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I was woken up at 9:30 in the morning, which in
Barcelona is just several hours after everyone in the hostel falls asleep, by a
light knocking on the door. Thankfully I was on the top bunk so the obligation
to answer it was on one of the 6 sleeping on the bottom bunks. I usually don’t
wake up to such quiet noises, especially after two months of living with many
complete strangers with every type of sleeping habit, but at the present time
my subconscious was playing out a horribly boring ¨Who Done It?¨ mystery dream
where I was the lead investigator of an investigation going nowhere. So
needless to say I was looking for an excuse to wake up. THUD THUD THUD!!!
Bottom bunk was now called to action. It is an odd sensation to wake up to
twelve equally perturbed people as yourself glaring in the same direction
waiting to throw the first stone at the person to enter the door.
¨Hi!¨ In way to happy of an Australian voice
for it being so early, ¨Is Michigan here?¨
¨Crap!¨ Laying in my boxers on a blanket less
bed I looked up to see the Aussie girl that I had talked with at least ten
hours before.
¨Vat in Ze
hell are you tolkin about?¨ Bottom bunk responded with what I could gather as a
German accent. At this point the Aussie girl wasted no more time with talking
and escalated the mood of the room by pushing the door, holding back the light
from the hallway, all the way open to illuminate everyone’s cheerful faces.
¨Michigan. Michigan are you here?¨ I forced
consciousness to take over and responded with what seemed like the most neutral
statement I could think of.
¨Hi, what are you doing up so early?¨
¨Come out and drink with us. We are going out
to a bar on Rambla.¨ At this point the four Italian guys on the opposite side
of the room responded for me with a mixture of broken English, angry Italian
and many intense hand motions.
¨You leave! Italian swear word! You make
the door shut and leave! Another equally as harsh Italian word! We are
sleeping in here!¨ Aussie showed an expression on her face I had yet to see in
her drunken stupor, remorse. She turned to the four Italians, straightened out
here shoulders and said the only thing she could have said to redeem herself at
that moment.
¨In Australian, we say it F*** You.¨ Smiled,
turned to the door and walked out.
So this is my life now. Early wake ups from
foreigners, sixteen person dorm rooms and loving every second of it. I have
been put in countless situations that I look back upon now and crack up, thank
God I made it through, or stop in awe of. I have been to ten countries met
hundreds of people and taken thousands of pictures. Basically I have crammed
ten months worth of living into the last two. There are many days that I just
want to sit inside plop down in front of the boob tube and watch a movie, and
luckily in Ireland and Scotland their were many rainy days to do that, but
everyday I plan to take it easy someone I met the night before or that day
persuades me to go and visit the City Centre, beautiful beach or have a drink
with them at some historic pub.
When people find out I am travelling alone and
for a year they ask me if I get lonely. Of course, but 9 out of 10 days I am
with a group of people from all over
the world exchanging stories and making memories in some of this worlds most
exciting cities. I have no time to be alone. Don’t get me wrong, I would love
to have a travel partner again (thanks Mike), but there is something about
having the freedom to stay somewhere as long as I want, go eat wherever I want,
and basically do whatever I want that it amazing.
I am missing my family and friends. Especially with
this weekends Blueberry fest, Trevors football games coming up, Tonie going to
Kalamazoo for college, and Brayden being able to walk, talk, and wink at
everyone. I mean really, how easy would it be to pick up a girl with Beemer
winking at them across the restaurant for me. But everyday, even the bad ones,
I find myself making a connection in my mind that helps me grow and mature in
ways that is hard when I am in my regular routine. The lesson I have been taught
over and over again is that everywhere I go there are far more good people than
bad. I thought this was just an anomaly encountered while I was in Ireland. But
time and time again I have been astonished with people going out of their way
to direct me in the right direction or get me water or let me stay for two
weeks (Thank you Rita and your family, I had the best time with you guys). I
cannot wait to see what the rest of the world has to offer over the next ten
months. I will try much harder to write more often in the future. I can’t wait
to see everyone! 