Circumnavigation around the World..Complete.

I’m currently sitting on an airplane, headed for Chicago. We took off about 5 minutes ago, and I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I’m heading home. I’m leaving California. I’m done with the epic 7 month adventure I’d planned and looked forward to for so long. I’m finishing the final leg of my circumnavigation around the whole world. Headed home, to NY. I’m doing with this with my family by my side. My niece is sitting next to me on the plane. She and the rest of the fam is doing a great job at making this closure to my adventure anything but a sad one!

My parents, my sister Holly and my niece Sophia came to visit this past Sunday. I’ve been looking forward to this for quite some time now and had a packed itinerary scheduled for our week together in LA. We did so much, and had a blast. I didn’t really let them rest.  C’mon, its LA, and you know me! I like to stay active! No time to rest :)

On Sunday they came to my apartment. That was a happy day! I brought them to my beloved church I went to in Hollywood-RealityLA. It was an amazing service as always. Sophia was a trooper. I cannot believe how much she’s changed in 7 months-I really can’t get over it! She’s so much taller and she acts so much older too! They got to meet my friend (my friend from Ithaca’s gf) Janet!

After church we headed back to Oakwoods, ordered pizza, packed my stuff up and moved out of my apartment. Before leaving we took a swim in the Oakwoods-sad to leave that beautiful place, where I spent so much time soaking up the warm sun. Sophia absolutely loved the pool.

After we went swimming we went to the famous Griffith observatory and hiked past it at sunset! We saw the sunset behind the Hollywood sign. Then we got to see the city at night-my favorite, and got some awesome silhouette pics! After our sunset hike we headed to Studio City to this awesome restaurant called Cichellis. This Italian Restaurant had entertainment. The waiters and waitresses sang Broadway ballads, with a pianist and drummer. Such a cool experience!

The next day we went to La Brea Tarpits museum, had some food truck food for lunch and then headed to the Grove and Farmers Market for a bit. We then headed to Hollywood, took a Hollywood tour, saw the city from other cool lookout spots, and saw where a bunch of celebrities live or lived in Beverly Hills, including Miley Cyrus, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Selena Gomez, Robert Pattinson, Tom Cruise, and even the room where Michael Jackson died. That night we ate at Umami burger, got some amazing FroYo (which Cali has made me very addicted to) and then headed home, to watch some Olympics.

The next day we went to Disneyland! We all had a magical time there of course, and ended on a great note by watching the Fantasmic light show and beautiful fireworks! The next day we met up with my supervisor, Theresa, and her adorable girls I grew close to, Vivvy and Abby. Abby was so excited to meet Sophia, it was the cutest thing. Sophia and Abby rode ponies at Griffith park and we all rode on a cute little train ride. We then headed to a Dodgers game! My dad is a HUGE Dodgers fan, so he was on Cloud 9. Unfortunately the Dodgers lost, but we still had a great time. After the game we headed to the Grove again and ate at the Cheesecake Factory. Karmin and Jordin Sparks happened to be performing a free concert that night, so I got to catch part of the concert. That was an awesome way to spend my last night in LA. Yesterday we headed to Catalina Island. We took a ferry to the island from Long Beach. On the Ferry ride I could see open water all around me-it was the exact view I had out of my home, the MV Explorer a few months ago. It made me miss it bad. How I loved looking out into the beautiful ocean..the way the sun would glisten on the water, the deep, beautiful blue, the glassiness of the water. There was something magical about seeing nothing but water, everywhere around you..no land in sight. It was pretty cool that I got to experience that sight again-for the first time since I reached California in May..on my LAST day in California and on my last day of my 7 month adventure. It really brought things full circle..and today I’m really going full circle-I’m finishing my circumnavigation around the globe! How cool, right?

Anyways, it took an hour to get to Catalina island. I got to feel that rocking feeling again, and it put me to sleep as it always did. Catalina island is BEAUTIFUL. Its such a cute little island with an adorable little island town-Avalon. We took a scenic tour around the town, visiting basically all of it. Afterwards we walked around, had lunch, and headed back to the ferry. We then headed to San Diego, where my Grandma was staying with her brother and sister-in-law. We spent the night at their Bed and Breakfast-which is where I spent my first night off the ship and my first night in California-once again, bringing things full circle. 

And here we are…on the plane headed home. Before my family came, I had a wonderful last couple of weeks in LA. I continued to give Abby swimming lessons, which was wonderful. The 2^nd to last week I had a lot of time to chill by the pool and work out because my supervisor, Theresa, went to Santa Barbara. Our last weekend we went out on Sunset Blvd to a bunch of bars, which was a lot of fun. We went to Cabo Cantina, Saddle Ranch and more. On Sunday there was an end of the summer Luau BBQ for the Ithaca kids at Oakwoods. 

On Wednesday Theresa took me to Melrose to check out some shops. I’d been wanting to go shopping on Melrose-it’s a famous and really street full of boutiques. I got the cutest dress there, that is so unique. We ate at Johnny Rockets, and it happened to be the very first Johnny Rockets EVER.

On Thursday my friend Katie, from Semester at Sea and her boyfriend visiting from New Zealand, went to Six Flags Magic Mountain in Anaheim with me. We had sooo much fun. It was so great seeing Katie and finally meeting her boyfriend, whom I’d heard so much about and had met so many times via Skype when we found wifi in various countries. We were all roller coaster lovers, so we had the time of our lives. They stayed at my place that night and we hung out in the hottub and chatted and had a perfect day!

The next day I had my last wedding. It was at Strawberry Farms in Orange County. The wedding was in a barn at a golf course, and was country themed. There were so many cute details. We started setting up at 11 and didn’t finish until 5! It was a long day, as all weddings are, but it was a great wedding to end my internship with. Saturday was my last day. Theresa brought me to beautiful Rancho Palos Verdes. It was so sweet of her to bring me. I loved it! Her daughters came along and we had a great time walking and looking at the beautiful sights and we had lunch at a gorgeous resort, overlooking the ocean and saw a bunch of dolphins! When I got back that day I did some final things, packed, worked out once last time while watching the Olympics, and chatted with Ithaca friends, Bridget, Anna and Becca until 4 in the morning! Great way to end an amazing summer!

I feel so blessed to have spent the summer in LA and to have the experiences I did and to meet the people I did. I didn’t have to go through the transition of going from exciting Semester at Sea life to home, which could be pretty hard and quite a drastic change! I was so fortunate to continue my adventure. I considered California to be my next port! I got to have fun and visit a bunch of different people around California for a few weeks and experience being 21 for the first time in the US, having so many fun times and creating wonderful memories. I got to experience living in a big city for the first time in my life. I was blessed so much to have the internship I did. I was blessed that my supervisor was so amazing and that I got to spend so much time and get close with her adorable daughters and my supervisor as well.  I got to witness and be a part of beautiful weddings at gorgeous locations all around the LA area. I was so fortunate to have great opportunities and have cool Hollywood experiences, from attending production meetings in a pent house overlooking Hollywood to going to pool parties on Hollywood rooftops at the W. I got to meet amazing Ithaca girls and had such a great time going out with them every time. I was so blessed to meet Janet and go to the most incredible church I’ve ever been to, and get so much out of every message. I couldn't ask for anything more! I perfect way to end my 7^th month adventure!

Now, I’m home. Its beautiful here-I forgot how beautiful it was here. So green! Its great to be back and catch up with friends and family. In only 2 weeks I’ll be headed back to Ithaca to begin my year. I’m insanely excited to see my Ithaca friends-they’re just the best, and I’ve missed them so much. I know we’re going to have the best year yet. I wish we weren’t seniors..I don’t  like the idea of not going back to Ithaca next year and being with my amazing friends. But I’ll try not to focus on that right now. It’s time to live in the moment and keep on living life to the fullest!