~ M ` E `I * L ` E ` E ` ~~

Aloha! Honolulu was good fun. 5 girls on this one-week trip, we had a blast (although some of us have some trouble remembering everything :P). I just have this to say to Aurora, Kate, and C4L (Anna, Teresa): Waikiki ki ki kiiii ~signed, Clayton

(2006) Thanksgiving weekend w/ Kate and Darlene. Cooking. Jacuzzi! Smoking in the jacuzzi. Eating. Round II. More eating. Get drunk. Ride the bull in Rosarito! Recover. Cranium! What more could a girl ask? Grateful indeed.

Europe... It was the first time for all three of us girls. Us, as in Sally, Kate, and myself. Even with months of planning ahead, we did not fully realize the significance of this trip. I can, without a doubt, say that I am a different person. The girl I was before the trip is not the same woman I am now. During this trip, I've come to understand and accept certain truths. I've also had the chance to gain some perspective on people, my life, and life itself. For that, I am grateful.... In Toulouse, Kate and I met Pouhmanichan. From her, I learned to appreciate more my mother and all that she's done and continues to do for me. I love my mom. I even love my dad. Two days after we met Pouhmanichan, I received an email from my sister. It said that Dad was sick and had to be hospitalized. It was that moment. I decided to put the past behind me and forgave him once and for all. He is my father after all.... Europe is really something. And of course I'm generalizing when I say "Europe," because Europe is many countries. The culture is different almost everywhere you go. Paris, for example, is so distinct. I love it. And I love the metro. And then you head down to the south of France, and it's different. Don't get me wrong- it's different but you still love it. All it is is a different vibe.... I will really miss all those place I've been to. --> Paris. Nice. Marseilles. Toulouse. Paris. Brussels. Amsterdam. Prague. Florence. Rome. the Amalfi coast. Rome. Paris. -- My eyes have seen true, natural beauty along the Amalfi Coast, in the south of Rome. Aside from the Amalfi, there is still much to be seen around the rest of Europe. Art can be found everywhere in Florence and Rome. Venice itself is wonderful and romantic. I'd love to honeymoon there, or at least do Carnival. One of my more cherished memories of Europe is the sunset seen from the Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence. The view there is really breath-taking. Magnificent.... Oh, and my lips have been everywhere! (ha. I made a pun.) I've tasted a variety of wine, beer, absinth, limoncello, and even delicious soup from Da Bruno. And I've had Florentine steak, possibly the best I've ever had. Truly, in Italy, we ate like the Italians do, feasting on pasta, meat, and wine. The food was so good that we couldn't stop even when we were full beyond capacity. One meal, Kate and I had to sit at the table for half an hour after we were done. We just couldn't move; we were so full.... Of course, aside from the food and drink, you also meet some of the most interesting people when you travel. In fact, we seemed to meet people everywhere, at the hostels, restaurants, clubs, bars, everywhere, even on the tours. People are so friendly when they find out you're a traveler. And I love how travelers will hang out together despite the fact that they really wouldn't if they were back home. But traveling is something that we all have in common, and it brings together the most unrelated people who wouldn't otherwise have talked.... And what a small world! When I was in Florence, I ran into Winnie from Lowell. So weird, I thought. What are the odds?! And the next day, still in Florence, I ran into the Aussie boys we met in Paris- Rob, Adrian, and Dean. Still, later, when I was in Rome, Kate and I decided to do a pub crawl, and I bumped into two o4 Lowell girls. Seriously, what a small world!... Well, I hope everyone had fun this summer. I know I did! Whether you were lucky enough to vacation or not, even if you have to work and do summer school, life can still be totally awesome.... Indeed, I am very grateful to have had such a wonderful experience, and to have had the opportunity to travel. I am reminded of these words from the movie Motorcycle Diaries: "Let the world change you, and you can change the world."