Friends From Around the Globe
Ask anyone who knows me even slightly and they will tell you how much I love to travel! I'm not sure you can classify traveling as a hobby, but if you can, that would rank #1 on my list! I would pick traveling to a new, exotic location or a fun, favorite spot any day over a new bag, a great pair of shoes, or a fabulous outfit. There's something to be said for visiting places you've never been, getting immersed in a new culture, and making new friends.
Between my travels for work and my travels with my family and friends, my suitcase gets packed about every 2-3 weeks. Sometimes even a bit more! But one of my favorite things about traveling is not only getting to meet new people, but also catching up with old friends. God has richly blessed me with so many wonderful opportunities in my life and people I have met during those times. From living in Austria for a summer, to working at Walt Disney World on the college program, to my studies at Oxford, I have friends across the globe; and with technology in this day and age and my amount of travel, it has allowed me to keep in touch with friends I otherwise may have lost touch with over the years.
When I lived in England, five different college friends visited me. Two years later, I returned to England to visit a classmate from my Oxford program during her last semester of law school in London and we traveled together to Malta. Friends I made in England came and stayed at my family's home several days during their round the world travels and we enjoyed time together on Kentucky Lake. I see a friend from my Disney college program everytime I visit Orlando and another everytime I visit Dallas. And there's even an adorable English family who lives in America my family met two summers ago in Cancun, Mexico that I stay in touch with and their children. In fact, I just sent them a postcard from my recent trip to Barbados. Perhaps my favorite recent example of meeting others while traveling actually occurred in Barbados. At a neighboring hotel, there were 30+ English friends who meet every year and spend the holdiays together. They also gather back in England during the year. And before traveling to this destination, they didn't know each other! Now, they've been friends for years!
So as the cold, arctic days of winter have arrived here in the US, start thinking about a fun trip you can take with your loved ones or friends! And wherever you go, get out and meet people! Experience the culture and make new friends. You never know what life experiences those connections will bring you and where your paths will cross in the future! Get up and go! And safe travels!