And just like that it's 2019.
Within the last 2 months, many areas of my life have changed. Between graduation, turning 22, and taking a holiday trip with my family, life has moved quickly, and now being back in Ann Arbor my new "normal" has begun to take shape. In my experience, I've found that it's easy to let memories of celebration and gratitude slip away too soon, so I want to take some time to reflect upon the past months.
Since returning from my semester abroad I have noticed the desire to travel emerge once more within me, so having this trip to look forward to was a constant comfort during the fall. Little by little our family booked our flights, scouted out an AirBnb home, and packed our bags. At times I was nervous that the reality of the trip wouldn't live up to my expectations, but ultimately there was no need to worry. While no trip is perfect, there were many moments in the DR where I thought to myself, "this is as good as it gets." Waking up with the sun, enjoying fresh fruit, reading on the beach, and gathering with my family each night to share dinner together were some of my personal highlights.
We flew from Detroit, MI to Santo Domingo, DR on Christmas Eve and after driving the 2 hours from the airport to Las Terrenas in the Northeastern peninsula of the island, we arrived at our home for the week. By then it was already dark, though, so we had to wait until the bright sunshine of the morning to get a sense of what the surrounding area was like. If you had asked me what I expected, I couldn't have described a brighter or more lush garden to wake up to that was as conducive to rest & relaxation as we had hoped. As a family we chose to forgo gifts this Christmas, and waking up to that scenery was the best gift I could have received (it sounds cliché but it's true!). And, later when we walked to the beach just a few minutes away, I thought we must have been stepping into someone else's life. Before this trip, I had never had the extravagant luxury of lounging on a breezy tropical beach for a week, so it felt so foreign to me when we could lay out our towels on the smooth sand, lather on some sun screen, and let the time slip by unrushed. I recognize the privilege it was to have this travel experience and to create those memories with my family -- and I hope to maintain a conscious gratitude for this uncommon experience.
Throughout the week, I woke up each morning to the sound of the neighborhood rooster and the sight of the sunlight streaming through the bedroom shutters. It was so completely different from my mornings in Michigan and I treasured those simple differences that come with being in a new place. We brewed coffee with the cafetera, ate the best avocados I've ever tasted, and listened to the sound of the motos beeping as they drove by on the nearby street. And later in the week, breaking the easy rhythm of relaxation, we found adventure on our hike to El Limón waterfall about 20 minutes from Las Terrenas. We walked a good hour each direction up and down red dirt paths and even wading through a few creeks. I couldn't stop laughing when we finally jumped in the cold water and felt the misty spray on our sweaty faces. I felt that same joy whenever we swam in the salty ocean that week -- that experience was so singularly special to me because I've had the opportunity to swim in the ocean so few times in my life. And there's just something about beach waves that brings out the 6-year-old in me and I can't help splashing around like a kid.
Throughout the week I read 5 books, but my favorite of the bunch was Cheryl Strayed's Torch. The conflict and setting were completely opposite from the people and place I was surrounded by at the time, yet her writing always touches something deep within me. I'm thankful for the abundance of time I have this winter and spring to keep reading just as much and I hope to include here some of the most compelling stories I come across.
And on that note, I wanted to share that my hope for starting this blog again is to invite loved ones into this transition period with me and create a space for reflection as I wrap up my college years and move onward to the next adventure. That being said, there are still many unknowns I'm living with, so the original title still rings true: ¡Vamos a ver! As I balance a schedule of work, volunteer leadership, personal wellness, and time with friends, I'm also arranging interviews and weighing my options for where I want to be come this summer and how I hope to be serving in the community around me.
I'm grateful for the busy month of graduation and celebration, and my gratitude remains for all that I've learned at U of M. I have been consistently challenged to think differently, act justly, and engage critically with the world around me. I'm ending school with a ~few~ more questions than when I started, but something tells me that's as it should be. My intention is to keep learning as much as I can, even if I'm not in a classroom, and I still aspire to go back to school in the next few years to pursue a Masters in Social Work (MSW).
In the meantime, I will be reflecting in this space and preparing for what comes next. Thank you for your continued love and support!
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