In My Life

There are years that ask questions, and years that answer. -Zora Neale Hurston

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After my first taste of the majestic Himalayas in Leh I was eager to spend more time in the mountains, and planned to spend the last part of April trekking in Darjeeling and Sikkim. As the trip grew closer the idea of going back to India started to give me night sweats, and so despite having lugged around unnecessary cold weather trekking clothes for months, I decided to eat the costs of my flights and instead head to Myanmar for my final trip. I’m feeling pretty lazy about actually writing anything, but here are a few pictures:

I left Myanmar equal parts sad that I didn’t have more time, but glad that I was able to visit at all. It’s hard for me to believe, but I write this from the Tokyo airport, bound for California, finally finished with my year roaming around Asia. Through constant tests of patience, my time out here has taught me to embrace the absurdity of any situation, reminding me to keep my sense of humor at all costs. I don’t have enough words to convey how grateful I feel, knowing I now carry with me many new friendships and many happy memories. Every time I feel myself growing sad to leave, I remind myself how excited I am to spend the summer in the Pacific Northwest working as a kayak guide. Furthermore, my exploration and wandering throughout my 20s have (I hope) prepared me well for whatever comes after the summer. I find myself looking forward to entering my next decade, with the various crises of the 20s resolving into some sense of identity and growth, combined with a bit of the satisfaction of survival.  See you soon, California!