2015: A year in Insta-review

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

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Tbilisi, Georgia

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Izmir, Turkey

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So fresh and so clean clean after my first Turkish hammam experience!

Antalya, Turkey

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Cyprus

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Tel-Aviv, Israel

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Massada, Israel

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Jerusalem, Israel

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Back to Amsterdam

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A day trip to Brussels, Belgium

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And back to Ohio

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Newcastle, U.K.

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Alnwick Castle, Harry Potter time :)

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Utrecht, the Netherlands

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Copenhagen, Denmark

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Amsterdam, King’s Day

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Soest, the Netherlands

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Amsterdam adventures continue..

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A day trip to Bruges

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Heidelberg, Germany

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Salzburg, Austria

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Ljubljana, Slovenia

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A pit stop at a Swiss strawberry farm

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Vaduz, Liechtenstein

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Pittsburgh, PA for a farewell party <3

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Granville, Ohio-small town America

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Somerset, Ohio for the 4th of July

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Amsterdam

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Zaanse Schans, the land of the windmills

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Edinburgh, Scotland

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Dalhousie Castle

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Amsterdam, SAIL

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Road trip through Northern France

(Lille, Arras, Berck, St.Valery Sur-Somme, Touquet, Boulogne Sur Mer)

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Amsterdam, cute little Dutch scenes :)

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New York City

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Rochester, NY

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Friend visits in Amsterdam!

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Hamburg, Germany

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Copenhagen, Denmark, Round Two

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Malmö, Sweden

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Ohio for Thanksgiving :)

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Barcelona, Spain

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Porto, Portugal

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Coimbra, Portugal

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Lisbon, Portugal

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Belém, Portugal

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Sintra, Portugal, Pena’s Palace

Sintra, Portugal, Pena's Palace

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And home again for Christmas, Columbus, Ohio

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An Amsterdam New Year’s

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Cheers, friends! In case you’d like some more travel, view more adventures here.

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