Day 117

Today I met myself. My journey has come to end and I'm afraid this blog has as well, at least until the next adventure. It hasn't been long as you can see but the effects of my time abroad have been catastrophic, tearing everything I knew down and forcing me to rebuild what it means to be me. I've learned more about not only myself but the world and the people who inhabit each and every nook and cranny. It's more than anyone could ever have learned in a classroom no matter how many degrees they had to their name in the end. And while it seems to be a small world after all, some people still seem to be worlds apart. But again, most importantly I have found myself. I feel fortunate given that some forty-year-olds still don't know what who they are or what they want. Most surprisingly, I have a new appreciation for the family and friends I have at home. Of course, Christmas truly hit this home as I found myself walking down brightly coloured streets decked in red and green while families and friends passed by with bags full of food and gifts for the holiday. I haven't stopped saying "If I could just bring them here to me, I would be the happiest girl alive." I've met the most incredible people who have made me think about my life in a thousand different ways. I admire the young people leaving home behind with nothing more than a pack on their back to discover all the world has to offer. A part of me wishes I could do that, but I couldn't help but realise how alone they are. Sure, they meet amazing people just like I did but they never seem to be around enough to create meaningful relationships. At the same time, some are begging to spend time with someone else which I can't help but question. What is traveling the world and experiencing new adventures if you have no one to share it with? Luckily, I had the opportunity to share the experience with my dad but I find a hard time remotely explaining what it is like to be here. Through this, I've decided that life is not where you are or what you are doing, but the people you are experiencing it with. For that reason, I can't thank each and every one of the people I've met enough, regardless of their impression on me. As for myself, I can say a few things that I now know for sure. I have control freak tendencies to plan everything in my life. I have this need to know exactly where I am going and do my best to make it happen. But now I realise I just cannot do that. My life now is so different than I ever imagined it would be and I am slowly but surely learning to let my life take the unknown path or the "road less taken" for cliche Frost fans. I've gone from a quiet wallflower to a social daisy. I have laughed, I've cried, I've screamed. I've felt surrounded, I've felt lonely. I've fallen in love, I've had my heart broken, I've found new hope. And I wouldn't change a thing. Suddenly someone has turned my world upside down and as the pieces fall to floor, I'm picking them up and wondering where I'll go next. I've never been more out of the loop in my own life but it's honestly liberating. Thank you for following first big adventure and being a part of this new crazy life of mine. Let's see where this goes.

Day 116

Today I met surely the nicest clerk in all of Dublin. I set out for a last stroll and some shopping in Dublin wrapped up to my nose in wool. One of my stops was a music store where I bought a couple CDs to listen to while I was driving home to Kansas City. After I got back from my shopping it was already dark and inching toward the 6:00 closing time. I opened up my CD to listen to while I was packing only to find there wasn't one there. Normally, I would have gone Incredible Hulk but I was leaving in the morning and the store was closing in 10 minutes on the other side of the city. I called in a panic and the guy was nice enough to offer to bring it by my place. Frankly, I was amazed. Forty five minutes later my phone rang and I ran out to meet him. He walked halfway up the drive to meet me and placed the glorious sounds of Glen Hansard into my hands with a smile on his face. No hint of resentment in sight. As he walked back to his car, I couldn't help but thank him profusely for giving me a great last encounter with Irish hospitality. Great way to head out.

Day 115

Today I met James, another freakin Australian. He sat next to me on the plane back from Edinburgh and was ready to strike up an intriguing conversation will a fellow student traveler. However, I wasn't much in the mood for listening to yet another travel story after my difficult goodbye to the best trip I've ever had. But, I played nice and answered a few questions and regretfully asked a few as well. He was a baby-faced, blonde curly haired twenty something who I know Shannon would have melted over but I found him a bit creepy. To me, he looked about fifteen and had eyes like a lost puppy dog who surely didn't belong in Europe by himself. Maybe I was a little cold but honestly, you can't blame me. I made a last effort and offered to show him to his hostel but thankfully he declined and I headed back to an empty apartment in a hailstorm. There, little pity post for you.

Day 114

Today I met a jolly Italian man. Graeme and I were out for a nice dinner at an Italian restaurant and were greeted by seemingly Chef Boyardee himself. He was dressed in a smart white dress shirt and led us to a small table in the middle of the cosy restaurant. Despite the inexpensive prices he was professional enough to take our coats for us with a huge smile. He came around a couple more times throughout the meal, never failing to flash his pearly whites and when we were ready to leave he held my coat out for me and joked with the two of us. His hearty laugh filled up the room and although I thought nothing of it, Graeme swears it was me who gave the man that ear to ear smile. I just think he was a cute Italian man happy to be Edinburgh on New Year's Day. Who wouldn't?

Day 113

Today I met a rather nice but idiot bus driver. I was on my way to the airport and was jumping on the airlink bus while the sun had still not made an appearance. The driver looked up from his paper when I asked for a return ticket and replied that he couldn't sell me one. He said that he could wait while I ran to the nearest quick stop to see if they had one. The lady there looked at me like the thought of a return ticket was one from Mars. She had absolutely no idea what I was talking about and in my sleepy state, didn't feel like bothering anymore. Thankfully, the bus was still waiting for me when I came out although I lost 2 euro by having to buy a single ticket.

Day 112

Today I met a slightly crazed lady on the bus. She ran into me several times in her haste to get somewhere. Where? I had no idea given the way she was dressed. He wild bright red hair was pin-straight and hardly seemed real. Her makeup was about the same and she had a small Marilyn Monroe piercing, more appropriate for someone my age than her fifty years or so. She had on a white coat with a sort of fur vest/poncho thing over it and high heels. Her purse was gaudy, much like the Juicy Couture pieces of crap I see rich sixteen-year-old girls carrying around, and in her other hand was a fancy pink shopping bag. Out of pure curiosity and boredom, I peeked into her bags while I was standing behind her. Her purse contained a roll of toilet paper for certain and other trinkets I couldn't recognize. The shopping bag had nothing more than a few white ceramic cups rolling around. It was weird and by the looks of everyone else as she exited the bus, they thought so too.

Day 111

Today I met an adorable girl who found me my dream dress. It's my last day in Paris and I was off to go shopping but not without some serious reservations. I had heard horror stories of Americans not being helped in shops and the smartly decorated windows and fine clothes made me feel a bit out of place. But, I was determined to find something and told myself, it's like Pretty Woman, you've got the money. If they don't want to help, they just lost a sale. I walked in one store and found nothing. The second store I walked in a tiny sales associate with gorgeous bushbaby eyes greeted me and thankfully, spoke English. I told her what I wanted and she went around the store grabbing me pretty much anything that wasn't black. The second dress she grabbed was beautiful. I was in love with it the moment I saw it. I tried on three different dresses and each time I came out of the dressing room she greeted me and accessorised the dress appropriately. But, we both knew the dress I saw was the one. It was the second one I tried on in Paris and it was a done deal. Perfectly easy and an enjoyable experience rolled into one. What more could a shopping lover want on the last day in Paris?