Venice

I've been begging to go to Italy for years. Really. I've been before but I was sick when my family went and I didn't appreciate the fact that I was in Italy at all. I think that's a problem with traveling with young kids. They don't realize the great opportunity they are taking part of and, somewhere later down the road, they wish to go back. Luckily for me, my mom decided to book a trip to Venice this past August. I had an amazing time. I ate gelato, bought scarves, ate pizza, went on a gondola ride, found the HardRock Cafe (as I must with every city), and took as many pictures as I could. I'm in love with this city!

 

Never Grow Up.

This past Monday, I had the opportunity to work in the infant room at the Child Development Center. I usually work in the toddler room so, when I came in Monday morning and learned that I had to run the infant room, I was kind of nervous. "Kind of" being an understatement.

The first hour and a half, I was by myself. I was scared at first, especially when the tiniest baby I had ever seen came in the room, but I got over it more quickly than I thought. I used to think babies cried all day, demanding one-on-one attention. I was happy to learn that this wasn't the case. All of the babies in my room were tearless by the time the second person came to work. All was well.

Around 8:30, a mother came in with her son. He was a cute baby, almost a year old. He was one of the sweetest babies in the room. He would smile at you and laugh when you showed him a new toy. If he was on the other side of the room and you called his name, he would stand up and start running over to you smiling. The closer he got to you, the more unsteady (but quicker) he became until he literally fell into your arms laughing. Honestly, one of the best babies.

After lunch, the kids started falling asleep one by one. The last baby standing was this little boy. Since the other caregiver in the room was rocking a different child, she asked me to hold this sweet boy and rock him to sleep. I picked him up and brought him over to a matt. I sat there holding him in my arms. He kept reaching up to my hair and playing with it. He made babbling noises and I'd talk quietly back, which made him smile. After a while, he started drifting off. Even though he had fallen asleep, and I know that I was meant to put him in his crib, I couldn't help but to keep him in my arms.

As I sat there looking at this innocent, little boy in my arms, I couldn't help but think how unfair it's going to be for him to grow up in this crazy world. There's going to come a point where he is going to fall victim to the pressures given to him by friends and family. He's going to feel the need to prove himself and keep up with those around him. He's going to go through that stage in life where he's a little punk and does things because they're "cool" even though he probably knows they aren't right. He's going to make mistakes and he isn't going to remember how sweet he really is deep down inside.

I got a little teary eyed thinking about this. Nobody who deals with him through these rough patches (teachers, friends) will know of the sweet, innocent boy that I got to know. They're not going to know how he used to smile when someone came in the room or how he would run up to people as they stood up. They aren't going to know of his cute little laugh or his big smile. They aren't going to know of how peacefully he slept as he trusted someone to rock him. 

I got up and walked over to his crib. As I lowered him into it, I told him to never grow up. I thought I said it quiet enough that no one else would hear but the caregiver in the rocking chair looked at me and said, "Honey, life can only be so simple."

Bon Voyage, Summer

come again soon!

This has been one amazing summer. It was the summer of travels. I haven't had a summer this great in forever.  I only have one week left in Europe. I've never been more attached to this place than I am now. I had the opportunity to visit so many countries and cities. I love my mom for planning these trips with me. I don't think I ever really noticed how fast time really does fly by. I know it's time to go back to Idaho but it's hard. I know that it's important to continue earning my degree and to continue figuring life out on my own. I just wish I could take a break. A little pause to spend more time with my favorite people and visit more amazing places. Not to be corny or anything but I feel like pieces of my heart are scattered all over the world and I have to go find them. Maybe there's even a piece of it back in Idaho that's just a bit harder to find. And maybe I'll be able to continue on my traveling adventures soon enough, yeah?

Highlights of Summer 2013:
- I landed a job
- I toured my mother around Prague (my favorite European city)
- I learned to make Double Chocolatey Chip Frappuccinos
- I ate lunch along the Mosel with my parents
- I went on a gondola ride in Venice
- I ate all my favorite German foods
- I found the most amazing hair straightener (this was grand)
- One of my best friends had her baby
- I reconnected with old friends
- I visited the American Cemetary & Memorial in Luxembourg
- H&M trips with my mom downtown
- Pictures with my second family, ze Cherringtons
- I spoke Italian in Italy
- I drove through the Alps...literally through
- I learned to play the guitar
- The doctors found out what's wrong with me
- They're fixing me ^
- Playing catch in the backyard with Papa Bear
- Driving through the countryside with my camera and Mama Bear
- Being happy

Czech it Out

I love Prague. It reminds me of New York in so many ways. Prague never sleeps. Ever. The yellow ones don't stop...and neither do the rest of them. Walking signals are only suggestions and the sirens are constant. Street performers are great as long as you don't forget to tip them...and you won't because they remind you repeatedly. There's food on every corner and it's all to die for. It has the best bagels and the best pizza. The alleyways lead to cute little stores and the walls are most definitely not lacking graffiti. The locals aren't very friendly and the tourists are mostly Asian. It's okay to honk your horn 24/7 and it's okay to get in a person's personal bubble. The city is lit at night in the most beautiful way. There's never a quiet moment and the excitement never dies down. I love it. The only difference between Prague and New York (besides how it looks) is that the Hard Rock Cafe in Prague doesn't have a long wait. We should know. We went twice. 

It's a Lovely Day for the Park

After my mom came back from her trip last weekend, my family went to Luisenpark. I like to think of it as a celebration that my papa and I survived and as a reward for enduring through the hectic mornings and the random little catastrophes throughout the day. Luisenpark is so pretty and it has so many things to do. There's even a boat ride where the fish come right up to you looking for food. Tame fish. Now that's something we need in Florida! Maybe I'd catch something other than logs and stingrays. 

The Little Blue Butterfly

During my elementary school days, I got to go on a trip to the Bronx Zoo every year. I don't remember much about these trips other than the flamingoes by the picnic area and walking through the butterfly house. Oh, and I remember a part of the reptile house as well but that's only because stupid Martin told me a snake was loose and slithering across the floor. Being a seven year old girl, I had little fit of fear. It's hard to forget. Anyway, the butterfly house. It was my favorite. 

I remember we would wear bright colored shirts with the school name on them. We used to vote on the color based on what we thought the butterflies would land on when we walked through the butterfly house. One year we wore yellow and the other year we wore green. The shirt itself never worked. There were dishes of watermelon spread throughout the butterfly house, though, and, if you dipped your fingers in the juice and stood really still, they would land on you. 

I remember on our second trip there, a blue butterfly with a black outlining landed on my finger. I thought it was the coolest thing. I also thought that only blue butterflies would land on you. I remember telling everyone to follow the blue ones around because "they're the nice butterflies." Needless to say, blue butterflies became my favorite. 

Fast forwarding to today, my dad and I were outside looking at the butterfly bushes in our yard. There was a really cool looking yellow one that he pointed out. I agreed that it was pretty and then I told him, "I really wish a blue one would come." He just kind of made a face after I said that. We both know blue butterflies don't live over here. I just really want to see one. I think everybody has little things from the past that remind them of happy moments. A blue butterfly is one of my "things" I guess.

The pretty yellow ones will just have to do for now.

really though, i think if a butterfly can handle the bronx, it could handle anywhere else.

Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial

"All who shall hereafter live in freedom will be here reminded that to these men and their comrades we owe a debt to be paid with grateful remembrance of their sacrifice and with the high resolve that the cause for which they died shall live eternally." 

-Dwight D. Eisenhower

This week, my family and I visited the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial. To say it was a nice, fun trip would be off. It was a nice trip and it was great to be with family but there was a certain mood to this trip that wasn't all happy. Seeing the graves of all these soldiers (some super young) really puts things into perspective when it comes to war and freedom. Freedom really isn't free. I think it's important to remember that. There are people fighting for the things many of us take for granted everyday. I think we should maybe ponder on that once in a while and show our respect for the men and women in uniform. They give so much.

Good Morning, Deutschland

I gave my mom a bit of a heart attack this morning. Not on purpose and it wasn't my fault. Obviously. But, what happened was I woke up at 430am (so really jetlag is to blame here). I got bored, and, once the sun finally started making an appearance, I snuck out the back door on a walk with my dog. It was amazing in case you are wondering. Germany is beautiful. Every inch of it. I think it's great that I'm able to walk out the door and instantly be surrounded by such beauty.

Anyway, I didn't come home until 730ish. My dad let me in the front door since he saw me through the kitchen window. Everything was normal. Then my mom comes running down the stairs. She comes through the kitchen door in something. I say "something" cause I thought she was wearing a swimsuit bottom with a tank top and my dad thought she was wearing work out clothes. Just know that it was interesting. She yells, "Where's Emily?!" I looked at her and said, "I'm here. What are you wearing?" "I have been trying on bathing suits in my room because I thought you locked yourself in the bathroom for all this time. I was getting worried." I just want to point out that I had been on a walk for an hour or so. An hour had passed before she decided to check on me. An hour. Anyway, after it was established that I was safe and not in the bathroom, my mom went and put on real clothes so our day could begin.

Like I said earlier, our walk was amazing. So relaxing and quiet...apart from the peacocks screaming but even that sound gives me warm fuzzies. It was just great. Rocky, the dog, even found a pear on the ground. He brought it all the way home thinking it was a ball. It's still here being dropped at our feet for us to kick to him. He's a cutie.

This is Me

hopping on the bloglovin' bandwagon.

because I was told to.

and obviously peer pressure is effective.

and it's hard to overcome.

regardless as to what they teach you in grade school.
it's all lies.
and now that that has been established...

Follow my blog with Bloglovin  <--click it!

A Heart that Lives in New York

Last summer, my dad, who knows my love for New York, sent me a song called "A Heart in New York" by Art Garfunkel. I immediately fell in love with this song. It's even playing on repeat as I type in honor of this post.

My favorite part of the song is when it mentions Central Park. Central Park is quite possibly my favorite place in the world. I can't describe the love I have for that place. There's something about sitting on a grassy field with people talking and laughing doing their own thing while being surrounded by skyscrapers all around. It's a place you can escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and just be. It's peaceful. I'm not talking peaceful as in quiet but peaceful as in comforting.

Central Park is somewhere everyone can belong. There's baseball games, frisbee and soccer. There's people out for picnics and friends hanging out on the grass. You see the moms out with their kids in strollers enjoying afternoon walks. You have the joggers and bikers who pass on by the tourists while listening to their music. There's couples enjoying romantic boat rides on the lake and children playing at the water's edge. There's the playground and the zoo. Everything! Even the bum from the subway and the beggar from 42nd Street find a place in Central Park. Nobody is out of place in Central Park. Everyone belongs.

I don't know why I feel so out of place in this world. I don't say this in pitiful or whiney way. I say it as a fact. A truth. I think a lot of kids that grew up with parents in the military can relate. There's not a set place called "home" and, if there is, it's not the same kind of home that everyone else pictures.

Home is the place you can always go back to. It's the place where everyone knows you and you feel welcome. It's the place where your family is. It's where you gather for holidays, birthdays and unbirthdays, too. It's the place that remains constant in your life. You feel at home there. For me, that place is New York...or at least I think it is.

I constantly feel torn between calling Germany my home and calling New York my home. New York is where I had my first steps, my first birthdays, and my first school days. It's the place I learned to be a person. Germany is where I became that person. New York has my childhood but Germany shaped me. New York has my whole family but Germany has my parents. New York has the places I feel comfortable but Germany has the places where I learned life's hardest lessons. I'm thoroughly grateful for the opportunity I have had to live in Germany but I'm not sure I'd call it home even though I've lived a majority of my life there.

I'm always talking about how much I love Germany but I think I say that automatically because I feel like I have to love Germany. It's been "home" for so long. I do love it but I don't think I love it as a home. When I see pictures of New York, I get a gut wrenching feeling of homesickness. I don't get that same feeling when I see pictures of Germany.

I guess I kind of wish that I could have both. Or maybe my home will be where I finally settle down and raise my own kids with my prince charming in our humble abode. Wherever and whenever that may be. Until then, I'll bounce around from home to home visiting those I love and the places I know best.

Now that I've explained my love affair with New York and Germany, listen to this song. It's pretty great.

The Countdown Begins

Happy news! I'm getting out of Idaho a few days earlier than I had planned! 18 days until I begin my journey across the big pond. I couldn't be more excited. Idaho has it's perks, yes, but it doesn't even compare to Europe : )

<3

It's Canada Day

Yup, it is. I usually don't care much about these types of things, you know, considering I'm not Canadian but I have a Canadian roommate who won't let us forget what day it is. I guess I'll be supportive of it. Canada is probably a nice place. I hope to see it one day during my worldly travels.

It's kind of a lazy day. You can tell by the fact that I'm wearing old jeans and a t-shirt that I usually just sleep in (don't worry, it's clean). My hair is pulled back, which doesn't happen often. I used to tell people that having my hair pulled back was a sign of a rough day. Today isn't a rough day though. It's just a day that I'm not caring much about. It's super hot outside and the heat is draining all energy from my body. Literally. I'm wearing a perfume that reminds me of an old friend. Is that weird? We fell in love with the scent of this perfume and we both bought it. It reminds me of easier days. Days were I felt  grown up but really wasn't. You know...those days where you acted like you were an adult but really you relied on your parents and friends more than ever. I miss those days. The days where I felt independent but was actually very much dependent. I like how parents play along in that stage of life though. They let you think you're making your own choices but they were always there to catch you when you fell. They really called all the shots. I miss the safety net.

I don't like being in charge of my life. I don't like having to make hard decisions and being accountable for the outcomes. There's no safety net here.

It Happened During 'Holy Ground'

Amanda and I went to a Taylor Swift concert at the beginning of June. We had been waiting for this concert since last November. You should have seen us when we entered Salt Lake City the morning before the concert and saw all of the semi-trucks with Taylor Swift's face all over them. Our smiles were huge...and so were the screams coming out of our mouths. It was finally happening!

As soon as we entered the Energy Solutions Arena, we went on a hunt for the Taylor Swift shirts. Our lack of preparation for this concert was surprisingly high. We didn't even have a red shirt to wear. But that's okay. We managed to find cute "Red Tour" shirts there. So happy!

We found our seats as Ed Sheeran was opening the concert. He's so amazing. When he finished, Amanda and I tried taking selfies, if you will, of ourselves at the concert. The girls next to us noticed and offered to take the pictures for us. They were so crazy! As we were trying to find a good spot for a picture, one of of them climbs over the seats to stand far enough away to get a good shot. "This is Taylor Swift!" she said, "Anything is possible!" And she was right. Anything was possible.

The second song Taylor (we are on a first name basis now) sang was "Holy Ground" and it was spectacular. Just saying. But, anyway, during the song, I decided I wanted to take a picture with my phone. My phone was in Amanda's bag. I reach down, grab the bag, and start to look for my phone. The amount of stuff that girl can fit into that tiny bag is amazing. Anyway, as I'm pulling out my phone, something else flies out of the bag. I honestly thought it was a twenty dollar bill (or something of equal importance) so I start trying to catch it as it falls down into the people below. Keep in mind it was dark. I turn to tell Amanda about the money I dropped and she has this shocked look on her face. "What? What was that?" I asked. "A pad. We dropped a pad into the audience at a Taylor Swift concert." Well then. That's slightly embarrassing. 

"How do we come back from that?" -Amanda

"We don't. Just act normal." -Me

"Normal? I can't believe you." -Amanda

We had tears in our eyes from laughing so hard. If someone were to drop a "sanitary napkin," as the ladies bathrooms call them, into the audience, it would be us...or me, whatever. The people that it dropped onto picked it up and then quickly dropped it to the floor again looking back at us for a brief moment. Sorry guys. Maybe next time we will all be lucky and it will actually be a $20 bill floating from the bag.

The Detour

"Hey, you wanna go look at birds?" -Parker

"Okay. Why not?" -Me
"Really?! Okay. Take these." *hands me binoculars* "You'll look more legit." -Parker
"Oh boy." -Me

Two weekends ago, I had the chance to ride down to Provo, Utah with one of my best friends. This trip should have taken four hours...tops. How long did it take us? About twelve hours. This is not because we broke down, ran out of gas, or had to run back for forgotten items. No, there were no legit reasons such as these. It took us this long because we stopped caring about the clock, the destination, and the constant reminders from Amanda letting us know that we were taking forever. Instead, we tossed all of that aside and enjoyed one of the most beautiful parts of Utah I have ever seen. 

When we decided to venture out into this "Migratory Bird Refuge" (what?), I had no idea that this detour would be exactly what I needed. Too often I find myself wishing I were elsewhere. I find it hard  to see the beauty in this place. I'm used to old churches, giant ice cream cones, cobblestone streets and fairytale castles. What I'm not used to is the endless plains of dirt and sand, crazy winds, and cows floating down the river. I constantly dream of Germany, New York and sometimes even Florida. 

On this drive, I looked around and realized there is beauty that can be seen wherever you are. You just have to embrace your surroundings...appreciate them. Sometimes you have to take a time out, open your eyes, and breathe. Be thankful for where you are and be thankful for the people around you. Stop rushing through life anxious to get on to the next part. Enjoy the ride.

And, for the record, I could totally see myself going birdwatching again in the future. It's so peaceful. Okay, that took a great effort to admit. I'm going overboard. Maybe I'll just say I can see myself photographing birds again in the future. Yeah, that sounds more like me.