OH to LA to NZ

Here was the plan:
Step 1.) Go home for three weeks to Ohio to see family and friends. Also, pack!
Step 2.) Fly to LA for a day and a half, visit with friends and look around some.
Step 3.) Fly to Auckland, NZ with Ashlea. Spend two weeks on the North Island then fly to the South Island for another two weeks. Then fly to Melbourne, Australia and live there for eight months.

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Step 1.)

I finished packing and went to church with the family before my parents took me to the airport at 4am on Monday for my flight to LA. My bag was just under weight although thank goodness they didn't weigh my backpack, hehe sneaky me.

Step 2.)

I visited Venice Beach then the Walt Disney Concert Hall (I studied this architecture in a college course) since I didn't have too much time in LA. I was lucky enough to stay with a best friend from high school at her place by the airport. We are only able to see each other about once a year and since I am not home for the holidays this year this was our chance which made it extra special.

Step 3.)
Flying to Auckland was my first international flight was obviously my longest. It was 13 hours and I was glad to have Ashlea sitting next to me. I watched two movies, slept for 6 hours, and ate yummy meals. We left LA on Tuesday night and arrived in Auckland on Thursday morning, having completely skipped over Wednesday since we crossed the international date line. It was weird thinking that I didn't exist but at least I was comfortable and eating dessert on a plane.

Three weeks at home

Home! Finally! Since putting in my application for camp (and in a whirlwind of the same week booking my ticket and flying out to camp) I had been away from Ohio for 11 weeks. While that isn't a long time compared to other stints away it all happened so quickly to begin with, that whirlwind week I mentioned above, that by the time I got home and finally took a breath it all then began to sink in. I was living very in-the-present while at camp which was wonderful. I had no true idea what the date was all summer long because all I needed to know was that campers came on Sunday and left again on Friday, repeat, repeat, repeat. I had a day to day routine but actually couldn't tell you what the day was. Coming home I immediately felt pressure to know what day it was and plan my time accordingly. I had three weeks to cram as much family and friend time into my schedule while also cramming things into my suitcase. In three weeks time I was leaving again, for longer than 11 weeks this time and much further than across the country. I was preparing for the Southern Hemisphere Adventure, taking me to two countries for nine months. But again, before that began I settled back into home.

Ashlea came to Ohio with me and another camp counselor, Lyz, in order to spend time in a new place with our families until Ashlea and I flew to Auckland, NZ together where her parents would meet us both. So while in Cincinnati Ashlea had a birthday to celebrate and Lyz and I did it up in true midwest style-a trip to the Disney store, shopping, lunch out, home cooked special birthday dinner, and of course cake!

So many people to see and so little time. The days kept going by and by and I was lucky enough to spend time with some of my favorite people. (Yes, I know, I have a lot of favorite people.) Many walks around the park, visiting friend's new apartments, trips to Mom's grocery store, a visit to Young's Jersey Dairy, a day at the Great American Ball Park for a Reds game, Sundays at church, putting the tent up in the backyard, sleepovers with friends, babysitting, dinner and beer at Roosters, and spending time on the couch watching Family Feud. Erin, stopped by to visit me? (actually to see my parents and sister truly) and feast on Mom's delicious cooking. 

             

Red's game!

      

And just as soon as it all began, it was time for me to be...leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again...yep. I have been asked by many if I will settle in Ohio eventually and at the current moment my answer is "probably not". I LOVE that Ohio is home and that my family and friends are still there for me to visit/ It was a wonderful place to grow up and I love being a midwest girl. But my head and my heart are honestly just beginning to adventure and explore so I am going to see where it takes me.

Exploring Oregon

Camp had to come to an end and before returning to Ohio I took advantage of exploring Oregon. I planned to stay with my JVC housemate, Katrina,and then it turned out that Lucy (Bubbles) needed a place to stay as well as Ashlea (Kiwi) so we all explored together. One day we kept ourselves busy by exploring the Oregon Coast at Pacific City and Lincoln City. Another few days we walked around Portland and went on the aerial tram, to Voodoo Donuts, back to Powells, and finished with the Art Museum. Ashlea and I even went to the Nike Employee Store during our stay at Katrina's farm.

Also in the mix was getting to visit with my two best friends from college, Emily and Erin, who had just driven cross country to move Emily to Portland. While Emily moved in we gave her space and continued exploring until the evening when we all went around Alberta street eating yummy food and feasting on hilarious conversations and photo ops. To be surrounded by some of my best friends in one of the most gorgeous landscapes in America is not something I will soon, or ever, forget. I'll be back Oregon!!!

Katrina and I at Pacific City.

With Lucy at Lincoln City

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Overlooking Portland.

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Camp besties.

College besties.

(One of) JVC besties.

L.O.V.E.

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Life on a farm, even if just for a few days.

What I learned from a summer at camp

[Disclaimer: This is the first of many backlogged posts that I am hopeful will be published this week. In my absence of writing I have noticed that I am craving this space to express the words in my head that otherwise might go unsaid and furthermore might be unremembered. Hoping that will not be the case I am attempting to recall many moments over the past few months. Here goes...]


1. Summer is meant to be fun so enjoy it!
2. Lean into your fears and challenge zone by trying things that make you nervous or slightly scared.

From the top of Wind Mountain with wildfire smoke filling the Gorge.

My two favorite internationals.

International and Ohio spirit went to Washington and conquered!

3. Sooooo many camp songs that make no sense yet are ridiculously fun!
4. Girl Scouts are always prepared. As in, yes we can still cook things for dinner when we are not allowed to have campfires.
5. You are capable of more than you can imagine.
6. There is nothing better than sleeping under the stars and listening to the wind hum you to sleep and being awoken by the sun shining through the trees reaching high into the sky.
7. One can survive off of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and granola bars for many days/weeks in a row.
8. Communal meals are important, and can be very goofy! (ship wreck meal, galaxy meal, Harry Potter meals, etc.)
9. Go.hike.mountains.
10. You meet some of the best people and get to work with awesome individuals!

So long Camp Arrowhead! Thanks for the memories!!!!