The Pursuit of Happiness https://journals.worldnomads.com/feliciasimion/ Tue, 28 Apr 2026 20:37:45 GMT World Nomads Adventures The most exotic place I have ever seen is my Grandparents' courtyard. In a small Romanian village, inside an electronic-poor environment, I started to ask questions about my own identity. The place where I lived as a child suddenly changed, became extraordinary, like a caterpillar growing into a beautiful butterfly. The trees, the walls, the grape vine and even the weeds, they all ignited my imagination. Struggling to return to innocence, I discovered faith in my 5-year-old cousin, Felix. As I watched him grow, I began to live his life – strange, hazardous yet halcyon. Felix invents worlds out of nothing and appreciates everything he finds in the old courtyard – a tiny pool, a straw hat, the sun skipping through the darkness. This year I’ve learnt about being a puny creature on this “pale blue dot”. And I firmly think it has to do with love; love for everything that surrounds us. Having a glimpse at the little universe in my family’s courtyard made me imagine what lies beyond it. I wonder what there is out there that will make me feel transcendental. My name is Felicia, I've been here for 20 years, and I cannot imagine living but in curiosity, excitement and quest for beauty. https://journals.worldnomads.com/feliciasimion/photos/49612/Romania/My-Scholarship-entry-The-courtyard Travel Romania feliciasimion https://journals.worldnomads.com/feliciasimion/photos/49612/Romania/My-Scholarship-entry-The-courtyard#comments https://journals.worldnomads.com/feliciasimion/photos/49612/Romania/My-Scholarship-entry-The-courtyard Sat, 25 Oct 2014 09:51:00 GMT 0