Canvas Painting

Last fall I studied abroad in London, England. The director/advisor/savior of the UMD-in-London was Dr. Koehler, a slightly overbearing yet incredibly helpful resource. During our orientation, we heard a few of the catchphrases that Dr. K would repeat in her pseudo British and entirely pompous accent throughout our semester abroad. One of those was "canvas painting." Though her repeated phrases were often joked about, her point wasn't missed on us. She encouraged us to paint our canvases with something new and interesting everyday. We have a clean blank page and its up to us to fill it with whatever we want. (Of course, her overbearing side had her own opinions about exactly how we should paint, but that's Dr. K.) I love the idea of creating my own life canvas. Here's a few images that I think would be centerpieces. These pictures I hang on to "like gold dust" (another one of Dr. K's famous maxims.)

Sunset in Annapolis - Home Sweet Home

Coliseum - Rome, Italy
by far one of the coolest things I have seen in person

Venice - one of my favorite cities in the world

London, England - home of The London Eye,
Big Ben, and a part of my heart

Nashville, TN - I've spent a lot time here over the years and
am still amazed by how much fun this city is

Cancun, Mexico - came here with two of my
favorite people in the whole world -
my sisters.

¡Voy a ir a Costa Rica!

Finally, I have some definite postgraduate plans! This is quite a relief to me as I watch my other friends get full-time jobs or start graduate school. One day, I'll get there. But for right now, traveling is my priority.

As I stated in my very first blog, I have begun taking Spanish classes at Anne Arundel Community College. Sure enough, this decision has led to an incredible opportunity (remember the chains of flowers and thorns?). AACC offers a study abroad trip to Costa Rica for one month and I have been accepted! It goes from June 30 to July 31. I will be living in San Jose with a host family (something I have wanted to do for quite a while) and I will be taking Spanish classes every day at the Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose. I am so excited to improve my Spanish while exploring a brand new, beautiful country. If anyone has ever been to Costa Rica, please feel free to email me with destination suggestions. I should have most of my evenings and weekends free so I will of course be using that time to see what I can of the country. While away, I will be using this blog to update you on my experiences.

La Paz Waterfalls - a trip here has already been scheduled

Poas Volcano - I'm also planning on going here

"Great Expectations" -Charles Dickens

"That was a memorable day to me, for it made great changes in me. But, it is the same with any life. Imagine one selected day struck out of it, and think how different its course would have been. Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day."

I read "Great Expectations" when I was 15 or 16 and I remember that this quotation immediately jumped out at me. (Perhaps it was because Dickens explicitly implored me to stop and pay attention to this line, but I'll give my high school self the benefit of the doubt.) I didn't have the appreciation or understanding of Dickens that I do now after spending four years studying English literature, but I knew that this was important. Any one day can change the course of your life, for better or worse, until you wind up exactly where you are supposed to be. I have thought of this quote often over the years and always wonder where my chain of thorns and flowers will take me next.