I have the focus of a hamster. Inevitably after starting any task, I find myself distracted midway through by another idea roaming through my head. Like a blip, I hear it, act, open a new web page and then, after approximately 5-15 minutes, have to wrangle myself into remembering what I was doing in the first place. Call this the curse of the millennial or just my fundamental lack of will-power, it leads to a winding sort of existence. Taking me wonderful places and leading me down dark paths of directionless misery where the “are you ever gonna get your shit together?” question stands stark and loud. But despite the downsides, this style of existence has managed to take me into my 25th year and 2016 with no major scars to speak of. I am grateful. I am privileged. I am lucky. I have gone many places this year, met many people, had unexpectedly flowing conversations over Portuguese wine, an unfortunate hair job at a salon in Turkey and puked off a bridge while droves of people walked past (winning). I haven’t accomplished as much as I’d like, but I am doing my best to relish in the idea that I am not defined by the work that I do but rather something a little deeper and more essential, the searching parts that keep becoming.
This is a big ol’ crazy world, and if you would’ve told me 5 years ago that I’d be living in Amsterdam with a freelance job, a foreign boyfriend and a cat, I would’ve have probably believed you but been seriously surprised and impressed that I could actually be capable of that sort of life. So, as I indulge myself (and anyone who is actually reading this) in a trip down memory lane, let’s all vow to hold on to our 20 year old selves in 2016 and find solace in their naive wonder of who we are now.
I got more coming for you this year. I hope you stay tuned!
Love to you all,
Elizabeth
My trip down memory lane (aka: everywhere I’ve been this year, glossing over some details, all via my Instagram [follow along!])
2015
The year started with a trip..
Istanbul, Turkey
Tbilisi, Georgia
Izmir, Turkey
So fresh and so clean clean after my first Turkish hammam experience!
Antalya, Turkey
Cyprus
Tel-Aviv, Israel
Massada, Israel
Jerusalem, Israel
Back to Amsterdam
A day trip to Brussels, Belgium
And back to Ohio
Newcastle, U.K.
Alnwick Castle, Harry Potter time :)
Utrecht, the Netherlands
Copenhagen, Denmark
Amsterdam, King’s Day
Soest, the Netherlands
Amsterdam adventures continue..
A day trip to Bruges
Heidelberg, Germany
Salzburg, Austria
Ljubljana, Slovenia
A pit stop at a Swiss strawberry farm
Vaduz, Liechtenstein
Pittsburgh, PA for a farewell party <3
Granville, Ohio-small town America
Somerset, Ohio for the 4th of July
Amsterdam
Zaanse Schans, the land of the windmills
Edinburgh, Scotland
Dalhousie Castle
Amsterdam, SAIL
Road trip through Northern France
(Lille, Arras, Berck, St.Valery Sur-Somme, Touquet, Boulogne Sur Mer)
Amsterdam, cute little Dutch scenes :)
New York City
Rochester, NY
Friend visits in Amsterdam!
Hamburg, Germany
Copenhagen, Denmark, Round Two
Malmö, Sweden
Ohio for Thanksgiving :)
Barcelona, Spain
Porto, Portugal
Coimbra, Portugal
Lisbon, Portugal
Belém, Portugal
Sintra, Portugal, Pena’s Palace
And home again for Christmas, Columbus, Ohio
An Amsterdam New Year’s
Cheers, friends! In case you’d like some more travel, view more adventures here.