Ich werde zu zurückkehren, Europe

Four years ago, I was on my maiden voyage to a foreign land. Four years ago, I sat impatiently on a plane. Four years ago, I went on a trip to Europe. 

I remember when I first spotted the continent--I really hadn't slept at all on the plane. We were served croissants as we flew over France. I looked down and saw the beautiful towns scattered on the hills and I was in love. 

The first smell of Europe was the wall of cigarette smoke that smacked us as we walked into the Fiumicino Airport in Rome. After that, it was the best two weeks of my life. Cigarette smoke and all. 

It's so hard to believe that it's been four years since I've left because I still have dreams about going back. Usually in my dreams, my trips to Europe will be sprung on me the last second, and I'll have about five minutes to get ready. I frantically search and cram everything into my luggage. Yet somehow, I never manage to make it back. 

One of my companions on my trip was my journal. I was constantly writing and collecting. I even kept gelato napkins. Yep, I did. 

I won't bother you with too much of my journal, so I'll only post a few entries. Here's a snippet, about my first day in Rome. 

(Caution: Beware of the over-usage of exclamation points in my entries. I guess you can tell I was really excited to be over there.) 

June 2, 2005

Today we leave Rome! So sad. It's been so fun here! Yesterday we started the day by going to breakfast. Their 'continental' breakfast is soo good, sweet croissants, crispy rolls, and a creamy/slushy yogurt. It's so good! Then we met 'Frenchy,' our courier, and walked down to the subway (my first time in a subway!) and rode to the Colosseum, where we met up with our tour guide for the day, Fabio, a rather attractive Italian man I would say. Then we walked up to the chapel holding St. Peter's chains and the Moses statue by Michaelangelo, which was awesome! then we caught the bus to the vatican--OH WAIT! I forgot the coolest part, we went on a walking tour of the Forum, the ancient part of Rome. We saw old ruins, the senate building and some old arches. It was incredible! Then we walked around and out of the Forum and to my favorite (well one of my favorite) things in Rome, the big building with the statue of the chariots, it's incredible! (EDITED: Vittorio Emanuelle II monument) ...

June 3 and June 5 

(I started an entry, then finished it later)

...Yesterday we left Florence and arrived in Venice, my favorite place so far. Well it's a close one between Rome and Venice, but it is beautiful. We caught a water bus over to our hotel, it was awesome! We walked up to the front of the boat and was waving to everyone, and then the bus driver was like, "You very nice!" and then he turned on some music and we all started dancing, it was tons of fun. It was so nice to feel the breeze and to actually be dry for once. I swear it's so muggy here, you're instantly sweaty, it's gross. Then, by the end of the day you feel so sick it's almost unbearable. But anyways, we went to our hotel and dropped off our luggage, then we went to St. Mark's.

We went through the church and through Dodge's Palace, that was pretty cool. We went out and had some free time--oh wait, we went and watched a glass blowing demonstration and I bought some earrings. We shopped more after then went to dinner--wait, I keep forgetting things. I fed the pigeons on St. Mark's square and they seriously attacked me! I had them on my head, shoulders and arms, it was crazy! ...

and perhaps one of my more favorite, yet short entries:

June 5, 2005

Hey! Well I'm not on a bus anymore, so hopefully my handwriting will be more legible. I'm in Innsbruck tonight, and I like it a lot! I'm right in the middle of the Alps, and it is so pretty here. I wish I could spend more time in this place, it's so clean and nice and smells good! There's a lot of cute, nice guys too. It's actually cooler up here and it keeps my hair under control, which is lovely! In Italy, it was so hot and humid, it was OUT OF CONTROL! Tomorrow we are headed to Neuschwanstein and then on to Lucerne! I'm so excited. We didn't do much today, just mostly chilled in Innsbruck. The city is so beautiful! I can't get over it. Isn't it amazing how many people there are in the world? I've seen probably more people in these past couple of days than I have in my whole life...

I love that last line because it is so true. Those big cities are just packed full of people, yet everyone lives together so wonderfully. It's amazing. 

I felt so safe over in Europe. Mark and I joked, as we went on our anniversary trip to Seattle, that we felt safer in Europe's bigger cities. I remember that even as we walked home late at night in Rome, I never got the heebie jeebies like I did occasionally in Seattle. 

And how could you not feel safe being in places like this? 

People in Europe seem to be more natural. It actually felt like I could get away without makeup. That's a good feeling, let me tell you.

I also loved how a lot of people walked, biked, or took public transit. Granted, Europe wouldn't have enough room if everyone had a car, but I just loved how there were less big streets and more bikes.  

And even though not very many people in our group liked it, I loved the overnight train! 

Europe has deep historical roots, and Europeans proudly take care of them. I think it's so astounding how many of the buildings of the bigger cities have been around for hundreds of years. It doesn't seem like they tear down a building if they know they can build something bigger and better. They have buildings with character, and are proud of it. 

I don't remember how old these buildings are along the Grand Canal in Venice, but trust me, they are pretty darn old. 

Oh Europe. I'll come back and see you soon. I can feel it in my bones. 

Goodbye, small town

Fielding Academy used to sit on the hill, overlooking a bustling little town. Main Street included a drug store, service station, jewelry store and even a nickelodeon. Emerson Elementary School sat right on Main Street, along with the other business buildings. Positioned by the tabernacle, one of the oldest buildings in Idaho, was Fielding High. 

This is how Paris was in it's prime, at least how my father describes it. I wish I could have seen it back then. It seems magical--almost surreal. 

Driving through Paris now, you'll see a completely different landscape. Where Fielding Academy used to proudly watch over the city, now sits a house. There is no drug store, jewelry store, or even nickelodeon. You'll find one gas station, right on the corner on the southern part of town and a lot of empty buildings. 

The Paris that I knew as a child was slightly different, yet not the same as today. My grandmother used to live on the hill where Fielding Academy once stood. I would ride my bike up to her house, and together with my cousin we would get green pineapple ice cream

 at the drug store. I loved ordering and sitting at the bar, waiting for my precious treat. Following my visit, I would fly down the hill on my bike, pedaling as fast as my little wheels would allow. 

One of my favorite things in the world was being able to paint ceramics. On my grandmother's street sat a ceramic shop, where my mother would take me sometimes to paint the little creatures. My first pick to paint? A little striped chipmunk, like the ones that greet you when you go to Minnetonka Cave. 

                                         

From what I remember, my childhood was mostly spent outside. I would roam the streets and I loved every minute of it. My cousin and I would take our Barbies, strap them into their Jeeps, and haul them with a string down into the pasture and around the stream. 

But the best, the best, was the 4th of July. I remember waking up, eating the chuckwagon breakfast, and immediately getting on my bike to see who was lighting fireworks around the town. The parade and the cookout we would surely have with my cousins was the highlight of my whole summer. 

I went home this past weekend, and Paris isn't the same. But it hasn't been the same for awhile. Where businesses used to be now sit vacant buildings, some have even been through some sort of chameleon phase, transformed from one business to the next, until they're left to crumble. My elementary school, Paris Elementary, was built where my father's high school--Fielding High--once was. I went up to play with my family and I noticed how different everything looked. The paint was chipped on the building, the lawn was a jungle. 

Walking home from the elementary school, I passed six houses, four of which were empty. An elderly woman used to live in one, a family in the other. Right next to a best friend's house is an old house in Paris, built by one of the guys who helped build the tabernacle, I think. On the second floor is a balcony; underneath the wood, the brick is crumbling. 

Yesterday, I went up to the cemetery to visit my ancestor's graves. I passed through the rows, staring at the stones of many people passed. Some were so old they were broken in half and propped up against the base. Some didn't have flowers.

Did this person ride his bike down the street to get some ice cream? Did this person help build the tabernacle? Did he play in the stream that snaked it's way on the southern part of town? Was this the town that they left behind?

Behind me in the background, buzzed a four-wheeler. The driver made wide loops around his backyard, whipping up mud and spinning in circles. Each loop dug a trench deeper into the earth and the green of the grass slowly faded away. No need to worry; he would be gone by Monday. Then the grass could rest.

This is how things are in Paris. Someone moves or passes away and in their place is established a summer home. Usually, the summer home family comes up on the weekends or summer holidays. But you won't see a light on at Christmas. Many of the buildings, historical landmarks in my town, sit silent and lonely until the weather is just right. Then they get the pleasure of having someone's company. 

Leaving Paris is hard. Part of me feels like I should be the one coming back, buying a home and raising a family. Part of me feels like I should buy the house that is a historical landmark. Part of me knows I wouldn't rip up my backyard with a four-wheeler because I would live there. Part of me feels that I should give the house some company on Christmas. Some people may never know the pain that comes with watching a hometown disappear. I believe, though it's happening all over the world, that the people in Paris know acutely what it's like. 

I have to wonder what the founders of Paris had in mind for this pretty little town. I can't help but feel, that what it is turning into is quite the opposite. Did they know, when they built Fielding Academy, that soon it was going to be a pile of ashes? Did they know that their nickelodeon theater would be locked up so no one could enter? Did they know their streets would be nearly abandoned until a certain time of the year?

I think that my childhood--one filled with bikes, fireworks and Barbie safaris, will be something my children won't get to experience. I'm afraid they won't be able to ride up the street to see their grandma or to the store to buy penny candy. They probably won't get to experience the childhood of living in a small town. I cringe to think of what could happen when one day, our parents will leave and another summer home takes their place. Paris deserves something better than the promises of weekend visits and crumbling buildings. Paris deserves families to move in and continue the tradition of keeping a small town alive.

Driving through the island of Madeira, I noticed there were several small villages. Our taxi driver explained how many of the young adults left to go to different cities to find a life and work. As we passed through a mountainous village, I saw several elderly women working in the fields by their houses. One was digging, probably planting for the year. As we passed in the car, she looked up and I waved. We made eye contact and she waved back, with a smile on her face. 

Then, she kept on working.  

Okay, Friends!

How was it? Who skipped the meat? Who ate tons of veggies? And above all...

Who felt fabulous eating this way? ;)

P.S. If you did the challenge, don't forget to leave a comment! First person gets first pick of the two, second person gets the other. And let me know how your week of healthiness went. Oh! And don't forget to leave your email address, preferably as a second comment so I can delete it. I wouldn't want my email floating around cyberspace, so I don't want yours to do the same! :)

Thanks. 

Ready, set...

Go! 

If there's any of you doing the challenge, you can start it now! 

Expect a post next Friday afternoon. Remember the first two people to get back with me get the books. (Do I even have two people in on the challenge?)

Let me know how everything went, and give me your email address. If you don't want your email posted on my blog forever, post it as a separate comment and I'll delete it once I email you. 

People, these are some great books. In fact, they're sitting in my apartment begging to be read. If you're a little apprehensive about being vegetarian for a week and being perfect at it, remember that life is all about doing the best we can. It's not too late to join! 

GIVEAWAY!

I am so excited I could bust!

Friends, I am giving away two of my most beloved items. They are two books which I hold in the highest regard: Kindness to Animals and Caring for the Earth by Richard D. Stratton and Eat to Live by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. 

Kindness to Animals and Caring for the Earth is a collection of quotations and stories from LDS prophets and church leaders regarding our treatment of animals and our earth. Reading this book has given me so much hope and insight into my religion that I never had. Frankly, I think it's something every LDS member should own. That's why I'm giving it to you!

Eat to Live is a nutrition and diet book that focuses on nutrients per calorie and eating the most nutritionally dense foods. I have a confession: I haven't actually read this book. I have, however, heard so SO many good things about it that I want to give it away to you. Dr. Furhman is a member of the Board of Directors on the National Health Association and has changed the lives of many. And I want it to change yours! (Now I'll just have to get my hands on my own copy.) 

However...there's a catch.

To get ahold of one of these books, I'm posing a challenge. I've seen the 30-day vegetarian challenge floating around the internet, and I think it's a great idea. So many people have told me that they would like to eat more vegetarian meals, so here's your chance!

But I'm not going to make you do it for 30 days. How does a week sound? So here's the rules:

1. If you eat meat, try going vegetarian for a week. 

2. If you're already a vegetarian, choose something else to skip for a week. Examples: eggs, dairy, sugar, caffeine or simply include more vegetables every day. 

3. If by chance there's any vegans who read my blog, try the suggestions above. But of course, the eggs or dairy rule wouldn't apply to you. 

Now, this is all based on the honor system, folks! But I trust you. I'm really not a stickler with rules, I just want you to try to eat as healthy as you can for a week. Sound good?

In a week after the challenge starts, I'll post asking you how it went. The first person to report back with their results gets first pick of the two books. The second person will get the other book. What do you think?

If you need recipes to guide you, here are some fantastic blogs with some fabulous vegetarian dishes:

Fat Free Vegan

Vegan Lunch Box

Vegan YumYum

Veg Cooking Blog

Vegan Planet

Post Punk Kitchen

Happy Herbivore

Of course, if you're struggling finding recipes that you like, let me know and I'll be happy to send you some of mine that you might enjoy. 

I'll wait a few days before the official challenge will begin so everyone will have a chance to see this post and decide to join in the fun! I'm so excited to give these books away, and I want everyone to join! 

Now who's in on this? 

Just for you, my friends...

An article about veganism, including snippets of me. 

And an article written by me. 

Enjoy! I'm always open for kind and constructive feedback. ;)