I have been home for about a month and a half now, and I feel like my Europe blog needs to be wrapped up. So here are my thoughts...
I can't believe how lucky I am to have had this opportunity. I had moments, especially in Paris, as I was wandering around by myself, where I was just completely overtaken with emotion about where life has led me and the ridiculous opportunities I have been handed. I know the way I live and the choices I make leave room for, and probably invite adventures. I go back and forth all the time about wanting to get a "real" job and get settled in for a while....buy an actual bed- it would be nice to have a little normalcy sometimes (not to mention a bit of money in the bank)...but then I worry about what I could be missing out on by doing that. I worry...back and forth, back and forth...and have recently decided there isn't any point in worrying. It is all about faith...God has certainly closed and opened many different doors throughout the past few years...and I just need to keep myself open to anything. And that is exciting. So I'm excited. What could possibly be next?
Here are some things I miss about being in Europe:
-good food. more accurately, good bread and pastries. I sooo miss a yummy croissant in the morning (or any time of day, let's be honest).
-simplicity of life. We are so lazy here...there is a new gadget or some new form of technology every five seconds that is made to make our lives easier, and make us lazier and lazier. While it took some time to get used to, especially in Barcelona, I miss having to put a little effort out to get something accomplished. Have you seen Wall-E? Sometimes that is how I feel being back here.
-language. The language difference was harder than I expected it to be when I first left. But after getting used to it...I miss my brain having to constantly try to figure out what is being communicated...having to figure out body language and anticipate what questions they might be asking. The risk of ordering something new off a menu because I have no idea what it says. My brain misses being challenged in that way.
-beauty for the sake of being beautiful. Luckily, I live in Seattle, which I have to say, is probably one of the most naturally beautiful places any where. If I didn't, I don't know what I would do. Everything about Europe is beautiful. Just for the sake of it. Art is everywhere. I miss walking around a corner to find another amazing building or church, that people just expect to see, because it is everywhere.
-my time. I have beenn trying really hard not to overextend myself since I have been home, like I used to do. I am trying to keep my schedule as minimal as possible. but I still always find a need to be seeing someone, or getting something accomplished. I had a lot of me time in Europe. Due to the language difference, and the lack of knowing people. I know a lot of people have a hard time spending that much time by themselves, but I really liked it. I loved sitting and reading in a park, not having any kind of schedule to return to.
-no tv option. all the channels were in other languages, so I never watched tv...I read so much over there. I have actually done a prretty good job of avoiding the tv since I have been home. I haven't started up watching my old regular shows...although I did get into watching Friday Night Lights on DVD...great show, by the way. I am still keeping up with the reading, and finally got a Seattle Public Library card...brilliant, how have I never had one of these before?!
-And of course...the kids. I hear songs all the time that remind me of them. Which I love...it was so great how musical they were/are...and how I was able to influence them into loving Disney..haha. I miss their little performances. And the loud yells of "Eryn!!!" followed by knock-me-over hugs when I picked them up from school.
But don't worry...I am o-so happy to be home. It has been a bit of a transition...and I am working hard on staying positive about the normal. It's all about PMA, right? So here is what I am happy about, now that I am home:
-my family. Truly, the best. I love seeing them often. It was great to come home right around the holidays when everything is about family.
-my friends. It is so comforting to know that I can leave for 7 months and come back to jump right in to my friendships. My friends have gone through a lot in the past year, and while there was always email, it was hard not being around to hang out and chat- but I am so grateful that I was able to come home and get back into all of their lives.
-convenience. both a love and hate thing. I have to admit, everything is sooo much easier here.
-chatting. I love chatting. with strangers in a coffee shop, the retail clerk at the store, etc. I def got used to not being able to have conversations with people because of the language thing, but I love being back and being able to chat. I have to say though, I was a little nosy when I first returned. I just wasn't used to being able to understand the conversations going on around me...so I found myself eavesdropping all the time.
-Twilight. yeah, as in, the vampire books. Hehe. I missed the whole craze while I was gone, and in an attempt to re-bond with my little sister after returning, I decided to give the first book a read. And I definitely joined the millions of 'tween girls who are obsessed with dreamy vampires. Which is funny, seeing as I had an irrational fear of vampires when I was a kid. I read the books, much too quickly...and have seen the movie...and have the soundtrack- mostly for the Robert Pattinson songs (the dreamy vampire is a musician...c'mon, so not fair.) And I am embarrasingly obsessed. Oh well.
There are more, but I'm getting tired of writing. Which brings me to my next subject...while I am waiting it out through our lovely economic time right now, I am working at Starbucks (3rd and Madison-the Wells Fargo building...come say hi, I usually work in the mornings), and have decided to make an attempt at writing a book. I jsut feel like it is important for me to get some creative energy out, and I really enjoyed writing this blog...so why not? I am making myself sit for 2 hours everyday to work on it, and while I am totally overwhelmed with the whole thing...I am really enjoying it.
On that note, I am going to say goodbye to my erynineurope blog, but will be starting a new blog. I am going to write every friday. A five point Friday. I'll just have five thoughts from my week, or about whatever, each Friday. I got the idea from Sarah Dessen's blog. She is a young adult author that I have been reading lately- both because I like her books and more for book research purposes. So my new blog is at erynonfriday.blogspot.com. The Europe blog was for all of you to be able to follow me on my travels...this one is more for me. I never liked the blogging concept before, but I am a big fan now. So feel free to read about my friday five...or not.
Hope you are well.
