Yosemite

March of 2011 I left on an adventure of a lifetime. My car was packed, my mind set. I had no second thoughts. After spending almost a year in Raleigh, living with terrible roommates (but having 2 jobs I loved) I was ready for something new. I wanted to see more of the country I'm from, see the beauty surrounding me. So I spent the next 4 months doing just that. Couchsurfing (the .org, amazing site and community of people if you haven't heard of it), sleeping in my car (much more than I thought I would), meeting up with family/friends and having random strangers take me into their home for the night. I met the most amazing, loving, welcoming people on the road. It was such a humbling experience. Many people I met, I never wanted to part ways with. I just wanted to take this blog and talk about my time spent in Yosemite National Park because I constantly find myself longing to go back. It was one of the most memorable times on my trip. Although one other was arriving at the Grand Canyon in complete dark. Not knowing where I was or what to expect but wanting to see the sunrise in the morning. Sleeping in my car in the freezing cold, covering up with the two beach towels and one winter jacket I had with me. Waking up and trying to find where to go in the complete dark (there aren't many lights up there!). Finally finding a spot as the sun just began to come up. And having it all be so worth it. As I sat by myself and watched the sun begin to rise, I begin to see where I am, what is surrounding me. I am left in awe. The pictures don't do it justice. It was unreal. After the sun was up, I spent the next hour and half walking the path and taking it all in. Again. Humbled.

There are a few pics from the Grand Canyon but like I said, they don't do it justice. Moving along.

Yosemite. I wasn't even going to go because I felt it was something I needed to do with another person, didn't need to be out there alone. Luckily, how things work out, I met a guy in San Francisco that also wanted to go but didn't have a way to get there. I had a car and needed a partner, he needed a ride. He was an awesome guy from Belgium. Someone I am sure to never forget because the amazing times we shared. We were both in San Fran for about a week before deciding to take our trip to Yosemite. We left one morning, he woke up late and had me waiting thinking he wasn't going to show! But he did. And we were on our way. One of the funnest parts was that since the first day we hung out (going to the Golden Gate) he used a map! Even though I had a GPS I wouldn't use it because I wanted the fun adventure of a map. I must say he was a great map reader because we only got off course once on the trip to Yosemite.

We camped. We hiked. We ate. We drank. Yosemite was unreal. Waterfalls everywhere. Sitting outside the tent, drinking Jim Beam, seeing every. single. star. in the sky. Jack being more scared of bears coming to get us than I was. Climbing to the top of North Americas tallest waterfall. Jack was so patient with me being terrified of heights. It was such a learning/growing experience for me. I faced a huge fear and I came out alive! Once we got to the top there was a terrifying part to get to the best view. You had to climb on a tiny ledge with one railing and I started to do it and actually almost started crying I was so scared! Jack and two other climbers talked to me and and I got to see the beauty from the top of the falls. I will never forget this trip. I can't wait to get back to Yosemite one day. And to go visit Jack in Belgium one day!

Lots of snow still on the ground

setting up camp, I promise I helped, just wanted to take a pic :)

He magically started a fire, it was crazy how easy he did it!

We. Climbed. Up. There!

Part of the trail

Again, part of the trail

We really weren't prepared for hiking through snow

So slippery and spots your feet would just go through so you had to be careful

Scary edge/rail that made me almost cry.

I MADE IT!!!!!!!

View from the top, part of the falls and then camp down below.



Off Track

Sometimes I feel like I am giving up on my dreams. Giving up on the things I would really like to do. At times I feel these things are impossible. How can I make them happen? Where will I ever get enough money to fund these dreams? Sometimes I just think I need to find an apartment and get a job and that be the end of it. Or go back to school and just start some (lame) career. I think I am scared of failing at times. Scared that all these dreams I have will never happen and then....what? *sigh*

I talk about going back to Hawaii, living for a while but lately I've been thinking a lot about when I really want to do. I would love to go back to Hawaii and live. Or find a farm to work and live on for an extended period. But something else crossed my mind while I was eating lunch yesterday. I was walking through the restaurant and heard a child talking in Spanish to his mother and I thought "I wish I could understand what he said". I've ached to learn a new language. In school I didn't take it seriously. I did what I had to in order to pass the classes but I didn't take time to let in all sink in to memory. I joined a website recently that is for language learners where you work together and help each other learn. I review peoples English and they help me with my Spanish. It's not just one language though, you can learn any language on the site. But to me, that's so difficult. I want to be immersed in the language. I want it to surround me to the point I have to learn it if I want to know anything going on around me. Live with a family that wants help learning English also. I want to experience a new culture. A new way of life. See how things are in another country. I think is the first thing I would like to do. Then I would have the new language to take with me everywhere else...

I know, I know. "Michelle you have so many different things you want to do. So many things you talk about. Are you ever going to do any of them?" I know that's what some people are thinking, heck, I think it often. I come up with so many different ideas. Maybe one day soon I'll actually be doing one of these things I talk about. I'm done nannying at the end of August. I'll probably work for a bit somewhere else to save some money for a good trip. I mean just think of all these ideas I come up with, can you even imagine what goes on inside my head on a daily basis?! You don't even know the half of it, haha.

Nostalgia

Lemonade stands. Furbys. Building tents. Barbie pool in the kitchen. Bike rides. Playing in the rain. Catching lightning bugs. Staying up late. Sleepovers. Camping in the back yard. Picnics in the front yard. Slip-n-slide. Ghost stories. Weekends at grandparents. First day of school nervousness. Summer camp. Girl scouts. First crushes. Friendship necklaces. Finding caterpillars. Ice cream fridays. best friend notebooks. passing notes. Sneaking out. Make believe. Dress up parties. Skating rink. School field trips. Faking sick. Report cards. Tamagotchi. Summer vacation. wanting to be a fireman. the babysitters club. pretending to be harriet the spy. pb and fluff. Roller blading.

ahhhhh.