While I was exploring a lighthouse off the coast of Road Island, I ran into a part of the house that I was sure was not actually on the tour. I realize now the irony of getting lost in a light house. It is literally a building specifically designed to prevent disorientation. I am not really sure how I got lost or if it was indeed an accident or actually a purposeful folly. I do have a keen ability to be entirely captivated by a marvelous detail that I am oblivious to things going on (or in this case moving on) around me. However, I also have a prideful side that sometimes provides me a false confidence in my abilities to navigate areas I have never visited before. It would not have been unlike me to assume that I would be able to catch up with the tour later. This character flaw combined with a subconscious desire to fulfill my more curious sensibilities sometimes gets me into some glorious messes. And truth be told, I wouldn’t change that for the world. I love getting lost. If I hadn’t gotten lost I wouldn’t have stumbled upon the lighthouse storage room. This hodgepodge collection of trinkets from the Lighthouse’s past provided me a clearer picture of its story than any tour could have done. I enjoyed walking through the “attic” imagining the people who used these items, how these random items came to reside in this lighthouse and how long they had been there. It was truly magical and enchanting. I eventually found my way back to the tour and my secret detour was never discovered. 🙂
Travel
Wednesday Wanderings: Brighton Beach, England
My first notion of Brighton Beach came from my readings of Pride and Prejudice. It was first mentioned when Lydia was telling Elizabeth how they should go to this seaside resort to meet the officers who were stationed there. Later on Brighton became the source of a major plot twist when Lydia visits it with some friends. The frivolity and unguardedness of Brighten overcomes Lydia and she finds herself in a very scandalous elopement with Mr. Wickham. Being an avid (ok totally obsessed) Jane Austin Fan, I couldn’t help but be instantaneously intrigued by this infamous regency era beach.
While circumstances at Brighton might not have been ideal in the novel, the excitement and merriment this town generated in the minds of young Bennett girls always captured my attention. I was therefore extremely keen to go visit the seaport village that has been beloved and enjoyed throughout history by so many real life wanders and fictional characters alike!
I enjoyed my visit. It was a lovely day to see the shore and take a stroll on its pebbled beach. The town itself is quite eclectic. The streets are filled with rows and rows of interesting shops and cafes. ( I think I had my first savory pie from a pie shop in Brighton now that I think about it.) You can buy all sorts of arts and crafts and clever things that you didn’t know you needed. And the streets themselves are uniquely flavored by the colorful and intricate trails of intentional graffiti. The grand old hotels give off an interesting air that issues an echo of the city’s previous glory and grandeur. The peers themselves are cheerfully painted white and blue and turquoise and every so often there is a fanciful merry-go-rounds that would make even Mary Poppins jealous.
The place was whimsical and fun and everything I would expect from an English Seaside resort. I did however, miss the crowds of hansom young officers promised to be there in the pages of Pride and Prejudice.
Share this:
Wednesday Wanderings: The Accidental Castle!
When one sets out on a leisurely stroll in a Canadian harbor town, one does not expect to discover a legit Castle. This, however, happened to me as I set out on a walk around Victoria. I rounded a corner and there was an actual full on Castle. It was quite the happy accident. I was able to take a tour of what I found out to be Canada’s famous Craigdarrock Castle. On the Tour I got a glimpse of what life was like for the very interesting and quirky Dunsmuirin family who built the castle during Queen Victoria’s reign. This serendipitous discovery was a highlight of my time spent in Victoria and another reminder that when you travel and allow yourself to truly wander, you never know what sort of treasure you might find along the way.
People often find it strange that I don’t really plan my trips or research a city before I visit it. I find that when you happen upon a treasure like this you find so much more joy and excitement from visiting it than if you had planed to see it all along. When I travel, I love living in the moment and taking advantage of each experience as they present themselves. I also know how grateful I am when God is in control of my trip and I relish in all of the amazing adventures, views, and people He sends my way. Traveling without a plan allows me to marvel at His goodness and really exist in a state of continual awe and worship. I can give up control because I know God is faithful and just so good! You never know when He just might place a Castle in your path.
Share this:
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria was a surprise. I knew that I would love Vancouver island but I was taken aback with how much I loved the city of Victoria. The harbor was absolutely captivating at sunset. Its waters sparkled and gave the city a magical quality. This very Posh city of high tea, botanical gardens, and pristine harbors gave the city a strange mix of English high class and New England-esk charm.
Share this:
Point Judith Lighthouse- Rhode Island: Wednesday Wanderings
There is something so uniquely wholesome about lighthouses. Perhaps their ability to secure ones instant trust shouldn’t be all that surprising. Their very reason for existence is to guide the lost home. They provide a beacon of hope and light to the weary traveler while nobly identifying the dangers before them. Their constant drumming of light provides a rhythmic path to safety that calms and assures the soul.
I have not done much/any sailing on my own. I would be the first to tell you I wouldn’t have the first clue how to circumnavigate the seas. I can only imagine the powerful all consuming wave of relief one would feel when they first catch glimpse of the shore through that beacon of light. Its dancing reflection across the water would be a blanket of security to those searching for asylum from the unforgiving seas.
When I come across a light house in my travels I am captivated by their beauty. This one taken at Point Judith in Rhode Island was particularly captivating. With today’s new innovations these beautiful structures are more historical artifacts than tools of navigation; but I love them because they represent a bygone era where man relied on his fellow human being rather than a machine for assistance. In a storm sailors depended on the honor of the men who ran these houses to guide them through the rough and merciless waters. When I see a lighthouse I often wonder about the men who lived and worked in them. I also think about their lonely life; living in a tower above the world. I am sure they saw all, but engaging in so little. Who were these men? What stories did they have?
While Lighthouses invoke my romantic sensibilities about the days of old and delight my imagination they also provide such great parallels to the God I serve. When I see a lighthouse I am reminded how God is that steady unwavering beacon of true light in my own life. He is always guiding our path and leading us home. He is unwavering, unchanging and unyielding. He is the one and true constant source of security, love and peace. He alone can help us face the trials and storms of this world.
Psalms 119: Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
Share this:
Wednesday Wanderings: Quinault Rain Forest
In a journey across Washington my friend and I happened upon the Quinault Rain Forest. I found it eerily enchanting, as if I expected woodland nymphs to appear around every corner. It was early spring and the trees had not yet budded, yet the vibrant moss that covered the rocks, trees and valleys made it swim with promises of new life. I was captivated by the Forest’s beauty, yet there was also a since of silent foreboding. It was as if there was some ominous secret concealed behind its blanket of green. I found it oddly chilling and peaceful at the same time. These enigmatic trees have existed long before my time and will endure long after. They can gladly bewitch me with their secrets and mystery.
Share this:
Wednesday Wanderings: Denver
I have decided to post a picture of my previous travels every Wednesday ( I know today is Thursday) in a segment called Wednesday Wanderings. These pictures will be a selection of my favorite places and or stories. This particular pictures was taken in Denver in the “Garden of the gods.” I visited a friend who was going to school out in Colorado. I loved the mile high city and would love to return someday. There are very few cities where I feel like I would enjoy living permanently ….Denver might just be one of them.
Share this:
New Zealand
Share this:
New Zealand: The World’s Mosaic
Imagine all of best travel destinations in the world. Got them?……All of them? Now, compress them to create one magical island full of awe-inspiring beauty. This small country has everything you could ever want. It is a mosaic of all the best parts of the entire world. It has the rolling green hills of Scotland, the volcanic mystery of Hawaii, snow capped mountains of the Swiss alps, palm treed beaches of the tropics, the majestic lakes of Minnesota, the ethereal quiet of the Pacific Northwest, Alaska’s sparkling glaciers, the rain forests of south America, New England’s harbors and Midwestern hospitality.
Can this place be real? Every corner I turn and with every bend in the road I find myself in another world completely unlike but as equally stunning as the previous destination. It feels as if this much beauty should not be allowed to exist in one place. I have fallen in love with New Zealand’s beauty, I’ve been seduced by its variety and enchanted by its hospitality.
New Zealand is unlike any other country because it is like ALL other countries. Everyone can find a piece of their home, and yet it is so majestically alien at the same time. I think, like hobbits, You can learn all there is to know about New Zealand in a month, and yet after a hundred years it can still surprise you. Just when you think you are starting to understand this incredible land, there is another jaw-droping landscape that takes your breath away. I felt truly blessed to have the opportunity to see and discover this land.
Like most Americans, I knew very little about New Zealand pre- Lord of the Rings. I had a vague idea of it being a small country similar to Australia, but not one I had a burning desire to visit. However, from my first glimpse of the quaint green Shire in the movie the Fellowship of the Ring I became captivated by New Zealand’s beauty and innocence. As the film series progressed I became mesmerized by its variety and splendor to an almost obsessive state. I knew that I had to visit this land that could be both Shire and Mordor, Rohan and Gondor, mountains and beach, winter and summer. J. R. R. Tolkien never visited New Zealand, but I am certain that New Zealand was/ is Middle Earth.
Share this:
2013: A year of Adventures
The first of the year always brings with it reflections of the previous year. I started to get down on myself for not accomplishing everything on my lofty “to do” list for the year. I may not have lost the weight I wanted, wrote a book, or learned a new language…but as I reflect on the things I did accomplish I realized it might not have been as unproductive as I originally thought. It turns out I had quite the year!
Things I Accomplished in 2013
1) I finished my Master’s Degree and Graduated from Purdue University, ( I ran a race the day after I finished my degree.)
2) I ran a two 5k races, two 10k races and my second 1/2 marathon! 13.1 Miles!
3) I returned to Spain….and it was even more beautiful and meaningful than the first visit. I visited my favorite parts of Madrid and we were reunited like the old dear friends that we are. I also had the chance to make “New Friends” of the enigmatic Granada, the majestic Alhambra, and the leisurely Mallorca. Most importantly, God spoke directly to me during this return pilgrimage to Spain, and I learned how to Abide in His love and through that, my joy was made complete. This return to Spain last April was one of the most spiritually rewarding experiences of my life. I will always treasure this trip, as I will always treasure Spain.
4) 2013 will be the year that I lived with my brother. We shared an apartment this year and on top of being the best brother anyone could ask for, he has also been a great roommate! I respect and admire him so much for the incredible man he is. it has been great fun living together! I will be forever grateful for the this time we spent together here at Ashley Place. Derrek is more than my brother, he is one of my best friends.
5) I attended my first professional soccer game… a Quarter final championship league game at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid. I wanted to go but I couldn’t afford even the cheap tickets. However, God provided above and beyond my expectations! He took the opportunity to show off and I was GIVEN 14th row VIP tickets! It was an incredible once-in a lifetime experience!
6) I was awarded the Lilly Grant witch funded my summer research trip to Asia. I planed and organized this massive 2 month expedition. I found the schools, teachers, and translators necessary to complete my research, as well as plan all the travels, get my visas, and arrange all my 19 different flights. It was a massive undertaking that included 15 different cities. In two months I didn’t spend more than three nights in a row in the same bed. A large part of my year was dedicated to planning and implementing this project, but I learned so much about the Asian academic systems and the unique Asian Culture. This trip also allowed me to add seven new countries to my map which include; Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, China, South Korea, and Japan. It even extended my total country count to 25! (I only have 5 more to go in my whole “Thirty before I’m Thirty” plan!)
7) It has been an amazing year of adventurous firsts! I walked the great wall of China and I explored the ancient temple complexes in the Cambodian Jungle. I got a real Thai massage in Thailand. I navigated seas off the coast of Phuket in my Cave Canoeing adventure. I rode (and fell in love with) an elephant named “Sabo”. I saw the most beautiful orchids in the world at the Singapore Botanical gardens and I journaled in front of my hotel room window that displayed the mighty Petronas towers of Kuala Lumpur. I saw an epic light show dance across the Hong Kong Skyline, I stood in attention with the ancient Terra-cotta warriors of Xi’An, I explored the streets of old Beijing, ran to the birds nest and visited a real silk factory. I attended both a dumpling feast and a tea ceremony. I sailed down the river Li and witnessed its glorious 20,000 peaks! I met the kindest people I will ever know in a South Korean coffee shop. I ate a black egg that had been boiled underground in the sulfuric waters under Mt Fuji. I attended a festival in Kyoto, saw the Golden Pavilion, stayed in a traditional Japanese Ryokan (inn) by the sea where I slept on mats on the floor and bathed in (public) natural hot springs. I also visited a real Ninja House!
8) I also dated someone for the first time…it turns out I am not really good at that sort of thing. I really prefer my independence it seems. However, it was a great learning experience and I am glad that I went on my first real date in 2013…..finally!
9) I had a student teacher teach in my classroom. (I know! When did I become old enough to be the one imparting wisdom to future teachers?!) I did not enjoy this experience as much as I had expected as it was more difficult for me to give up control of my classroom than I had anticipated. Maybe there is a theme here and in 2014 I should work on being less independent and more collaborative.
10) This year I also took a chance and applied for a Fulbright Fellowship in Finland. This is perhaps the biggest adventure I have dared to pursue. It would mean me leaving my teaching position in Westfield for a few months to head to the Nordic Country of Finland for a 4-5 month research project. I will not know until April if I will be accepted into the prestigious Fulbright community, but I put myself out there and dared to dream. Who knows what the next year will bring, but I think I can content that 2013 was an amazing year. 
HERE is to another great Year! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Filling My Map 