Wrapping Up… Part One

This Round the World Trip we embarked on 16 months ago is something that surely changed my life and will forever be a source of funny stories, adventures, and anecdotes. We’ve met so many wonderful people – both locals and fellow travelers – and have even kept in touch with some of them! Some of my favorite memories are from Thailand and Vietnam: the crazy lantern festival in Chiang Mai, celebrating Christmas, eating delicious food, meeting up with the Moes and Mr. Cox, biking, cooking, learning a few words of Vietnamese…the list goes on! The hard part about listing favorite memories and countries is that once I mention one, I think “Why not just mention this other one too?” And once I have listed that one, I think, “Why not mention this one? And this one? And this and this and this and this…” Here’s the hardest question to answer in the world: what’s your favorite country? It’s asking to compare 41 totally different places, each with its own unique memories, and trying to figure out which memories mean the most. That’s just impossible! I feel bad for not listing Serbia or Bosnia or Italy or Portugal when I’ve already said Thailand and Vietnam, because I didn’t love those any less. I’ve come up with a good answer though. All of SE Asia, Tanzania, the islands off of Western Europe that just happen to be three countries (England, Scotland, Ireland), and the rest of Europe. That is my favorite country! I know that technically doesn’t make any sense, but it’s easier to say that than to think and think and think about a question that I can’t answer well.

Eating authentic food from all around the world has been pretty amazing as well and has definitely been a highlight of travelling. Thai and Vietnamese food in general come out on top of my all-time favorite foods list, but we’ve had delicious food almost everywhere. After our cooking classes in Chiang Mai and Hanoi we got Thai and Vietnamese cookbooks and we can’t wait to try our hand at cooking those dishes on our own. Our house is going to smell delicious! I’ve learned some valuable life skills, such as how to navigate an airport or train station and communicate with people who don’t speak English. At the beginning of the trip I had no idea where I needed to go in an airport and everything was so confusing; now I could do it in my sleep! 

Coming back home will be a bit of a shock to all of us: staying in the same house for more than a few days; having a pantry and fridge full of food different than simple breakfast and lunch ingredients; sleeping in my own bed every night; keeping clothes in a dresser; being back in school; having friends and grandparents less than 5000+ miles away (much, much, much less). Coming back to Seattle from a year of travelling will be like starting a year of travelling from Seattle. I’m used to the life of a traveller, so living without travelling seems new and a little weird. I am excited though for some things, like playing the piano, seeing our grandparents, and starting my classes at school. It will just take some time to get used to it. Thank you so, so, so much Mom and Dad for taking me and my brothers on this trip! I’ve heard people describe it as a once in a lifetime opportunity, but I plan to get back out there and travel long term like this again. It doesn’t have to be a once in a lifetime opportunity, right?

absorbing the beauty of Slovenia through rowing and hiking