The Transition Artist

As usual I’ve had some bad internet, and my blog posts are about as predictable as the weather, but I wrote this after my first day in Croatia and never got around to posting it until now. So here it is (there it was); more to come.. Maybe even within 24 hours..

I smell like salt water, argan oil, and my favorite perfume. My hair hangs in the kind of soft, messy curls only the ocean can give you, and my skin is already brown as a berry, still reeling from the amount of sun I got today.

We arrived in Croatia yesterday after about 20 hours of traveling, including 3 flights, 2 layovers, and a flight delay. We spent the day in Germany, but made it to Split, Croatia by about 4:45pm, and I have never been so grateful to quickly get through passport control, grab my luggage, and take off my backpack (the weight equivalent of a small child). We made it to our little apartment, headed down to the beach, and walked for what felt like ages to find a restaurant for dinner.

Today was our lazy day. The jet lag is still kicking my butt, but I managed to make it through a 3 mile run down the beach and into town this morning, after which I immediately put on my bathing suit and headed back out, hopping into the sea and kicking around lazily in the cold, crystal clear water. My mom and I found the most perfect spot on the pebble beach under a thatched umbrella. We ordered champagne and waters and giggled at how wonderful we felt.

A lady walked by selling pastries, and of course we had to try a couple, so we bought both chocolate and cherry. They were fantastically good, and we sat fat and happy on our towels, looking like smiling Buddhas as we people watched. Eventually I decided to swim again, after the sun started to make me feel like a little raisin, browning far too quickly, I hopped back in. I swam back and forth a few times, only pausing to marvel at how buoyant I was in the extra salty water.

I haven’t had time (or made time) to write in a while, but this felt well worth it. When I was in Africa I realized that the times I feel the most grateful are when I’m grasping at straws, searching hard for something to hold onto and be glad for. Since then, I’ve made gratefulness a practice. I worked hard this summer to be thankful at home, glad for the fact that I had a job, friends, and coworkers I loved. Now, I write again to recognize how very grateful I am to be given this new opportunity.

Croatia marks the 13th country outside of the United States that I have had the privilege of visiting, and since I arrived I’ve adored every second of it. It is my intention to carry this gratefulness, and sense of whole-hearted living, with me into France as I travel there next week and live there for the year.

Much thanks to those of you who’ve followed me on my journeys via the blog! There will be more to come. xx