Salty air & sun kissed hair

Breakfast by the beach

Greece: sun, sand, the sea & me

Exhausted from 30+ hours of travel, I grabbed my bag full of energy and rushed out to find my driver who would take me to my beach hotel. Upon arriving, I wasn’t able to get into my room right away so I ate breakfast right next to the beach and then went to lie down on a beach chair to enjoy the sound of the waves. It was then that I felt the sun kiss my skin and warm my heart. I took a deep breath in, closed my eyes and for the first time in a long time everything felt inspiring.

The next morning I woke up to my mother’s voice

Shopping in Mykonos

outside my door and jumped so far out of bed it seemed as though I had already made it halfway to the door! Between the hugs and smiles we were stumbling over ourselves because our words were coming out faster than what our minds could process! With smiles still stretched ear-to-ear we headed for breakfast. Having breakfast right next to the beach was something that I would never get tired of.

Made it to shore!

Three generations

For the next two weeks we made memories, shared laughter, and felt free to be adventurous. Together we traveled to Santorini, discovered the city of Mykonos, and truly relaxed while taking in the culture of Greece. Some of my favorite moments were made from simplicity, retelling stories with our toes in the sand all awhile falling in love.. with sangria’s of course! Most evenings ended with our skin a little tanner, tummy’s full of pasta, and happy hearts looking forward to the next day in paradise.

Greece was the last stop of my 3-month adventure and it was there that I left another piece of my heart. It may have been the end of my trip, but it was not the end of my travels. The pictures you see are captured moments of feeling alive again.

Greece. It was more than a memorable three-generation trip, Greece was my bliss.

My bliss: where the waves kissed my feet

Scotland-

Rainy days are some of the best days!-Courtesy of Kassidy McConville

            After 11 hours of traveling we finally arrived in Edinburgh Scotland. During the first flight I was able to have three seats to myself, feet up, barefoot, and typed away miles high above the clouds. When we arrived it was rainy and dreary out, but we did not let that get our mood down!

Optical Illusion Museum

            We asked the information desk what bus to take to get us closest to our hostel and soon we were off. Sitting at the top of a double decker bus with all our luggage we got to see a lot of what the city had to offer. Turns out we did take the bus that gets us closest to where we wanted to be, only we didn’t know that it was an hour an a half ride to get there. The city reminded me a lot of London and everything there was so green.

            After settling in our hostel we headed straight out to catch our ghost bus tour. I didn’t know what to expect with the tour, but the tour guide was so funny that there wasn’t a part that was too scary. The city is full of ghost stories and I loved that we not only heard the stories, but also got to see the actual places where these strange occurrences are said to have happened.

Dynamic Earth Museum-Courtesy of Kassidy McConville

            The next day we had a tour to see the highlands and this I really enjoyed. We made many stops along the way that allowed us to see many beautiful lochs and even stand inside of what use to be a super volcano. That was probably my favorite part about the day because standing inside I could turn in a circle and see the rim of what was left of the super volcano. After, we ended at Fort Augustus where we went on a boat tour to try to spy the Loch Ness monster. Needless to say, better luck next time! It was still a great time out on the water and we got to have lunch on the upper deck. After dinner, we decided to go to a movie and it ended up being really fun because we had the huge theater to ourselves!

Inside of what use to be a super volcano-Courtesy of Kassidy McConville

Can you spy the Loch Ness Monster?

            On our last day we spent our time mostly visiting museums. The first one was an optical illusion museum and it was so much fun! Very busy with people of all ages, but we enjoyed bringing out our inner child as we made our way through this 5 story building. After, we had lunch and shopped around by the castle until we had made our way to another museum. This one was an interactive earth museum that took you back in time, in a time machine, to experience all of the different biomes. Both of them were a lot of fun and well worth the money that we spent on them. Also, we didn’t have our international student id’s, but at both places we used our UNK id’s!

            Soon Kass and me were back at the airport only this time we had to say goodbye to each other. With one big hug we took off in different directions for different countries for the next 10 days!

Next stop, Greece!-Courtesy of Kassidy McConville

Croatia-

First night in Split

I’ve been so blessed to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard, the program is officially over and we are off to Croatia. After 11 hours of traveling Kass and me had the sun in our hair and sand between our toes at last.

Krka National Park

It was only a five-minute walk from our hostel to the closest beach and we took full advantage. After, we had our fair share of the wind blowing sand around we headed back to the hostel and got ready to explore old town for dinner. From the historic Roman monuments to the dramatic turquoise water of the Adriatic Sea I fell in love immediately. After finishing a shrimp burger and sharing two different desserts over engaging conversation we realized that we had been there for over two hours. That’s one of my favorite things. Not having anywhere to be and going completely with whatever my heart says. On the way home we found cute bars, cafes, restaurants, and shops that were still all thriving throughout the night. Sometimes they were tucked away in little corners and alleys so we made sure to keep an eye out and go off the beaten path to see more of what Split had to offer.

Blue Cave

Our first full day in Croatia, we went on a tour to the Krka waterfalls with a boat ride and a tour of Sibenik. The tour group we went with was small, but so much fun. When our tour guide came to pick Kass and me up he told us to crawl over the drivers seat and sit in shotgun (we knew it was going to be a fun day)! The drive was kind of long, but we got to know the other tourists and learned many things about Croatia! It rained on and off all day, but we didn’t let that stop us from having a good time! The tour of Sibenik was short, but the city was beautiful with all the hidden staircases that never ended and they were all decorated with brightly colored flowers. The waterfalls were next and they were breathtaking. We walked all the paths and I enjoyed every minute taking in all the fresh air that I could! We thought the day ended at the waterfalls with a boat tour to a little village 30 minutes down stream, but to our surprise we were taken to a wine tasting. We had great conversation with our new friends from all over the world tasting special wines that you can only buy there. Right before we left I thanked the owner and bought my favorite red wine for my mom to surprise her with!

Swam with the fish!

No better time for a boat ride then 8:00am in the morning, right?! Our second day in Split we took an all day boat tour to see the gems of Croatia. After two hours we reached the Blue Cave. This was discovered in the 1880’s and was only accessible by diving because the entrance was below sea level. It seemed so unreal with the way the water lite up and it was so clear you could see the bottom of the sea floor. We learned that this phenomenon happens as a result of the reflection of sunlight off the cave. It was truly awe-inspiring and all I wanted was to jump in! Next, we went to the green cave, a couple coves, and then our tour guide put the anchor down so we really could jump in. Again, this was a smaller tour group so we were cheering each other on to jump in. At first it was so cold, but my body got use to it and it was so much fun! One of the girls that I had made friends with let me barrow her goggles so I could see what was under me. Normally I am terrified of fish, but there in the middle of the Adriatic Sea I dove down and swam next to the fish! We had lunch all together shortly after in what is now my favorite city, Hvar! Just when we thought that the day was over, our boat ran out of gas and we had a little adventure. We got to explore another village and saw a beautiful sunset over the sea on our way home. Again we got another good laugh cause our boat ran out of gas a second time, but we cruised to the shoreline and made it just in time.

Just having fun

That night we explored the shops and came across a square that had raised steps all around where people were sitting and listening to live music. Soon we found a place to eat outside in the square and I tried some more seafood. Two hours later we went by the same square and enjoyed the music by dancing and laughing in the warm summer air.

The trip was short, but sweet and someday I will make my way back. From the locals to the food I never had one bad experience. Croatia has been my favorite so far and Hvar has my heart.

Week 10 (Reflection)-

Current Update: Barefoot with feet up and taking three seats while flying to Scotland! (Finally have window seat!!)

I still remember the days that I prayed for the things that I have now. God has blessed me with the perfect timing of this study abroad experience. Not only have I been able to reconnect with old friends, but I have created new friendships too. That may be one of my favorite aspects about this trip. Many of us came as strangers, but we have left as great friends. The people I have spent the last few months with have made me laugh a little louder, smile a little bigger, and live just a little bit better. Each of them has impacted me for the better and because of them my heart has grown. So thank you for:

-Proving to me that I am beautiful & pushing me to be more free spirited

-Opening my heart again

-Giving me confidence & dancing with me from night #1

-Teaching me to be proud of who I am

-Always including me & sharing a few “firsts”

-Knowing how to make me smile

-Proving intelligence is sexy

- Being my long lost sister who shared anything I needed

-Showing me kindness

-Giving me an example

-Showing me a good time

-Always being so sweet & easy to talk to

-Showing me independence

-“Bed nugs” & laughter

-Always bringing positivity into every conversation

-Staying humble and kind through everything

-Barrowing anything and being so giving

-Being great company

-Reconnecting & late night talks like we never lost touch

-Letting me know that everything will be okay when it’s chaos

-Showing me home is where my roots are

-Always looking out for me & our balcony talks

-Showing me that beauty is not only what’s on the outside

-Showing me being single can be powerful  

Along with the blessing of having such amazing friends, I have learned a lot about myself. The young woman that left home has grown into a woman who has more confidence to follow her dreams believing in herself and independence to seek more possibilities. I have learned to be okay with not knowing for sure what might happen next, but at the same time knowing that whatever does happen it will be okay.

            The past three months have been full discovery and memories I would do over and over. One of the best feelings I’ve ever experienced is feeling tiny, humble, and yet inspired all at the same time. This overcame me time and time again giving me butterflies as I explored new countries. I’ve been blessed to check off nine more countries off my bucket list and soon to be number ten!

            It feels as though I have been living in a world without reality and where only magic exists. My childlike sense of wonder has taken over me and with every breath it seems as though I could breathe fire as I speak of my dreams. It’s been one grand adventure remembering what it feels like to be alive, and I’m holding onto that tight.

After filling my passport of stamps I have fire in my heart and wonder in my eyes. And with that I am going to continue to escape the ordinary and give myself a lifetime of adventures.  

Here are a few of my favorite captured memories that I will easy knock the wind out of me someday when I'm looking back.