24 favourites: 3&4

This week was a whirlwind. I can't believe that it is already over - and that in less than one week, my parents will be flying home to Singapore. It has been very fun having them here. This week has been busy with exciting things for my friends: Congrats to Sarah and Raquel for graduating from University. And congrats to Emily and Tyson for moving into their very first house! And my friend Jenn is moving to Denver next week. Big, exciting things for very special people!

There are now 10 weeks until my 24th birthday, so continuing with my favourites posts - here are two more of my favourite things:

Travel:

I have been so very fortunate to have already gathered a collection of amazing experiences in my short life. Travelling is truly one of the most rewarding and enriching experiences, and I would never trade one moment that I spent abroad. I have learned more about myself from my time travelling than from anything else in my life. And how could I ever trade the memories that I have? Swimming in the Mediterranean sea as the sun sets over me with one of my great friends; overlooking Barcelona from Gaudi’s Parc Gruell; wandering through the ghostly ruins of Auschwitz; watching A Mid Summer Night’s Dream from the Globe theater in London – or even better, Les Mis with my dad in London; making Paris my own playground with my longest friend; dancing with my family after dinner at my grandparent's home in Greece; wandering through a rural Cambodian village to a chorus of “hellos” from the children there; cooking in Thailand; climbing up the Great Wall of China with some amazing people; getting massages in Bali; learning about my best friend against the backdrop of beautiful Asia. Travel has been, to date, one of the most amazing things in my life. I treasure these experiences as much as I treasure my degree. And the people that I have been able to share these moments will forever have a special place in my heart. I have to thank my parents for choosing to follow their passion and for leaving. You have given me so much – and for this I will always be grateful.

The Rocky Mountains:

Something that travel has also done is made me appreciate where I come from. If home is where my heart is, then I have discovered that home is also where I was born and raised. While we were away, Matt and I constantly talked about how beautiful the mountains are. We vowed that we simply could not take them for granted anymore – as they are as beautiful as anything else we saw. I don’t always agree with the majority’s opinions in Alberta, and I hate that we are decimating the landscape with industry, but we truly live in a beautiful place. Even if I don’t live here again in my entire life, I really do think that Alberta will forever be “home.”