Hey guys! Had this on my mind today, and well, now's as good a time as ever to write this all out. What follows are a list of my favorite places in no particular order.
(1) Dogwood Acres (Vernon, Florida) -- The trees. The nature trails. The zip line over the lake. Kelly Field and the Challenge Course (old and new). Camping out and cooking over the camp fires. The fun I had there as a summer camp counselor three times. My buddies Evan, Matt, Doug, and Lynn. Puddle stomping and marsh bogging. Being the female, Roman census taker recently. These are why I love Dogwood Acres.
(2) Pensacola, Florida -- RA at the University of West Florida. International friends and food. Iota Eta Pi. Staying up for four days. Professor John Clune and Latin American history. THE AMAZINGLY LOVELY BEACHES. The neon sign pointing to the beach. Bill & Angela Tinker and their girls. Erress Boulevard ghetto house with international friends. Matt Howell. FIRE, Brownsville, and Mobile Highway. The 24-hour computer lab and coffee machine just 'cos. I love you and found out this time with Miki that you are one place that I consider home.
(3) China -- Been there three times for (as of now fourteen and a half months). Luke, Kat, Spring, Ivy, Jessica, and my other Chinese friends. Ying Cai. Riding the train and motorcycles to faraway places. Really learning to ride a bike. REAL CHINESE FOOD THAT IS REALLLLLLLLLLLLLLY YUMMY!!!! Strange food and customs. I am called to you dear alternate homeland and one day I will return to you with joy!
(4) Australia -- Wanted to visit you since I was eight years and when I was 20 (2000 when the Olympics came down under), I got to visit you for two months. Sydney Bridge climb. Didgeridoo and Aborigines. Bush dancing. Sydney Art Museum. Driving on the other side of the road!!! Rugby. Trying to eat six pancakes to get my name on a wall. Beets, kangaroo burger, pumpkin soup, hot tea with milk. Learning lots of Aussie slang. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oy, Oy, Oy. Just don't call 'em a Kiwi.
(5) Japan -- Spent about a week there this summer with friends I hadn't seen for seven years face-to-face. It rocked and was relaxing considering the rough two and a half weeks I had just spent in Beijing. Kobe. Narita. Osaka. Kyoto. You were all so lovely and chill with an amazing dichotomy and diversity of people. Lots of delicious true Japanese food. Hope that I'll get to go back some day!
(6) Marianna, Florida -- Janell. Miki. Chris. Ed. Christopher. Mom. Ame, my sis. The Caverns. Jackson Alternative. Hope School. Citizens Lodge Park. My family nearby. Yall make my American hometown one of my favorite places. I cannot live here all my life, but the folks, natural surroundings, and quaintness make my stays here worth it.
chill