I pulled my green jungle travel bag from the closet
The connecting flight tags still attached to to handle
As I unzipped my bag the distinct scent swept over me
My thoughts carried me to the warm humid jungle were I lived once
Two weeks of my life I lived on an island
I was scared out of my mind. I was sick to my stomach. I was ungrateful. I had unclean hand. I showered with spiders. I slept on the floor. I made lists of the "American" food That I missed. I stopped eating.I slept with bugs. I was negative. And I went a little crazy.
As I pulled out my crinkled memories that had been shoved and hidden away. I let it all soak in...I fell in love in Fiji.
How could I forget? The normal Regrets of my adventures didn't flood in my mind! How could i not jump off that cliff or find everyone's story. Instead I was overwhelmed with my warm Fiji love story.
Dare I say it? Its been 7 months now I am admitting to the love I found in Fiji.
I had this preconceived notion that when you travel your life struggles with evaporate and you will return new and fresh.
My life struggles or what I call now my story my chemical compound that which is the sole reason for my existence didn't evaporate. (Shocker )It stayed with me and it carried me across the islands.
Oh and I came home stinky and sick.
I went to do a service and yet I was in the of center of their service. The Fijians served me. They gave me everything to survive.
The Group of students I went with they steered me. I found moments with these people that I have never shared nor will ever share with others. (Mostly almost peeing my pants on a bus.)
On this adventure We created forever moments. I will never let them go. Singing Truck rides, naked stories, wharf jumping, crying at mcds, venting at the fact that we choose to be here and because we didn't feel at home, and of course dancing back and forth for hours.
I don't do regrets. I want to believe that I should live each moment in the moment and not regret how I spend my time. But right now I regret that it took me seven months to write this.
I fell in love in Fiji. This culture I was enveloped in the Fijians and My group it stunned me.
They taught me how to love and to receive love.
I wanted to share how a moment can remind you of a way to live a lifetime.
Karli! This post is incredible! The descriptive words you used made me feel like I was there! I'm glad you got to have this once in a lifetime experience!
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