To my 19th year.

I try to reflect on my past year with every passing birthday. Let me set new goals for myself, and be reminded of what I need to do to be happier. I can say this last year was very eventful, with my grad, katimavik, and adjusting back to reality the last couple of months. I have always kept myself busy, and that always has left me living in the moment.

This year? I think another big year thats for sure. With Costa Rica in the fall I am so excited. I am nervous , I dont know what to expect. I have been reading past participants blogs, and it is really intense. My most favorite so far was the explanation of making your bed at night, as if it was a cave with all your nets to keep out all the cockroaches, and all the other little creatures that may wake you up during the night. It will for sure be a different way of living, however that is so interesting. New perspectives, and new experiences are so good for your soul! I hope I can make a difference for some people while I am there, and meet lots of beautiful people. Also Learning Spanish is a major goal for the next few months in hopes to communicate with some of the local people in the community better, and it will be easier to teach english that way!

I have a travel bug, and I just want to keep discovering new places, new people, and learn from everyone I meet, and as places pass through me. I am hoping to do some more volunteering maybe Africa? Also I am thinking about some traveling in Europe, possibly Woofing- Im not sure if thats how you spell it, but you say it how I just spelt it. Its like working on Organic farms, and learning about environmental protection while receiving free room and board. I enjoy having all of these options! Of course I am thinking about school too. I just want to do what makes me happy, that way I could never regret anything. If you talk to a lot of older people, thats the one thing they will always say, I wished I did more traveling, and that you should do it while you are young, school and important stuff can come later on in life! And that is my outlook on that. However I respect those who care about their education, and have priority to get it done and over with. Thats great, then they can travel after if they choose. Some people don't have the same outlook on life, and traveling isn't important. As long as everyone does what they want, and what makes them happy, it doesn't matter what it is(:

I am hoping I can see some of my katimavik family at some point this year, I already miss them so much and it has been exactly three months, and that itself is so hard to believe I have been home for so long. I will put a genuine effort in to making it work to see some of them. Of course money will be a factor, who knows maybe ill jump on a bus and spend forever on it. I don't mind it would be worth it(:

I appreciate all the constant love I receive from friends and family. I am so grateful to have people who respect my choices in life. I know I enjoy steering away from the more well traveled path, and paving my own always sounds much better, and I am happy for those who respect that. You know, you have to keep life interesting.

I hope I can smile more this year, tell more people that I love them, more hugs, more laughing (some of you are like you already laugh too much(: , Go outside more, appreciate life more, live in the moment, forget about time, and of course just be real, myself.

I love you all!!!!!

P e a ce