Everybody puts other things first. I lie. Everybody lies. I judge people. Everybody judges people. If you're sitting there, thinking in your head "oh no, I don't do that." Stop lying to yourself. Because you and I both know, what you just thought about that person who just walked by with a cigarette in one hand an a baby in the other. It's not our fault that we automatically think these things. It's society's fault.
I personally wish I wasn't so judgmental. It makes beautiful people ugly. If I just accepted people for who they are, regardless of religion, looks, interests, or race, the world would be that much closer to being a better place.
I think what I find most interesting about life is how scared people are to let themselves be open. So many fine details of life are left behind closed doors. Its based on fear, fear of judgement. Don't worry, the people who care about humanity will allow you to be who you are. Just don't hurt anybody or yourself, just be good, and do good.
The thing that I can't hardly understand is the amount of hate some people have for other people. I don't hate anybody. I can't physically hate anybody.
But we have seen how people hate other people.
Columbine, Nazis, 9/11, slavery, Iraq, World War 1 & 2, and the latest, Boston Marathon bombing. It breaks my heart to see what this world has come too.
The minute you express your personal opinion, and it doesn't match that of the other person, it's a shoot out. It's not just a conversation sharing ideas or thoughts. It becomes a dagger throwing contest of who can say the nastiest words to cut people down enough so they can't get back up.
I miss seeing children being able to play in the streets without it being something to worry about. I miss being able to say "sorry" and the response being "no problem, don't worry." I miss not having to worry about going to the movies. I miss how lighthearted our society used to be. I miss not having to worry about if I am safe, or if my family is safe.
I don't like turning on the news and seeing only terrible negative things. It makes the world we live in seem only bad. We should spend time celebrating what is good, rather than what is terrible.
So, my question to you is, why can't we all just be accepting? Why can't we all just celebrate our lives? Why can't we all live in peace? In love? In happiness? Why can't we all just enjoy the time we have on earth? Why can't we live the lives we were supposed to live? Without insecurities. Without doubts. Without being scared. Why can't we all just coexist?
That's the key to it all. Coexisting.
Go to temple with the Jewish girl who lives down the street. Talk to the old man who was in world war 2. Help out the kid in the wheelchair with his books. It's not cool to disrespect or hate people. It's really not. If you think it is "cool" I think that you need to rethink what "cool" is.
Does it hurt so much to be kind?
Does it hurt so much to be accepting?
Does it hurt so much to be generous?
Does it hurt so much to think about other people for a change?
It hurts too much to have war.
It hurts too much to have controversy.
Maybe this is what the Mayans predicted. Not an asteroid, or a solar flare, but the end of what we are. We no longer cherish life, or other people, even the Earth or the animals and resources put on it. War, genocide, abuse, senseless mass murder, animal cruelty, gluttony, greed, waste, and lust...Look around you, the end of the world is already here.
One day, I hope the world can be like this. One day, I know it can be like this. One day, Someday.
The thing is, I've already taken the steps toward accepting people. I do that now. It's your turn. I challenge you to do that. Accept.
They are the most important people in your life, no doubt. Friends come and go, boyfriends and girlfriends come and go, but family, family is really always there for you.
Brothers and sisters may get on your nerves, mom might say 'no' to that awesome party that everyone will be at this weekend, dad most likely will always be concerned with what happened at the game this past weekend, but you know that the minute you sit down for dinner everything kind of, stops. Just for a second.
Family is the support, the stability you need to learn, to grow up, to become the person you will be in 5 years; 10 years; 20 years. They are your balance, your safe haven.
You must remember, family is often born of blood, but it doesn't depend on blood. Nor is it exclusive of friendship. Family members can be your best friends, you know. And best friends, whether or not they are related to you, can be your family.
I have come to realize something over the past 8 months now, nobody can ever replace your family, you can have some pretty good runner ups, but there is nothing like hugging your own Mommy, getting butterfly kisses from Daddy, and that occasional sweet moment from a sibling.
This past weekend was, I think one of my favorite weekends here in Germany. Friday: I was supposed to go to a Taco Night with friends, but it didn't work out. I ended up on the sofa with my host dad, eating a bag of chips, drinking some soda (out of the bottle), ordering in pizza, eating it on the couch, which never happens. We watched Gladiator, which was, interesting to say the least. While cracking jokes and laughing the whole night. I was actually so happy to be spending my night this way. It was so much fun, honestly. Saturday: I got to sleep in a bit, I ate breakfast with my host mom, and Antonia (my host sister). Antonia was going to Justin Bieber in concert in Cologne, so my host mom had to drive her. Soooooooo, we all drove to Cologne. Originally my host mom and I were going to a really big sauna and pool area. We dropped Antonia and Svenja off and then drove around looking for the Sauna. We got there and saw this really cool zip line ski lift thing, I'm not really sure what it's called in English. It took us over the Rhine River and you could see the entire city of Cologne, everything that it had to offer. We decided that we didn't want to go to the sauna anymore, instead we wanted to see the city. So first, we went to the Dom, The big church in the city center. We walked through the shopping district and the old part of town. After that, we went to the oldest restaurant in the city. It was so delicious. I ate Wiener schnitzel and potatoes. So delicious! We then walked across the bridge to the big carnival. We took in all the sights, sounds, smells; everything. And then, as the end to our night, we rode "The Wild Mouse" which was so much fun! It was thrilling even. We stopped for some ice cream and coffee before picking Antonia and Svenja up.
Sunday: We had a lovely breakfast. Then we talked about what we wanted to do for the day. We decided on mini golf. This day was so nice outside. The sun was shining, about 9 degrees Celsius. We played a round of mini golf. Sabine (mama) won, I came in 2nd, and Antonia in third. I played the whole time so bad! And then I got better at the end. Antonia played the entire time so well, but once mama left, it was all downhill. After mini golf, we drove to Fröndenberg. We walked through a cool market and then found a place to sit down and eat. It was Italian. I had spaghetti carbonara. Boaaaaa, that was so amazing. Best I've ever eaten. We then drive home and had a nice evening.
Last weekend will be one I will always remember.
so, I know now, that I have a family in Florida and two families here. They all love me, they all want the best for me, and they all care about me. I love them all and am so happy I had the opportunity to get to know them like I have. I also have a family of exchange students. We are all family. I love this word family.
I tackled the biggest club in Eastern Europe. Climbed to the top of a mountain
in Budapest. Discovered Vienna once again. Fell in love with Venice, my heart
will forever be there. Had my mouth water with the food of Rome. Shopped like I
have never shopped before in Florence. Took a picture of me holding up the
leaning tower of Pisa. Swam in the ice cold Mediterranean sea in
Nice. Pretended to gamble in Monaco. Watched the huge city of Paris bustle from the top
of the Eiffel Tower. Had my first Belgian Waffle, and hopefully not my last.
All these experiences add up to one thing that I will never in my lifetime
forget. My Eurotour.
I danced.
I don't have words to describe the sights that I have been able to bless my
eyes with seeing.
"Listen to the mustn'ts child. Listen to the dont's.
Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never
haves, then listen close to me...Anything can happen, child. Anything can
be."
-Shel Silverstein
Exchange students: The most amazing people in the whole wide
world. Those people from everywhere who know exactly how you feel and those
people who become your absolute best friends even though you only see most of
them 3 or 4 times during your year. The people, who take almost an hour to say
their final goodbyes to each other. Those people with the jackets full of pins.
All over the world. They are the people you want to spend all of your time
with. They understand you and are always there for you.
District 1900 I can't describe how much you all mean to me. I really
cant.
On this trip, we all grew up. We learned to be with people
we loved and people we didn't like. We made memories that none of us will ever
forget, or regret.
We partied. We saw. We embraced. We lived.
I experienced so many new places in so little time. I can say that I've seen so
many things. The Eiffel Tower, The Colosseum, The shores of Nice, The new
president of Czech Republic, Budapest.
France
Monaco
Italy
Vatican
Hungary
Austria
Czech Republic
Slovakia
So many countries that I not only got to see, and be part
of, but they will always be part of me.
Whoever reads this, we will have to sit down sometime, and I
will tell you some stories.
Or maybe I will write some later.
"If you are a dreamer, come in. If you are a dreamer, a
wisher, a liar, a hoper, a prayer, a magic bean buyer. If you're a pretender,
come sit by my fire, for we have some flax-golden tales to spin. Come in, come
in."
