Another (Another Another) Year Older

It was my birthday over the weekend; I haven’t written in over a week, because it’s been such a crazy one. There was so much laughter and friendship and family and eating and drinking and celebrating that it’s hard for me to even remember everything, to remember all the wonderful details of the past seven days.

And, in some ways, that’s how I feel about the entire past year of my life: I thought that the years before, spent mostly in Asia, were some of the best of my life, but this past year, spent mostly in Central and South America, was also incredible. Topped off with a month in London, a week in Rome, and now a visit to Israel, 28 was just as unbelievable as 27 and 26.

I saw a lot, Machu Picchu and the Galapagos, Tikal and the Panama Canal, the big cities of Rio, Buenos Aires, Santiago. I visited Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, America, England, and Italy. I had a horrible accident, one that I survived but am still recovering from. I spent time with my family, though it was never enough. I learned how to make chocolate and tamales, how to speak Spanish, how to be a rescue diver, so many things. I tried some of the best food in the world, drank some of the best wine in the world. I took thousands of photos. I had my heart broken a few times (or perhaps just slightly cracked), or maybe it was me who broke hearts, I’m not so sure. I solidified some of my best friendships, and I made new ones, ones that I’m sure will last a lifetime. I was accepted into my dream Master’s program in my dream city. I lived a good year.

I started this next year of my life in the place I love, a place I’ll be living for the next two years: London, though I’m now in Israel. I’ve spent the past 24 hours stuffing my face with hummus and haluomi, shopping on Shenkin, and catching up with my sister. If the past three days are going to be any indication of what 29 will bring, it’s going to be an amazing year.

Thank you, as always, for letting me share all of this with you, all of these self-indulgent musings and ramblings. I started this blog as a way to record all the personal things that happen in my travels, and it’s been a real treat to see that a few people have actually enjoyed following along. My year (and all these years) have been so great in part because of you and all of your support.

But now, there are palm trees swaying and falafel to be eaten, so I must dash. Toda raba, my friends.

To see what I wrote on my birthday last year in Belize, click here.

To see what I wrote on my birthday two years ago in Luang Prabang, click here.

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