Thankful 2017

Each year at Thanksgiving I take some time to reflect on what I am the most thankful for. A few years ago I started counting down the 10 moments of the past year I felt thankful for. This year was a mountain of confusion and emotion, but with that came the best moments. So here they are: the top 10 moments I was thankful for.

10. Sitting at the bar in the Minneapolis airport after Christmas at home drinking a Todd the Axeman while flirting with the bartender, and nearly missing my flight. So grateful for the ability to see my family and the ability to go back to a place I know as home.

9. Anti-bullying day hugs from kids- We all wore white to symbolize peace. I realized that my students love me and I love them. Maybe this teaching thing isn't so bad after all...

8. I am happy run in Kazakhstan- Kazakhstan and I started off a bit rough, but the weather was so gorgeous one night that I took a run and noticed all the little things around me. And little things are what I fall in love with.

7. Dancing on the beaches of Greece- No, I was not at a club. Yes, I was totally alone and crying out of fear that I had made the completely wrong decision for my future. And yes, I subdued the fear with this beer.

6. CC- the Rock while hiking: Another Sunday of hiking and I discovered a new favorite place. Piling layers of clothing on top of a rock to stay warm I basked in the sun with a new friend. The start of a new chapter of my life.

5. Saturday lying in the sunshine on the floor grading papers and realizing I love you. And the note goes something like this: I'm currently sprawled out on my floor with twelve reading continuums and a cup of coffee. The internet is down again, and I'm laying in the autumn sun as my 15 cent butternut squash roasts in the oven. My mind wanders to you, as it always does, and I think about how crazy life is to have placed me here, happy and content and so totally head over heels in love with you, who is thousands of miles away in a place I will be in two short weeks when you are no longer there. I'm happy. I'm content. And I am still so desperate to wrap my arms around you, and spend my mornings cooking you breakfast, and my evenings dancing around the kitchen while we scream karaoke songs at the top of our lungs. I have no idea what my life with you would be like with you, yet in my heart I know it would be everything. I am content and happy, but you are still the missing piece.

4.Rafting in Tara Canyon- Nature, Rakia, Laughing with friends, Rakia, Campfires, Rakia, cards, rakia, rafting down a river in freezing cold water, rakia, dancing around trying to stay warm, and rakia. What more does a person need in life?

3. Sunset with Chris- After a week of having an old friend from college visit me we went to watch the sunset on our last evening together in Montenegro. I didn't know when I'd see him again, and it had been an emotionally exhausting day, but the whole week just seemed to remind me that sometimes you have incredible connections with people, and that these connections are what make life totally worthwhile. "Every decision you make is right."

2. Leaving Montenegro- As I walked down the street on one of my last nights in Tivat I noticed a shadow that was cast across the road and and I thought about how insanely comforting this home had become to me in a time when I truly needed somewhere to grow into me.

1. The countless sunsets and reminders they brought me about the depth of life and the importance of staying true to yourself. The hours spent staring at this sky will never be wasted. 

My trip to Israel Part 2: Tel Aviv and the North

After our tour of Bethlehem we were transported back to Tel Aviv. My evening was pretty simple and consisted of drinking a few beers with some fellow travelers at my hostel, and nice shower, and my bed.

The following morning I woke up well rested and ready to explore a new city. I had a few pieces of toast with hummus (which was incredible) and headed off to old Jaffa with my co-workers. We took a free walking tour and learned about the historical importance of the port of Jaffa while walking along cobblestones streets. After the tour we sat down to eat some fish and chips and have some beer. This led to an exploration of the Flea market, a rest at our hostel and and evening at Carmel market. Unfortunately the market was closed, but we did manage to find a cute little bar offering happy hour prices and appetizers, and so we shared a meal of olives, hummus, falafel, and salad, and ended up taking a taxi back to the part of the city we were staying in. I immedietly fell in bed, which was good because the next day was a long day.

We left at 7:00am for the Northern part of the country. It was a long drive through Tel Aviv as we picked up fellow travelers. It was nice to see the city come alive in the peak hours of the morning, and I thought to myself that other than the traffic I could easily live and survive in Tel Aviv.

The ride to the North gave us lovely views as we drove next to the coast for most of the way. We stopped at the church that was built above the spot Mary was told she was going to have a baby, and the church on top of where Joseph lived. We also passed the site of many miracles, such as the place where Jesus turned water into wine, and where the 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes was turned into enough food to feed 5000 people.

We then continued on to the fishing village of Capernaum, which is thought to be the place Peter lived. I quickly ignored all the churches and buildings and headed strait for a bench by the Sea of Galilee. After this short stop we ate lunch and stopped at another baptismal site, which was far more crowded than the first one we visited, even though nothing of significance happened here. It was built solely for tourism. Needless to say I was not impressed with the North at all.

After arriving back quite late I ate dinner at the hostel, and sat down to enjoy some happy hour prices and chat to some others who were staying at the hostel. I met two really nice guys and then ended up convincing me to go out. I was really glad I did because although I didn't enjoy the club we went to I got to see the city at night.

The following morning I woke up quite early and went for a walk around the neighborhood of Florentine where I was staying, in order to find some interesting street art and get some exercise.

After this I went back to the hostel and got ready for my day at the beach. I met up with the guys from the previous night and we walked to the nearest beach and sprawled out in the sunshine. Every hour we would take a dip. This beach was absolutely perfect. I do not like beach holidays, but I easily could have spent another day or two at this beach. Perfect weather (sunny and 28 degrees Celsius) perfect water temperature (cool, but not too cold) soft sand to lay on, and plenty of interesting people to watch.

At lunchtime we went and ate shakshuka which is a tomato stew with eggs baked in it. It was so delicious. This was followed by more hours at the beach, back to the hostel for ice cream and a shower, and then heading out to explore Jaffa by night, and eat some more delicious street food.

We all went to bed early as the next day was a day of travel. At the airport the next morning was thoroughly questioned about the many stamps in my passport and my bags were searched for explosives. After this it was a quick beer and coffee before our flight to Kiev and onward to Almaty.