One Last Reflection, for Now.

[My last reflections while in Europe, written in my journal. Thought I'd share as a last post on this blog for a while..]

Here I am, sitting at the last twenty-four hours of my 7 week adventure abroad. I've seen so much, learned, listened, explored. I've been scared, excited, challenged, threatened. 

I've been to 8 different countries, I've attempted to speak four different foreign languages. I've encountered hundreds of fellow Americans on vacation and thousands of foreigners sharing their homes with said travelers. I've slept in many different hotels, hostels, and even on a beach. I've tried many different foods I never would have dared touch before. I've embraced certain tourist tendencies and struggled to blend in. 

More than that, I've stepped boldly into a new version of myself. I've better learned my strengths and weaknesses. I've discovered my own breaking points and just how close I can get to them. I've faced fears and found joy. I've forged new lasting friendships. I've learned what it feels like to be the foreigner. I've grown up in a thousand different ways. 

7 weeks that broke the bounds of time. 7 weeks that felt like the longest and shortest amount of time simultaneously. 7 weeks that will stay with me for the rest of my life. 

I won't lie and say it was easy; it wasn't. It pulled at me, broke me down, built me back up, forced me out of my carefully constructed comfort zone. Moments came that scared the life out of me, others showed up and made me wish I never had to go back home. 

But here, on the eve on the ridiculously long journey back to the States, I can already tell how much I am going to treasure this. The journey, the destinations, the memories, the laughs, the tears, the lessons, the growth, the experience. 

Before the sun went down on our last night, God gave us one last European gift: He painted the sky with one of the most beautiful rainbows I've ever seen. I will never forget how faithful He is, how quickly He has answered my fearful prayers with peace, how He has never left my side, not a single time. 

My God is good, He's faithful, and He provides. Everything I need, He has. 

This trip gave me a lot of things, and one of those has been the ability to completely, reverently, without hesitation, trust. Trust in my Lord and Savior with everything that I am. I never had to guess at my safety, my fate, my life. It was, and always will be, firmly tucked within His ever capable hands. 

So, yeah. I'd say it has been a summer to remember. The best part? Its not even over yet. 

4 days and Counting

Today we are chilling in Valencia, Spain. The past few days have been insane. I don´t regret staying for the extra seven days, but we are totally counting down to the flight that will take us home sweet home. 

Here is a little insight into what we´ve been up to since we disconnected from the group.

Day one involved a six hour train into the Cinque Terre. Once we got there, we didn´t have a hostel booked, so we were planning on hanging out in the train station until the sun came up and we could safely hit the beach. Turns out we got to hit the beach a whole lot sooner than day break. 

I can now officially say that I´ve slept on a beach in the Cinque Terre. Definitely one for the books, but not something I´m aiming to repeat anytime soon.

We awoke to the sun rising over the mountains and the waves crashing on the ocean. Luckily all of our possessions were still there and we were safe and sound. We spent lots of time in the water, lots of time looking for our ´hostel´ which ended up being a loft apartment looking out over the ocean, and lots of time just hanging out. 

Most of the next two days were spent on trains. Literally. 30 hours worth of trains to get into Spain. It was insane, but somehow not as bad as I thought it would be. We met an Aussie named Freya who traveled with us for a few trains, and had great conversation with her. 

Spain, oh Spain. My least favorite country as of yet. I think first impressions are lasting, because that´s the only way I can explain how much I dislike this place. I´ve never felt more uncomfortable.

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I will be home in FOUR DAYS! 7 weeks later, and I´m finally coming home. 

It has been the trip of a lifetime, I´ve learned so much about myself, I´ve grown closer to God and some awesome people on this trip, and I have memories and stories to last forever. 

But, there´s no place like home. And I am SO ready to be there. 

Now for another full day of trains, a day in Paris, and then one last day in Vienna.