The most striking visual image from my travels is from my visit to Cabo da Roca in Portugal. Cabo da Roca (a few pictures are above) is the most western point in Europe. Standing on the edge of this cliff just looking out at the water and watching the sun set may sound cheesy but it was incredibly shocking. I truly realized how small I was compared to the rest of the world. And there really is a big world out there. On my travels I've learned about refugees in Germany, I've learned how to cook the best pasta from an Italian lady at surf camp, I met the nicest Portuguese lady after sketchily getting into her car at a train station to have her show me around for 18 euros, I had a Europe trip boyfriend for two weeks, I hitchhiked down a mountain from a castle in Germany, and I met even more amazing and diverse people than I can list. Standing on the edge of that cliff just watching the Atlantic Ocean melt into the sky really captivated all these feelings. There is a lot out there left to experience!
Seattle feels sheltered to me now. Even though I live in a large city with a diverse culture, I feel like there's so much more of the world-- different cultures, different people, etc-- that I'm missing. To be fair, I'm still traveling (I've been in Portugal the last two weeks) but Seattle just seems so much... less. I still love the city (and am excited to be back in my own bed in three weeks!) but I certainly don't see it the same anymore.
With regard to myself, I think I'm less petty now. When I left Seattle I used to care too much about silly things-- what I would be wearing, what grade I got on a test etc. Traveling solo for three months with only a backpack certainly taught me a thing or two about fashion choices... More importantly I realized that life is about experiences and the people you experience it with. Always be down for anything. I think I take more risks now that former me wouldn't ever have done. I would never have hitchhiked in my life if not for this trip. I also would never have met so many interesting people had I not decided to buck up and go do everything there is to do in a city (or at least attempt to). All in all I had some insane adventures and am leaving as a less lame person so I'd say the travels were a success.
Seattle feels sheltered to me now. Even though I live in a large city with a diverse culture, I feel like there's so much more of the world-- different cultures, different people, etc-- that I'm missing. To be fair, I'm still traveling (I've been in Portugal the last two weeks) but Seattle just seems so much... less. I still love the city (and am excited to be back in my own bed in three weeks!) but I certainly don't see it the same anymore.
With regard to myself, I think I'm less petty now. When I left Seattle I used to care too much about silly things-- what I would be wearing, what grade I got on a test etc. Traveling solo for three months with only a backpack certainly taught me a thing or two about fashion choices... More importantly I realized that life is about experiences and the people you experience it with. Always be down for anything. I think I take more risks now that former me wouldn't ever have done. I would never have hitchhiked in my life if not for this trip. I also would never have met so many interesting people had I not decided to buck up and go do everything there is to do in a city (or at least attempt to). All in all I had some insane adventures and am leaving as a less lame person so I'd say the travels were a success.