Farewell, Shanghai

We travel, initially, to lose ourselves, and we travel, next, to find ourselves. We travel to open our hearts and eyes. And we travel, in essence, to become young fools again -- to slow time down and get taken in, and fall in love once more." - Pico Iyer

Every now and then you experience something that changes you. Maybe all at once; maybe over time. There is something about studying abroad that opens your eyes more rapidly and in more ways than anything else can. Since landing in Shanghai this past March I have met amazing people, seen spectacular places, and above all discovered more about myself than ever before. And for that I am truly grateful.

If you've been following this blog over the past four months, I hope above anything you can take away the importance of travel. Whether it is to a neighboring town or a foreign country, take some time to explore places you've never been before. Allow yourself to relish in the beauty of a new destination, and lose yourself in it. I will forever miss these past few months in China, but I am ready to use this experience to take on a new chapter in my life. Thank you, Shanghai, for shaping me into the person I am right now. It was one hell of a ride.