7-Week Reflection

On my 26^th birthday in 2014 I said, “This will be the most fun year of my life” and you better believe it was. Traveling through six different countries in 12 months and enjoying three separate music festivals, it really was the most fun year I have ever had. On my 27^th birthday in 2015 I said, “This will be the most life-changing year of my life.” As I sit here today on my last day in Asia, that could not be any more true.

It is truly quite an amazing feeling to look back on the past seven weeks and to read my three-week reflection post. So much has changed and so much has evolved from that point that I do not even feel like the same person that wrote it. While this journey has definitely had its moments of sadness and loneliness all of those negative feelings have been replaced with pure appreciation and enjoyment. I have met some amazing people on this trip and have become a lot closer and gotten to know better the ones I already knew. I came here searching for answers and while I may not have a, “this is what is going to change” answer. I am confident that I am definitely going in the right direction. I feel leaps and bounds better than I did when I left and even drastically better from just four weeks ago.

The outreach of my family and friends to check in on me has completely blown my mind. It reminds me of how good I do have it in Los Angeles and back at home. Many people were convinced or speculating that I would end up moving to Asia. Well as much as I have had a phenomenal time here and as much as I love the countries I have visited and the people here, I will not be moving to Asia. To imagine my life which I have at home to be so far away is just simply not an option for me. I will honestly never forget these seven weeks of my life and if I do I have 2,000 pictures to jog my memory, haha.

To the people who helped me along the way; Lisa, Camila and James, each of you are a godsend! Lisa even prior to this trip you were at my side for any questions or hesitations I may have had. The first two weeks of Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia would not have ever happened had I not known you and for that I am eternally grateful! I could tell you anything that went through my mind and you completely understood where I was coming from and reassured me that it was going to get better and you were absolutely right, it definitely did get better. Camila and James, my lord. You two were a savior in the disaster of APEC and created a whole new portion of my journey I had never expected or anticipated. El Nido was truly an unforgettable weekend and would not have been possible had it not been for you both. Even the nights of endless wine and baking (or lack of me baking) were amazing nights that I will never forget. All of you opened up your homes to me and as we went I fell in love with both Singapore and Manila in a completely different way than any other city.

As I sit here writing this I am sad to leave, but I am also excited to get back and start what I believe to be the next chapter of my life. Still unsure if I will end up in Los Angeles I will spend some time there through the Holidays and then make my way around the U.S. The journey isn’t over yet… Stay Tuned.

Next Stop – Los Angeles, CA