I could write and tell you about debrief and my last week in Kona but to tell you the truth it's all a blur in my mind. It all came and went so fast… It was like I blinked and six months was over, six months of denying that it would eventually come to a screeching halt, that I would hit the wall of reality and that I would have to face the truth… My dream would eventually come to an end. It was over and I didn't know what to do.
So, here it is, my best shot at relating to you my last couple weeks… long and possibly confusing… The last of my adventures in Kona, and India, for now at least. Though this final post about my adventures may seem like random thoughts, ramblings and senseless words, it means the world to me because it is truly how I felt… So confused with my feelings and thoughts. It's almost been a year since returning form these adventures. I suppose it's taken me this long to finish writing about it all because it was a way of holding on and not letting go. After I finish writing this, memories are the only thing I have left of that dream, that blissful, challenging, wonderful dream of an adventure. I'm a little sad that I'm done blogging about Kona and India, but mostly thankful and happy that I even got such an opportunity. So, please, forgive my words, push past my scatter-brained thoughts and read into my heart, for that is what you're seeing. This is the very last of what I have to say about my world-traveling adventures then I will continue to write about my more recent endeavors. So, hold on, here it goes.
After we boarded our last flight in South Korea, my mind went in to a dream world. Reality seemed like a fantasy. We eventually arrived in Kona, were assigned rooms and attend the debrief sessions. Each day I was there I walked around the base, my glazed eyes looking around, soaking in all the beauty surrounding me, thinking back on my last moments in India. A day or so in, my team decided to go to the pier and hang at the beach, I went with them, not wanting to part from them until I absolutely had to. I set up my towel and things on the soft, fine sand and drifted off in to the ocean that is my memory… Bright lights flooded and filled my vision. My mind took me back to debrief week. I was sitting on a bed, talking to some girls from my team and one of my leaders. We had just spent a day at the spa. We were sitting there, talking, looking so full and happy… But I looked at myself and saw confusion in my heart… I didn't want to leave this land that I loved, this land my heart had been waiting to grow close to for so many years… yet I couldn't wait to see my friends and family once again… The memory was lingering in my mind, my attention fully focused on every detail, trying to hold on to the only thing I had left of India… Tiny sand specks fell across my skin, I snapped back in to reality. I looked up and saw Megan picking up her towel and gathering her things.
"You ready?" She asked.
"Heck yeah!!" I replied as I sat up and began to pack my beach gear into my little bag.
We walked at a steady pace along the sidewalks of Kona town, occasionally walking along the lava rock walls, feeling the spray of the ocean waves crashing against the sturdy barriers. After a few minutes we finally arrived at our destination… Determined, nervous and excited we stepped into the shiny, clean shop.
"How can I help you?" A voice asked.
"We want to get our noses pierced." Megan said with a smile. I looked at her and beamed, "I'm so nervous!!"
After picking our studs, waiting for some other friends to arrive and mentally preparing ourselves, we were ready. I went first, then Megan. It was the craziest thing I had ever done, but it was so fun and spontaneous. Everyone loved our nose rings and we did too. That evening us girls packed, and talked… I died my hair a dark brown color… Light flooded into my brain once more… This time I was in a rickshaw, speeding down the crowded lanes, having a great time with two of my teammates, we were on our way back from a team dinner, we laughed… I grabbed the bottom of my sari, saving it from being torn to shreds my the harsh pavement and gravel below… I snap back into the present. The girls were all talking about what we would wear on graduation night, I smiled and suggested that we should wear our saris, a few of the other girls agreed and finally we all decided that we would!
The next few days were spent soaking in precious time with precious friends. Finally, the end arrived. Bags were packed and everyone was getting ready for graduation.
That night I gave many hugs, to my dearest friends and cried tears of joy for the wonderful time had and tears of sadness for not knowing when we would ever see each other again and went to sleep.
The next morning I woke early, said my last goodbyes, gathered my things, got on the shuttle and set out with friends to explore Kauai. When we arrived, we dropped our bags off at a friend's house, took our backpacks and set out to explore. The warm island air caressed my skin as it blew in from the rolled down window in the car. I slowly drifted in and out of sleep, about an hour passed and we were dropped off at the mouth of a trail. The hike was 12 miles if I remember correctly. Six in and six out. We hiked in, it was a tough hike, my backpack was full and I was very out of shape… Light flooded into my memory yet again, I saw dust on my sandals. I was walking to the youth hostel... One of the guys graciously offered to carry my backpack for me, I snapped back into reality… I agreed and thanked him. Six miles later, we reached the waterfall at the far end of the valley we hiked in to, took a swim and hiked three miles back to the beach we spent the night on. We played with glow sticks, admired the stars, built a fire and got in our hammocks and sleeping bags and went to sleep. The next morning we woke up and hiked three miles back to the road, took a swim in the ocean, and walked/hitchhiked all the way back to the friend's house where we ate a wonderful home cooked dinner (our first one in months) and slept on real beds. Our hosts were so sweet. They gave each of us a gift of chocolate and jewelry and woke up early to take each of us to our flights.
It was my turn to fly out… I thanked our hostess again and again and said goodbye and went through security. I went through security and boarded the plane. Light, again… I looked out the window and remembered flying by myself to India… It seemed like a dream. I let my mind wander and process and about ten hours later, I was in Texas. My mom and sister picked me up from the dallas airport. We took a nap (I arrived at 5am), then check out of their hotel, and went shopping and talked and laughed and drove home. And it was over. It was over and I wasn't ready for it, but my heart was full and the next chapter in my life was a blank page, waiting to be written on… Would I be ready?
So, here it is, my best shot at relating to you my last couple weeks… long and possibly confusing… The last of my adventures in Kona, and India, for now at least. Though this final post about my adventures may seem like random thoughts, ramblings and senseless words, it means the world to me because it is truly how I felt… So confused with my feelings and thoughts. It's almost been a year since returning form these adventures. I suppose it's taken me this long to finish writing about it all because it was a way of holding on and not letting go. After I finish writing this, memories are the only thing I have left of that dream, that blissful, challenging, wonderful dream of an adventure. I'm a little sad that I'm done blogging about Kona and India, but mostly thankful and happy that I even got such an opportunity. So, please, forgive my words, push past my scatter-brained thoughts and read into my heart, for that is what you're seeing. This is the very last of what I have to say about my world-traveling adventures then I will continue to write about my more recent endeavors. So, hold on, here it goes.
After we boarded our last flight in South Korea, my mind went in to a dream world. Reality seemed like a fantasy. We eventually arrived in Kona, were assigned rooms and attend the debrief sessions. Each day I was there I walked around the base, my glazed eyes looking around, soaking in all the beauty surrounding me, thinking back on my last moments in India. A day or so in, my team decided to go to the pier and hang at the beach, I went with them, not wanting to part from them until I absolutely had to. I set up my towel and things on the soft, fine sand and drifted off in to the ocean that is my memory… Bright lights flooded and filled my vision. My mind took me back to debrief week. I was sitting on a bed, talking to some girls from my team and one of my leaders. We had just spent a day at the spa. We were sitting there, talking, looking so full and happy… But I looked at myself and saw confusion in my heart… I didn't want to leave this land that I loved, this land my heart had been waiting to grow close to for so many years… yet I couldn't wait to see my friends and family once again… The memory was lingering in my mind, my attention fully focused on every detail, trying to hold on to the only thing I had left of India… Tiny sand specks fell across my skin, I snapped back in to reality. I looked up and saw Megan picking up her towel and gathering her things.
"You ready?" She asked.
"Heck yeah!!" I replied as I sat up and began to pack my beach gear into my little bag.
We walked at a steady pace along the sidewalks of Kona town, occasionally walking along the lava rock walls, feeling the spray of the ocean waves crashing against the sturdy barriers. After a few minutes we finally arrived at our destination… Determined, nervous and excited we stepped into the shiny, clean shop.
"How can I help you?" A voice asked.
"We want to get our noses pierced." Megan said with a smile. I looked at her and beamed, "I'm so nervous!!"
After picking our studs, waiting for some other friends to arrive and mentally preparing ourselves, we were ready. I went first, then Megan. It was the craziest thing I had ever done, but it was so fun and spontaneous. Everyone loved our nose rings and we did too. That evening us girls packed, and talked… I died my hair a dark brown color… Light flooded into my brain once more… This time I was in a rickshaw, speeding down the crowded lanes, having a great time with two of my teammates, we were on our way back from a team dinner, we laughed… I grabbed the bottom of my sari, saving it from being torn to shreds my the harsh pavement and gravel below… I snap back into the present. The girls were all talking about what we would wear on graduation night, I smiled and suggested that we should wear our saris, a few of the other girls agreed and finally we all decided that we would!
The next few days were spent soaking in precious time with precious friends. Finally, the end arrived. Bags were packed and everyone was getting ready for graduation.
(Photo cred goes to Ridiqiulas Photography)
When the time came we all went to the big white tent on the far side of the base. We sat and rose when our names were called and cried and sat and clapped for other teams and rose and it was over.
Finally, like a blow to the head, Reality sank into my soul and I accepted it. It was over.That night I gave many hugs, to my dearest friends and cried tears of joy for the wonderful time had and tears of sadness for not knowing when we would ever see each other again and went to sleep.
The next morning I woke early, said my last goodbyes, gathered my things, got on the shuttle and set out with friends to explore Kauai. When we arrived, we dropped our bags off at a friend's house, took our backpacks and set out to explore. The warm island air caressed my skin as it blew in from the rolled down window in the car. I slowly drifted in and out of sleep, about an hour passed and we were dropped off at the mouth of a trail. The hike was 12 miles if I remember correctly. Six in and six out. We hiked in, it was a tough hike, my backpack was full and I was very out of shape… Light flooded into my memory yet again, I saw dust on my sandals. I was walking to the youth hostel... One of the guys graciously offered to carry my backpack for me, I snapped back into reality… I agreed and thanked him. Six miles later, we reached the waterfall at the far end of the valley we hiked in to, took a swim and hiked three miles back to the beach we spent the night on. We played with glow sticks, admired the stars, built a fire and got in our hammocks and sleeping bags and went to sleep. The next morning we woke up and hiked three miles back to the road, took a swim in the ocean, and walked/hitchhiked all the way back to the friend's house where we ate a wonderful home cooked dinner (our first one in months) and slept on real beds. Our hosts were so sweet. They gave each of us a gift of chocolate and jewelry and woke up early to take each of us to our flights.
It was my turn to fly out… I thanked our hostess again and again and said goodbye and went through security. I went through security and boarded the plane. Light, again… I looked out the window and remembered flying by myself to India… It seemed like a dream. I let my mind wander and process and about ten hours later, I was in Texas. My mom and sister picked me up from the dallas airport. We took a nap (I arrived at 5am), then check out of their hotel, and went shopping and talked and laughed and drove home. And it was over. It was over and I wasn't ready for it, but my heart was full and the next chapter in my life was a blank page, waiting to be written on… Would I be ready?
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