Reflection

Just a note

I am moving into finals week of my junior. It made me release that I am almost a senior in high school. How did this happen? It seems like a few weeks ago junior year was starting and I had the assumption that the year ahead would be challenging and demanding. Boy was that true! It is now a three day weekend(thank goodness) and I have a little bit of time before school is out to reflect over the last year, think of what lies in the future and take in the last few days of being a junior!

This time last year, I was preparing for my trip to Spain, and trying to wrapping my head around walking from the french border to Santiago de Compostela! A year later, I don't know how I feel about the trip. I definitely wasn't as life changing as I thought. In a certain way it was, it did change many things within my life, just not in a positive way. But I won't get into that now.

However, I was incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to such a beautiful and culturally rich place. The experience really did influence my fashion and esthetics. I have notice that over this past year, I have been wearing more neutral tones and lots of scarves! When I go into design as a career I will most definitely incorporate the soft tones, smooth drapes and simplicity into my work!

SENIOR YEAR! It will be wonderful. Challenging, but wonderful! I am so very grateful to be part of such a wonderful school and community! I think that one of the most shocking aspects of being a senior is that one realizes that this is it. After this year, most everyone will be on their own, pushed out into the world with what they have learned and how much motivation and drive they have to succeed! Yes, very scary!

Colorful

Wow!!! I haven't written in ages! Well, here I am now!

I am actually in Savannah, Georgia. Traveling with me is my wonderful mother, who is probably, no definitely the best travel buddy one could ask for. Not to mention a huge part of my support system and a strong force helping me to succeed.

It is really quite amazing to be here, a little miracle! Anyways, I am here visiting a school, Savannah College of Art and Design, more commonly known as SCAD. I first heard about this from my art teacher,  she had nothing but good things to say about the beautiful city and amazing school. However, hearing about it just wasn't enough, I had to see it.

For a little while, we were doubtful that this trip would really happen, yet with unexpected contributions from my relatives, the visit to Savannah Georgia was possible. And so my college search really began.

Yet, quickly ended...because I know with about my entire soul that I need and want to go to SCAD! I really can't believe it. The people here are amazing and very kind, and the city is miraculous! Just the perfect environment for an aspiring artist.

It is times like these that make me realize how incredibly fortunate I am. A sort of a wake-up call to the fact that so many wonderful things are happening around me, and that there are forces pushing me to focus and excel. This is not to say that there are unmistakable events and occurrences that make me and people in general want to give up, eat several pints of ice cream and watch a chick flick or several. Yet, hopefully these unfortunate and terrible occurrences will be motivation for great success and achievement in the near and distant future!

So, here I am in Savannah, after eating an amazing, AMAZING dinner, blogging(which I haven't done in a while) feeling content and confident that the road ahead will be very wonderful, exciting and colorful!

A New Start

It has been a rather long time sense I have blogged. I have spent my time watching Harry Potter movies, attempting to exercise, dancing and sewing.

This brings me to my next topic. After spending the day sewing I have arrived in a creative funk. Yes. A funk. Combined with everything else that is going on in my life at the moment, this is too much. I have been trying to come up with a fall clothing line and it at the moment is not quite turning out, considering that when and if I finish, I will have probably now one to model the clothes! Yuck Scheduling!

So, I have decided on something better. I am just going to randomly create stuff. Especially accessories and jewelry. This actually makes even more sense, for I really have been feeling the urge to make accessories and so on.

From now on, I am going to try to post all my latest creations and photographs!

Tonight, is the last night in Barcelona and Spain. However, I am sad, but not not depressed that I am leaving, and the reason is this. I know, and with no doubt, that I will be coming back to Europe in the near future. It's not like I have plans right this minute, but I just know, I will be back here soon!

I really don't think that words can describe how inspired I am at this moment. I think some of this can be explained by the fact that I am excited to be coming home, but honestly, I am truly inspired!

This is the reason why I can not fall asleep! I have finished packing for tomorrow's flight but am far from being tired. Every inch of me is excited and ready for a new adventure. One in which I can apply all the lessons I have learned traveling in Spain.

It is sort of funny that my trip in Spain involved me wearing only my convertible hiking pants and a t-shirt! Normally, I would NEVER do this, but really, I had no other option. And even walking around Barcelona, one of the greatest places in the world for fashion, I was wearing cut-offs and a t-shirt. Yikes! But i had to deal with it. And everything was ok. I also had expectations of what I would buy while shopping in Barcelona. I had quite a long list. But after trying on many different things and many different stores, I decided upon an flattering grey skirt, Benetton tee and tank, simple. However, at the last minute, my dad brought a little Benetton suitcase to mind and we rode the mettro back to the crazy tourist filled Plaza de Catalunya and got it. Great buy! I also got a pair of pants with pleats in the front and a prominent style in Spain right now. Overall, I think I got some really nice things, things that are special.

Anyway, I don't think that this trip was about buying cute clothing or seeing the best sights. I think it was  more an internal journey, one to think things over and learn. And really, I got the chance to really study people, their clothing and their character. Now, I can come home and use all those observations and inspiration and just create!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This whole trip, I don't really think that I have realized I am actually in Spain! WOW! It seems like something I have dreamed about and wanted but now that I have been here, I can't believe it! This really isn't a bad thing, because I have taken in every moment, but it just proves that dreams and hopes do come true(that sounds so cheesy, but it's really the truth)!

It has also been amazing to spend this time with my dad, we have grown closer over these last weeks. There have been some really difficult times, but fantastic ones as well. I really want to thank him so much for working so very hard to make this trip happen! I am really quite proud of you dad!!!

I am still not tired! Rats!

Oh, speaking of rats! We walked down Las Ramblas today. It's a big tourist attraction and actually rather boring and hectic. But, we did pass the bird market. A shop full of pet turtles and birds and rabbits. Rabbits. They were so CUTE!!! I  mean extraordinarily cute!!!!!!!! I wanted one so much, but that was something that would definitely not happen.

I am getting a bit more tired.

The culture in Europe in amazing. For one, people hang out with each other. And I don't mean having a couple of beers while watching Sarah Palin's Alaska! I mean people sit down at a cafe, have a coffee and just talk to each other. Unlike in America, it's not some rushed thing at Starbucks!

Everything here is smaller. Smaller kitchen, washing machine, coffees, cars, you name it, and it is probably smaller than what we have in the states! And because the houses are smaller, space is used so much more efficiently! If we could be more efficient in the U.S. maybe things would be a wee bit better!!!!!!

Maybe because it is all new, but most everything seems way cooler here! Even the trash cans are more interesting!

One fantastic things about Europe, is the Public transportation! Buses, mettro, train, they have so many ways of getting around. My personal favorite is Bicing. It is basically a bike company that has bikes all around the city, one has a little card and can use a bike whenever, to get to wherever. When you are finished, you just bring back the bike to one of the storage places! Imagine if we had that back home, and with decent bike lanes! It would be totally fantastic!!! We could also save on gas and people would get more exercise!

Being away, has made me appreciate home a lot more! For instance, in Sebastopol, I can just walk down to the market and pick up some fresh, organic produce. However, here, besides the local market(which is totally amazing), there are just supermarcados and tiny, weird little fruit stores. So I am pretty darn lucky to live where I live for this reason. I have also learned to appreciate my own house. I love my house! And it is nice to feel settled and know where everything is.

Ok, I am pretty tired, and it is three in the morning here, I have to get up at seven and I have about ten hours of travel a head of me. I need to get at least a couple hours of sleep!

Thanks to everyone who has been reading my blog! It means a lot! I bid you good night from the amazing country of Espana!

SHORT, BUT SWEET

This is going to be a short but sweet post.

Well, Spain is amazing and I am savouring every precious moment here! I love the people, the fashion, the food and well, I love just about everything in this country! Later, when I don´t have a time limit, I will go into more detail of my adventures, but here is one tid bit.

Tonight, our last night in santiago, we went to an amazing resteraunt. Where, I literally had the BEST pasta I have ever tasted!!! I  don´t think words can describe it!! It was a cudle fish and shrimp pasta, but the actuall pasta was black. One would think that a complicated dish would be the best, but this simple pasta  totaally rocks!

A special note to those who have supported me over the last several weeks, you definitely know who you are! THANK YOU!!! Lots of love!! And thinking of you all while I eat churros and chocolate!

I am saying good night from the worlderful city of Santiago!

revision

Hello, I´m blogging from another refugio.

The last couple of days have been interesting. I say this because not only has this journey been hard physically, but mentally as well! And finall, through many discusions and perhaps arguments, we have decided to come back home about a week early.

After that really terrible day of walking through field after field of wheat, we came to the conclusion that being in the sun that much isn´t the best for us our fair skin. And thinking about lking through a desert type landscape was not at all exciting. So we decided to skìp that paart and walk to Santiago from the 100 kilometer mark. Sounds like a plan.

The people walking the camino are really, really interesting!!!! They are super cool, and very fun to talk to! Infact, we met these really cool Irish women on the trail, Heleñ and Irene! They were fabulous!!

Well, I got to go , the meter is finished,

adios!!

An Ok Day

Nothing exactly interesting happened today, except I got just a little hit farther to Santiago.

We got a late start, not my fault by the way! Left the Refugio and then walked onward to the town of viana. Luckily, it was cloudy, with little sunshine and actually a wee bit chilly

We stopped for a little while and then kept moving. That's jut how it goes on the Camino.

Finally after a long day of walking, we got to the town and found beds at a pretty big auberge. We then spent about an hour trying to figure out where and aha to eat, finally we decided upon making out own food! Apparently, we inspired this super fabulous Irish women to cook and then we all wound up eating at o e giant table tLking abou random stuff, like how to download iPhone apps.

Today was a good day, and plus I get more Wifi! Yay!!! I love wifi!

Anyway, I am going to go to sleep now!

Xo Taya