Before the Next Phase Begins...

This seems like the time to make an introduction of sorts. Ever since I was a child, I have always wanted to see what else is out there. Whether it be in the woods around my home or in a country far away, traveling has swept my heart away. The traveling began for me when I was 13, when I visited an old camp friend in London, England. Ever since, I have been bitten by what my grandmother calls the "travel bug". Indeed, she is correct. Following London, I have been to Italy, the British Virgin Islands, Nova Scotia, Panama, Costa Rica, Paris, China, and Tanzania. My attraction to each place stems from different desires inside of me. I sailed through the British Virgin Islands on a 70 foot boat, absorbing as much of the beauty of the ocean and its wildlife as I could. Paris was the chance to experience European culture during my formative teenage years, full of sight-seeing and museum hopping, as well as clubbing and partying. On my journey through China, I attempted to learn Mandarin while at the same time learning the basics of Chinese Cuisine (food being another one of my passions). And Tanzania was my most recent travel - the chance to throw all of myself into service projects to improve the community I stayed in. For now, that is as far as I will go into my past travels, just to make this introduction short. But I will say that I am one of the luckiest people alive. The gift of travel is hard to put words to, no matter how hard I try. A lot of travel is seeing and experiencing, but I hope that through my words and pictures I can take others to the same places as I myself have been.

So where does that leave me now? Well, currently I am in the United States, but not for long. In less than a week, I leave for Italy, where I will be spending five months taking classes in Rome. I have no idea what to expect, and that thought frightens me a bit. However, as much as it frightens me, it excites me, and I cannot wait to begin living as the Italians do.

One quick word on the title of this blog - "The Adventures of a Traveling Heart". I chose the title because I believe that is what I am. I am a very passionate person. From my studies to my hobbies, especially cooking, I dedicate myself and my heart to the moment at hand. In truth, that is the only way to live, because after all, who knows if the next day will come?