I find it hard to believe that it has been five years, this month, since I hopped across the pond. Whenever I reflect on my four months in Europe, I am filled with overwhelming peace, excitement, and nostalgia. England was like this giant playground for me to run freely in. I decided to go there during a very tumultuous in my life and arrived with a fresh and optimistic attitude. It was the first time that I was away from my parents for more than a month, after my first year of college, at the end of a very painful relationship, and at the beginning of, what would later become, a very serious relationship. To think, I wasn't even going to go. I still remember sitting down with my parents to see what they thought about me leaving college to travel Europe. I was expecting them to encourage me to stay in school and save this trip for when I graduated, but their response was very much the opposite. "This is the opportunity of a lifetime! You'll do more learning in those four months than 10 years of institutionalized education". Thank you, Mom and Dad, for giving me the extra little push I needed, as it did turn out to be the most educational and...healing experience of my life.
England taught me lessons that I would never have learned otherwise. It taught me how to appreciate beauty in all forms. Even the most simple homes were always decorated with fresh flowers, flowing drapery, and perfectly groomed landscapes. I finally understood how to eat and enjoy all aspects of dining. My first meal in England was a Caprese salad with fresh mozzarella, basil, and tomatoes. We ate al fresco and the meal lasted almost three hours. That was my second lesson-to slow down and make time to acknowledge my senses...all five of them. England was the first place I ever wanted to explore...and I did. Everyday I would take long walks. I abandoned myself to verdant gardens, strolled along rivers, through overgrown cemeteries, and rolling countryside kissed by wildflowers. The third lesson I learned was to not take things so seriously. I was living with some of my favorite people and they knew how to laugh...at anything. Some of my favorite memories are all of us crammed in the kitchen, eating asparagus and easy cheese right out of the can or fish and chips from the take-away, and just cracking up! Thank you Mike, Julie, and Autum-for teaching me how to laugh instead of cry.
During my time in Europe I visited Scotland, Ireland, Italy, France, and Wales. It would take me hours to express all the things I had seen and learned, but I can honestly say that the most important lesson I learned during my trip was that my, now husband, loved me. We had been walking for almost a week straight, and this particular day in Paris-for 15 miles. I wore shoes, against all advice from those that love me, that killed my feet. Trenton and I had about a two mile walk left and I literally could not take another step. I broke down in tears and sat down on the ground right there, in the middle of busy Paris, next to the River Seine. Trenton patiently knelt down next to me, smiled at me, wiped away my tears, took my shoes off and proceeded to rub my aching feet for 15 minutes until I could walk again. We went through this process about 10 more times, until he carried me the rest of the way back to the hostel. It would be months before we verbally expressed our love, but it was that moment-next to the glittery Eiffel tower and romantic restaurants and perfume shops, that I knew...it was all over...I was in trouble.
Of course I appreciated coming home. I missed my family and needed to get on with my life. It's always exciting to go, but so comforting to come home. I never realized how much I enjoyed the little things about being home, like driving my own car, and being offered a hug and gourmet cookies when I visit my parents. It's like my sister Heather says, "You should always leave a place when you're still wanting more. That way, you're only left with happy memories".
Love,
Janet
