This applies whether I traveled with you to eight countries during a gap year, backpacked with you, studied abroad with you, or packed a bag for a weekend getaway. You are some of my favorite people hands down and I'm forever grateful for our adventures.
We know from first hand experience that travel isn't always easy. Sometimes planning, jet setting, and site seeing seems to be crafted with the sole purpose of testing to see how far we can get outside our comfort zones without a psychological break. This type of challenge isn't for everyone, so for me to find another soul that is equally as adventurous is like hitting the jackpot in Vegas. All of a sudden I don't have to stand in long airport lines and figure out foreign street signs all by myself, which is a relief.
It's also a relief to know that I've met people who accept me in all my forms. Travel is the easiest way to get to know all sides of a person from the good to the bad to the ugly and I'm no exception. There is nothing more irritating for me than not taking a shower for over 24 hours, nothing more scary than the thought of contracting a rare disease while abroad, and nothing more satisfying than a beautiful view. Chances are if you've traveled with me than these three scenarios have occurred at least once, so thank you for not jumping ship when the going got tough.
Because the tough moments are probably what bonded us in ways people could never imagine. We've probably braved smelly hostels, weird host families, and hotels with no wifi together and came to realize that our biggest comfort would always be each other. Thank you for reminding me to laugh at the really bizarre scenarios that turned into the cool stories we told our families when we got home.
We've gotten to see each other grow at lightening speed. Everyday a new experience that held the potential to completely reshape us. Most people have those big moments every few years, while we had them multiple times a day. Thank you for supporting my growth along whatever journey we embarked on.
Each place I've been to holds a certain piece of myself, which I look at like a frozen moment. The best part is not having to even return to those destinations to remember who I was at that time, but instead meeting up with one of you to swap stories and a good laugh.
The truth is that we can tell our stories to family and friends and they will probably listen eagerly and practice empathy, but they will never fully understand. We are the only ones who can remind each other of the exact feeling at that exact time of living out of a suitecase in a foreign land and everything that comes with it. That is why I cherish you and will be forever thankful for the special bond we share.
