In Her Time of Need...

I knew the morning of the first throw up, that my life would soon be altering.
At first she was in denial that I was leaving her, but then she began to see the bags and boxes moving upstairs and she knew then that something was amidst.
For the first few days she gave me the cold shoulder, barely talking to anyone, however, in secret every night she would express her concern to my father.
Days rolled by and more and more boxes were being brought upstairs.
Her behavior began to drastically change.
She began pouting about the house and sleeping more than usual.
Some nights she would sleep up close to me, others she would sleep elsewhere.
She began to eat less, and soon became a ghost to me.
I kept trying to comfort her, telling her everything will be okay, but she would just turn her back and not hear me out...
She confronted me as the day of my departure drew closer, yelling at me, asking me why I was leaving her in such a dire time of need....
And I told her that I was off on a journey that she could not accompany me on, but that I still loved her and that someday I would return a changed man.
Although adamant about me leaving, she told me that in order for me to leave I had to give her one last belly rub and so I did.
I loaded up the car and took one last look at the window in the house and there she was looking at me, trying to conceal herself behind the curtains as I slowly drove away, ready to embark on the next chapter of my college education....

Top 6 Reasons to Study Abroad

1. A New Found Identity

Studying abroad will give you an entirely new perspective on the world around you. Quickly, you will become very aware of the differences between your own home country and the country in which you are living in. In many ways, I'd compare the experience similar to that of freshman year of college, as you are finding yourself in new situations, you have not been before, all the while experiencing personal growth.

2. Learning Another Language

Believe it or not, even in Great Britain where the language is English, I found myself constantly looking up various phrases I had never heard of. None the less knowing another language can become very valuable.

3. An International Network of Connections

While abroad, you will meet a wide variety of people from different backgrounds, which will only prove to be invaluable in the road ahead.

4. Testing Your Limits

This may seem like an obvious one, however, there is a lot to be said about expanding ones horizons. For me, I traveled Italy all by myself during my spring break. Prior to being abroad, I would have never considered taking on such a daunting task, however, in doing so I only grew into a more ambitious individual.

5. Ability to Travel

Do not simply limit yourself to your base country. Go out into the world and get a new appreciation for what is around you, whether it is art, food, culture or anything in between!  

6. An Increased Awareness of the World Around You

This was particularly true for myself, as prior to my arrival abroad, I didn't see myself as a global citizen.

A Summer Day

Summer skies christening the morning are much like an intoxication of life; it is an addiction really.
An addiction fed by the given warmth, much like how a hot chocolate warms and soothes the soul on a cold day.
Flowers are in full blossom with busy bees tending to the flowers.
The smell of freshly cut grass fills the morning air.
The children are nearby playing in the sprinkler.
Dad is watching the children as he starts to fire up the grill for lunch.
Mom is neatly tending to her garden and the dog is barking at the mail man.
The birds are eating away at the bird feeder, as the squirrel sits nearby eagerly awaiting the right moment.
The cat sits in the window intently watching the birds.
The sky is clear and the day is warm; the humidity can be seen rising from the nearby pavement.
The aroma of freshly cooked hamburgers brings everyone in as they gather around the patio.
The kids quickly gobble up the burgers and go back out to swim in the pool.
Mom sits nearby on a lawn chair watching the kids, as Dad cleans the grill.
Nightfall soon comes and Dad gathers the kids to go star gazing in the field nearby.
They all lay in the field, watching and gazing upon the starry night as Dad points out the constellations that tickle the night sky.
Soon thereafter the kids roast marsh mellows in their back yard.
Mom and Dad tuck the kids into bed and say goodnight.
All is peaceful and all is quiet as Mom and Dad gaze out into the sky watching the moon as it glimmers throughout the night...

Somewhere over the rainbow...

"Somewhere, over the rainbow, way up high

There's a land that I heard of, once in a lullaby

Somewhere, over the rainbow, skies are blue.

And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.

Someday I'll wish upon a star, and wake up where the clouds are far behind me.

Where troubles melt like lemon drops, away above the chimney tops.

That's where you'll find me.

Somewhere, over the rainbow, bluebirds fly.

Birds fly over the rainbow, why can't, why can't I?

If happy little bluebirds fly, beyond the rainbow,

Why, oh, why can't I?"

No matter who you are, we can all agree that we are all in search of that place somewhere over the rainbow at some point in our lives. This place is not always right in front of us. Instead we must journey down treacherous paths in order to get to where we need to be. If anything, the Wizard of Oz teaches us a very important lesson, about how we find this place over the rainbow....

As many of you are familiar, the Wizard of Oz story involves Dorothy and her unlikely friends trying to make it to the Emerald City in order to seek out, the great and powerful Oz. Each of them are in search of something different; a brain, courage, a heart and a way back home. Yet as they come to find out most of what it is that they seek are in some ways intangible; as courage, wisdom and heart are not something that can be given, rather they are acquired traits that develop over a lifetime. While they might have receive little mementos rewarding them for their actions of saving OZ from the Wicked Witch; these are merely symbolic of a bigger picture, which reveals that whether or not they knew it or not, they already had courage, wisdom and heart within them; as these were the driving forces that guided them towards achieving their ultimate goal.

On the flip side, when it comes to finding that place over the rainbow, we need all these traits in order to find it.

First we must have a place in which we belong; a way back home as Dorothy was seeking. Then we must have the courage to take that first step towards the place over the rainbow. Next we take what it is that we know (our wisdom) and apply it practically. Finally and most importantly is to have the heart and determination it takes to find our place that is somewhere over the rainbow, no matter where that place might be....    

A look back at England

It is hard to believe that just a little bit over a month ago I returned home to America, after spending the past few months studying abroad in England. The strangest thing I have come to find is not riding the tube on a daily basis like I use to. I mean sure the tube can become monotonous at times, but there are always interesting things going on. Like for instance it always baffled me as to why no one really interacts with each other. The locals live amidst a wave of different ethnicities and cultures, yet it seems that curiosity had killed the cat.

Fashion was also an interesting facet of riding the tube, especially for Men. I always stereotyped business fashion as clean cut blazers of blue or black. However there was always a variety of colors and styles that I would not have considered wearing myself.

I also miss aiding people on the tube when they needed help getting somewhere. It was always interesting to hear were they had to go, because it was always somewhere different, which kept the experience fresh and allowed me to learn about other areas of London, I had not been to.

Seeing the advertisements on the tube was always a highlight of my day. I would often sit and analyze who the target market was for the message being sent, and this often times would entertain me for several minutes.

As annoying as it might of been, I also miss hearing "Mind the Gap between the Train and the Platform" as well as other little safety announcements throughout your journey. It is a courtesy that is not shared within the states, as far as I have seen.

Most of all I miss the feeling of the unfamiliar, the spirit of adventure, the freedom to explore...and the people whom I met along the way. Someday soon I will venture back...


  

Blue Bird, Blue Bird

Blue Bird, Blue Bird, flying in the sky
Oh how I envy the places you have been.
Blue Bird, Blue Bird soaring amongst the clouds
Oh how I wish I could be there too.
Blue Bird, Blue Bird, tending to his nest way up in the tree
Oh how I wish I could go to the heights that you have been.
Blue Bird, Blue Bird flying in the sky
Oh how I envy the places you have been.

And yet with these feet of mine, I have traveled far and wide, left and right, up and down.
I've seen many sights, without ever taking a foot off the ground.
For flight was not needed to go to the places I have been.
All I needed was my own two feet to get me going.
And surely you must have seen all the places I have been, and the people I met and the lessons I learned.
For flight was not needed to go to the places I have been.
All I needed was my own two feet to keep me going.

Spring Time Adventure

Spring rain was falling upon the steady stream.
With my paddle in my hand, I stroked deep into the murky water below.
The wind was gently blowing causing the rain drops to streak down my face, like tear drops of joy.
The spring air smelled of pomegranate and freshly planted tulips.
With a gust of wind daisy seeds flew freely past my face, much like a feather tickling me.
In the distance I could hear a woodpecker, tirelessly pecking away at his craft.
I came upon a swamp and my canoe got stuck in some mud.
As I freed myself from the clenches of the mud, I noticed the many mosquitos freely dancing and prancing upon the water almost as if I was the spectator of a ballet.
I continued on through the swamp until I reached a clearing.
The sun was slowly setting, casting a vibrant hue of orange and yellow and in the distance a fog was settling as the evening sky turned to nightfall.
The night sky was crystal clear and the stars were shinning ever so brightly.
The stars constellations tickled the night sky.
The water remained still and the wind had stopped.
I put my hand into the water and felt a chill go up and down my spine.
I found a camp site and set up my tent.
I got a fire going and relished its warmth.
The outside air had become cold and damp.
After having dinner, I laid awake in my tent for some time, listening intently to the world around me.
An ominous cry of a loon pierced the night, echoing in my years keeping me up for a while longer, until eventually I fell asleep into a deep sleep.
Eager the next morning I set out upon my canoe, uncertain of what might lie beyond the horizon.