Day 2 (Europe & Going)

... Oh Ireland,

This place is quite deceiving. 

I wouldn't consider this place spiffy,

But the cost of things here say otherwise.

It's a really small city,

We both got bored and decided we want out.

Whether to the country side or to another country,

We don't plan on being here long. 

Camping seems a lot more difficult,

especially with the fact that there is no where to camp

because a lot of the land is privately owned. 

We'd like to see the sites of Ireland

But most of them are quite a ways out,

And we can't afford a way out there.

People here are really nice,

Although we've ran into a crazy one.

He talked a lot about how tourists and how the public is ruining Ireland's independence.

The funniest thing about that was he didn't know we were Tourists because he talked a mile second and I think he wanted us to agree with him.

Once he heard our American accents you could just see him have this awkward look. 

But he just continued going! 

*Using Ireland's famous words, "Ya understand what I'm saying?"

Then after repeating what he just said he apologized for our time and walked away. 

We walked and walked.

We saw trinity college and it was fascinating!

We found comfy couches and sat there,

Almost slept there, we were so tired.

You can only see/do so much on a budget like ours.

So sleeping on college couches didn't seem like a bad idea.

We ended up going to a cheap hostel.

10 euros a night but shared rooms.

Our roomies were awesome.

Very friendly and accommodating.

One of them told us about how he had recently bought a violin

and with our experience we gave them a short lesson on the violin.

And they offered us spirits.  

The showers/bathrooms were so weird though! 

First off you ask where the toilets are,

Not bathroom, not restroom, just toilet.

They'll be very confused otherwise.

Second, we share them with everyone in the hostel not just our roomies.

When I first went in there were tons of girls.

I thought I was in the ladies room.

But nope, they giggled as they pointed me to the toilets next to them

when I asked where the men's toilets were. 

Peeing with ladies in the room was very awkward. I'm glad I didn't have to use my other end.

Showers are just disgusting and not very private. Even wearing water shoes I still felt gross standing in them. 

Worst part is we didn't bring soap... 

The showers were very cold.

That's not even the worst part.

If they had just been cold it would've been better.

But no... The showers teased us with slightly warm water.

For me the shower felt warm so I took the opportunity to hope in, I was quite happy with their showers, right as I adjusted to the warmth the water switched to freezing cold water, and the tempting would switch right at the time your body could adjust to it.

It turned out to be the quickest shower I've ever taken

Wifi is hard to find so not sure how often I'll get to post but I will always have drafts ready!

So I may post many posts in one day. 

Also sorry if paragraphing looks weird,

My phone doesn't show me what my posts look like from a computer screen view.. 

Not sure how well we will survive.

But we still are staying positive and carrying on.

Day 1 (Europe & Going)

The thought of leaving home to go to another country is beyond comprehension. 

Stepping out of the daily schedule to go out and experience something new is frightening. 

We grow up learning routines so our comfort zones tend to shrink the more we build ourselves into them. 

I think too often we enclose ourselves from the world because we seek comfort. 

It isn't easy stepping out of our comfort zones because of the many anxieties and time consuming efforts. 

You never know what to expect.. 

So leaving the comfort of having a family close and a different world we've grown up on tends to bring on a new feeling. 

At first it becomes frightening, anxiety kicks in with its clever tricks of making the world seem stronger than you. 

Few make it out alive with their mission still set. 

How I view it is that anxiety is a tool to test your inner strength. 

Are you willing to give up when the going gets tough or are you going to fight?

How badly do you want this?

Anxiety is a tough coach but a teacher none the less. Where there is a will there is a way.

This is the beginning. 

I have a world full of opportunity. 

And I am only getting to see a portion of the geography and culture. 

I am honored to participate in such a journey. 

I hope to experience this from many perspectives and learn from these new views.

I aim to grow from all of this and take advantage of my youth so I can keep an open eager mind throughout my years. 

Mom, Dad, Aunt Pauline, Uncle Troy, other family, friends, and random blog spotters! We appreciate your support! I will keep updating as much as I can. We hope all is well at home. Darien and I love you and will put in our very best to do you all proud(: 

  Photo: Airport Drop-off! 

Day ZERO Part 2 (Europe & Going)

The old phrase of time flying when you're having fun never fades.

Bear Lake seemed to run by in a blink of an eye. 

The first day we hiked and injured ourselves, but things turned out well.

Once we got to the lake it was so beautiful. 

For a lake the turquoise water was beyond clear.

We first just hung out on the beach.

Walking out into the water, you wouldn't expect it, 

but you would go on forever before actually getting waist deep!

That was the real beauty of it though. 

Tides would roll in softly, 

Being in the water it was nice to just relax 

and let the waves float you away. 

After our relaxing moments in bliss the weather took a turn.

The rain poured on us during our dinner!

Knowing my family however, 

We created a canopy with a tarp over our campground.

It was really nice. We all sat close to the fire and bonded. 

I was happy to be with my family before our big trip. 

Once we got our boat... 

We let loose and became MaD hAttErS. 

Our "rented" speedboat tore up the tides!

To top that off we had to get a tube. 

Each of us took it on, and it was like riding a bull at a rodeo.

Especially when we hit those wakes!

Most of us only fell when the tube would flip, 

but we all abused it till we passed out. 

Once we got back we packed up and headed home.

Almost thought about making s'mores. 

Good thing we didn't.. 

Mother Nature wasn't done yet, 

she brought much more rain then the night before.

But luckily we were packed and on the road by then. 

That was our pre-trip. 

I couldn't imagine spending it with anyone else.

That was our vacation.

But in less than 12 hours we will be off.

Out of our comfort zones and into the wild.

My cousin and I will be putting in our best effort,

and take Europe by storm. 

This is our Journey, it won't be easy.

But with our strength, intellect, and potential... 

We'll make our marks & define ourselves. 

Here we go... 

 

Day ZERO (Europe & Going)

Here I go, into the abyss..

I never thought I'd be going on this journey, well anytime soon that is. 

It's funny that these trips are the most exciting trips one could dream of, but once they actually start I go into paranoia of whether or not it will happen, if I'll be ready for such an experience, or if  I'll have everything I need. I still don't feel like my pack has everything, like i'm forgetting something.. This day will be my uphill battle on this adventure,
DAY ZERO. 

Days like this I get everything packed 

I double, triple, quadruple check my bags till I have satisfied my anxiety. 

This is it.

I am taking the leap, 

and boy is it scary psyching myself up for this.

But I'm staying optimistic. 

I believe this anxiety is just preparing us for whats to come. 

Even better, it'll be helping us enjoy ourselves once we finally reach the comfort of our destination.
Wherever that should be... 

I'm still at home, waiting. Bear Lake is our first stop.

Most of my cousins have already left to reserve us a spot.

I'm sure they are still driving, it's a while away.

As for us my aunt and uncle are putting everything together...

..Figuratively..

Seems I have taken this opportunity to take a break.

Quick summary of what is going down.
My cousin and I have planned a trip to Europe.
We will be taking a single backpack,
for each of us of course, and that is all.
We fly there Sunday, August 25, 2013.
However our family wanted to have one last hoo-raw,
so we are off to Bear Lake this weekend.
Then come Sunday our flight is off! 
We will be going where the wind takes us.
An adventure with no cause,
heads up high and survival instinct kicked in.

To think this is happening is beyond me.

I couldn't be any more proud or terrified at the same time.

I don't feel one is ever ready for such a big move.

Living in Europe for 4 months.

No money, Just communication.

I feel like I will be using my social game to get me through all of this.

It seems to be my only hope! 

As for now, we're off to Bear Lake.

I will be ready.

I will enjoy myself.

I will carry on with strength and wisdom.

AND I WILL WRITE MORE! 

...stay tuned for more... 

"Who am I?"

It seems to be a rather important question to a lot of people. 

Everyday we're given opportunities... To choose, to learn, & to experience. 

These opportunities guide us and show us the people we are.

So "Who am I" is a question that is being answered on it's own. 

Now, I find this interesting. The lives we live, the people we are. 

We are unique, curious, intelligent people. It's in our nature. 

It's fascinating to know what humans are capable of. 

Our uniqueness brings us important roles of new understandings.

Our curiosity helps push us towards opening new doors.

Our intellect strengthens us by increasing our knowledge and making us better. 

We all know this. 

We all see whats happening, maybe in different views but we do know. 

So now that you know who are you are, what you're capable of...

Experience it. Go out and live your life. 

Being born with those 3 things. 

YOU CAN DO ANYTHING.

So who are you? You're a Human Being! 

So get up do something exciting and worthwhile. 

Define yourself. Better yourself. 

Because that's what human beings do. 

I'm Back

Terence McKenna - Nobody is smarter than you are

               Now this video I found really interesting, I honestly feel the same way. Through the experience I've gone through, I believe nothing is right unless it has been understood not by others but by me. I feel like this is where people have a hard time coming to terms with understanding. I don't know what you've been through, what you've learned. How am I to fully accept every word you are telling me as truth? Now I am not saying we're all liars here, but I am saying is that it isn't easy making someone understand something you've never experienced. You can give a person insight of things you have experienced or learned and they will take into account everything you are saying, however the words that come out of your mouth will be going through all of the experiences and learning processors of the person you are talking to's brain. When I give you words like Love, Respect, Honor, Sin, Religion, Peace, War, we wouldn't all have the same definition for those words. We learn from the raw data we are given in life. With that I believe some of us connect better with others because we've gone through similar understandings, but we all have our own view and definition going on throughout our lives. It's really interesting. Be open minded. Take into account the different languages our minds all have. We all are seeing things differently. And the best way to help someone understand your language is to be an example. 

You Choice, Your Future.

BAM!

That moment you've been waiting for is RIGHT HERE!

Look around. 

Step back from the worldly things going on and LOOK. 

This is it.

Do you feel like you are waiting for the perfect moment?

The perfect timing that society says is just around the corner.

. . . It is just a grasp away . . . 

Can you not see it? 

It's never been a grasp away!

Here it is in the palm of your hands!!!

Too often we get caught up in the world of 

Money, Work, Materialistic, Power...

&

Too often we forget who we really are

and what we stand for.

Our moment is now.

You'll never be ready if you're waiting 

for the perfect time to come.

Take your opportunity.

Because it is here.

Especially at the age after high school.

Don't wait.

You are going to be living off the

choices you make now. 

Be Wise.

Be Willing.

Be Ready.