greetings!

Hello!  Long time no…blog posts?!  Sorry that I’ve been so sporadic at posting, although I do believe I gave a warning with the relaunch of the blog back in July.  My gap semester is very much in full swing and being in a new city every week has been more physically taxing than I was expecting.  Reading time has most certainly dwindled, though I’ve made an effort to journal as much as possible.  I’m hoping to spend some time scheduling posts once I am home this winter–ideally enough to carry me through the spring (and my first semester of college).

Alright, let’s back it up.  Where I have I been?  What has been going on in my life since I last updated?

august

I spent the entire month of August in Denver, Colorado.  It was an amazing opportunity to get to know the people I would be traveling with and to better understand the ways in which the organization I’m traveling with works.  Of course, being away from home for the first time most certainly came with its challenges, but I took everything in stride.  Despite all of the newness, I was even able to put down the foundations to what have become some pretty amazing friendships.  I didn’t read as much as I wanted to in August; Homegoing was the only book I managed to finish in its entirety.  However, I did have the opportunity to visit several independent bookstores in the greater Denver area, including Tattered Cover Book Store.

september

September was where the excitement really began–I was in a new city every week all around the midwest of the United States.  It was really the start of my gap semester and came with its own unique challenges.  I read something in September that I think is going to stay with me always, and that’s Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson.  Not only is the writing of Just Mercy captivating and charismatic, but the stories that Stevenson shares are ones that I was ashamed to not have been aware of before.  Stevenson’s work completely made me rethink my own complicity in the United States justice system, and I could not recommend it enough.

october

October held a lot for me–most importantly, we had our first country change of the semester.  ¡MEXICO! Our month in this country, in four different cities, has been an absolute adventure.  Challenges, joy, and exploration at every turn has made the four weeks here something truly special.  I also had the pleasure of turning 19 (!!!) while in Mexico and was thrilled to celebrate in such a warm and welcoming city.  I didn’t finish any books in October, but I managed to chip away at 3/4s of Uprooted by Naomi Novik.  It’s a lot slower than I anticipated–but I haven’t given up yet.

what’s next?

My journey through Mexico is coming to a close–I’ll spend the next five weeks between Sweden in Denmark in five different cities before stopping in Finland on my way back to the United States.  I am getting very excited about seeing my family again (and sleeping in my bed again) and having the time to really read again.  However, I wouldn’t trade the experience I’ve had so far for anything.  If you or someone you know is considering taking gap time, whether between high school and college or in the life thereafter–send them my way!  I’d be more than happy to discuss what I’ve learned.  I’m looking forward to further updates and some reviews in the future.