Dear You

“We live and breathe words. .... It was books that made me feel that perhaps I was not completely alone. They could be honest with me, and I with them. Reading your words, what you wrote, how you were lonely sometimes and afraid, but always brave; the way you saw the world, its colors and textures and sounds, I felt--I felt the way you thought, hoped, felt, dreamt. I felt I was dreaming and thinking and feeling with you. – Cassandra Clare”

some of many :) 

Dear You,

Being 5000 miles away from my friends and family for an extended period of time has been difficult. But not once have I ever doubted that I was loved and missed and cared about across every single inch of those 5000 miles. Some friends gave me letters before I left to read when I felt homesick, to read a specific day of the week, or even one to open before I left and reread as often as I wanted. I appreciate you, and I love you all, and I don’t mean that lightly. I hope this doesn’t turn into some sappy post, so rub some wood, people. (In Spain they don’t knock, they rub)

 Today I received 3 letters at once, my host dad brought them into my room and I felt like somewhat of a celebrity. My host parents are always joking with me that I’m an old soul with my love of tea and writing, and the fact that I get so many letters when Facebook and email can give me the same pleasure in an instant, but honestly it cant.  Reading letters from my parents, roommates, and friends grounds me. Often I’m so caught up in the immense beauty of the streets around me and sky above me that I forget sometimes that this is real and even though I am doing SO MUCH living, I take it for granted.

I don’t even know where to begin with how much I’ve been falling in love with the relationships I have with my friends and family in the states when I’m reading the letters you all have sent and continue to send me J. I’ll try and give you an idea from just a few quotes from the notes I’ve received:

 “I have Granada’s weather on my phone and I love to look at it every morning-it makes me feel closer to you!”

“I think of you often and pray for your adventures every day. You are so loved and missed.”

“I will keep you posted on the Bachelor. Love Dad”

“You picked an absolutely perfect time to travel, Em. I cannot wait to read and hear more”

“Emily, as this experience keeps shaping you and showing you more places, remember the immense opportunity this is! I’m thinking of you and I know you’ll be great with anything you try, so try something new today!”

also a shoutout to my grandma who went out of her way to find me a spanish valentines day card even though she didn’t understand it “Te Amo” says the card “maybe this means aunt..?” writes Grandma .

(If you’re curious: Aunt=Tía, Te Amo=I Love you)

“I apologize for my below average penmanship”

“Obama is still president in case you were wondering”

“You were in my dream yesterday. A guy’s dog went missing and you wouldn’t help me look for it because you were watching Netflix.”

I could go on forever with tons of quotes that make me smile, laugh, cry and feel inspired but please know that even if you’re just reading this I appreciate your support. The views on my blog keep getting higher and higher and I love that people are interested in my adventures and travels.

 I hope you all take the opportunity to travel. If you’re not given the opportunity, make one.  Save for a plane ticket, it will change you.  Take a road trip across the Mississippi, hike a new trail, change ONE turn on your route to school, and take a chance you’re scared of taking. As John F Kennedy said “change is the law of life”. Taylor and I joke that when we get lost in Granada someone could tell us we were in a new city and we would believe them, so explore your own city. I promise there are a million and one places you’ve never been with sights you've never seen.

So in closing, you all mean the world to me, and as I’m exploring new countries I’m starting to realize just how big that world is.

I’ll see you soonish J

Love,

Emily

P.S. If you're ever in need of a travel partner I'm always up for an adventure. Especially to a Spanish speaking country where I can be of assistance J