Traveling Soul

Whatever is holding you back from attending that information session, from starting an application, from participating in one of the most life-changing experiences, let it go. Let go of your fear of leaving the country, of being in a foreign land, of moving away from all of your close friends and family. Let go of the person that is telling you to stay because they can't "live without you", let go of the mindset that you have of any particular country, and open your mind to the new possibilities that exist when you choose to study abroad. Now is the time to make all of the hurtful, unintentional mistakes in your life, to live for yourself and for your community, to go out in the world and learn about a culture that isn't your own, a language that fascinates you and to connect with people from every corner of the globe. It's been over a month here in Mexico and I have already learned more than I could ever in a classroom. Sunday the 4th of October, I was feeling...

If only I could put the feelings and thoughts of this weekend into words, to express the gratitude, the enlightenment, the pure bliss that I felt, I could then transcend the experience without having to say anything. Perhaps only similes could do it justice. Like the feeling of being suspended in the air for less than 5 seconds when you bungee jump. Like the sound of the ocean waves crashing against the rocks on a stormy day. Like the first time his soft lips pressed upon you, sending shivers down your spine. Like the start of a new day when everything is whole again. Like the freedom of a bird who escapes its cage. Like the selflessness of the moon that gives to the sun. Like the innocence of a young child learning to ride a bike. Like the sensational touch of mother's love. Like the taste of fresh coffee on top of the mountain during a morning sunrise. Like the earthy aroma of rain drops watering the plants after a dry season. This was one of the most incredible week...

And somehow, while I was at my favorite cafe (in the whole world), a guy named Marcos approached me about wanting to learn and practice English led to meeting a girl named Abigail (who speaks fluent English and Spanish and is learning French) that was part of an organization that was putting on a dance for international students and she introduced me to a guy named Paco (who was born and raised in Queretaro and is studying to be a musician) who gave my girlfriends and I a ride to the event where we met many more beautiful souls. My favorite thing about traveling (along with so many incredible moments) is the connections, the people, and the experiences that you create with them. Like fleeting moments, forever lost in translation and expression, they are purely captured by those who were there. At the event, I met a guy named Florent, who took me back to Cambodia...having been there himself and living in Laos for 8 years. But his dad's a French doctor and his mom was born in Madagas...