2007 in pics
Since 2007 started I have not been home for more than three weeks consecutively. It seems like I have not kept up with any of my friends because of this, but thankfully the next trip (excluding weekends in PA) isn't until September and that isn't even a definite trip! I look forward to hanging out with all of you a lot more in the upcoming summer months!
So, here's a not-so-quick look at everything that has been going on so far this year.... just a warning, I have quite a few pictures in this post (if it works correctly!) so don't open this up unless you have a good connection.
The first trip of the year was a day trip up to Philly to see the Mummers Day Parade. Some of you know that I have been trying to get to this parade for YEARS! Thankfully it was rained out of its normal time (New Years Day) so I was able to drive up on Jan 6th to see it. It was AWESOME - I watched the parade for over 8 hours and it still wasn't done when I left to drive home! Here is a picture of Elvis impersonators from the parade.....
The next weekend I went on a cruise in the Bahamas with my mom. This was my first cruise ever, and I had a blast!
We stopped in Nassau and Freeport and spent the days snorkeling, swimming, and laying around on the beaches. I ate conch for the first time in my life and loved it!
Upon our return, we spent a day exploring Orlando. Since I had never been to Florida before, my mom and I went to Downtown Disney and Universal Studios CityWalk.
My next trip was 2 weeks in Germany visiting friends in the town where I used to live.
I planned this trip so that I would be there during Valentines Day and Fasching (Germany's Carnival). We dressed up and went to a Fasching's parade which was done Bavarian style:
And then we went to the Faschings tent, which was held in the field under Castle Neuschwanstein. I ended up seeing quite a few friends that I had gone to high school (Gymnasium) with, as well as a few ex-boyfriends! My best friend from my exchange year, Philip was even there!!!!
During my trip I also was able to visit with my entire host family, who I haven't been in very much contact with. My host sister Bettina (same age as me - we were in the same Gymnasium class together) took me hiking through the area.
I spent most of the time in Germany catching up with friends, meeting new friends, and just relaxing.
After a few weeks back in the good old US of A, I was sent to Scott AFB for a business trip. Scott is right outside of St. Louis, so I was able to spend a day being a tourist in St. Louis and also was able to visit one of my closest friends from high school who is working on her PhD in genetics in St. Louis!
I decided to do a last minute weekend trip to Boston, since I had never been there (and I was getting restless after being home for a week!) I stayed at a hostel, walked the Freedom Trail (see pic!), and had a chance to visit with my dad and his girlfriend who only live about an hour from Boston.
After coming back from Boston, the Cherry Blossom Festival started, and I worked for the park service each weekend. The first weekend was beautiful with the blossoming trees, the second weekend it snowed and we froze to death, and the third weekend was nice until it started raining! I worked at the Junior Bloomin' Ranger Activity Tent (arts and crafts for kids), I gave Cherry Talks about the history of the trees, I handed out brochures during the Lantern Lighting Ceremony, and I rode my bike in the parade for the NPS's Healthy Living float.
The last day of the Festival I flew out for another business trip... this time to San Juan, Puerto Rico. I spent the whole week in a conference that lasted until around 3pm each day, then we had a few hours by the lagoon style pool before our mandatory 5:30 happy hour each day! (I love Embassy Suites, 2 hours all you can drink of any drink you want each day!) In the evenings we went to restaurants where we ate red snapper, mufongo, conch, and other local specialties. Saturday was the only day that I had the opportunity to tour Old San Juan, so I visited both forts, did a Segway tour (fun!) and purchased souvenirs.
All in all I ended up with five new Hard Rock cafe shirts (Philadelphia, Nassau, Saint Louis, Boston, San Juan) - I was supposed to get the Munich shirt also but we were to lazy to drive into the city! I also have started collecting National Park Service passport stamps, which they have at all NPS sites - I got some in St. Louis, Boston, and San Juan!
After all this I'm very happy to be home and able to relax and enjoy life for a bit!
So, here's a not-so-quick look at everything that has been going on so far this year.... just a warning, I have quite a few pictures in this post (if it works correctly!) so don't open this up unless you have a good connection.
The first trip of the year was a day trip up to Philly to see the Mummers Day Parade. Some of you know that I have been trying to get to this parade for YEARS! Thankfully it was rained out of its normal time (New Years Day) so I was able to drive up on Jan 6th to see it. It was AWESOME - I watched the parade for over 8 hours and it still wasn't done when I left to drive home! Here is a picture of Elvis impersonators from the parade.....
The next weekend I went on a cruise in the Bahamas with my mom. This was my first cruise ever, and I had a blast!
We stopped in Nassau and Freeport and spent the days snorkeling, swimming, and laying around on the beaches. I ate conch for the first time in my life and loved it!
Upon our return, we spent a day exploring Orlando. Since I had never been to Florida before, my mom and I went to Downtown Disney and Universal Studios CityWalk.
My next trip was 2 weeks in Germany visiting friends in the town where I used to live.
I planned this trip so that I would be there during Valentines Day and Fasching (Germany's Carnival). We dressed up and went to a Fasching's parade which was done Bavarian style:
And then we went to the Faschings tent, which was held in the field under Castle Neuschwanstein. I ended up seeing quite a few friends that I had gone to high school (Gymnasium) with, as well as a few ex-boyfriends! My best friend from my exchange year, Philip was even there!!!!
During my trip I also was able to visit with my entire host family, who I haven't been in very much contact with. My host sister Bettina (same age as me - we were in the same Gymnasium class together) took me hiking through the area.
I spent most of the time in Germany catching up with friends, meeting new friends, and just relaxing.
After a few weeks back in the good old US of A, I was sent to Scott AFB for a business trip. Scott is right outside of St. Louis, so I was able to spend a day being a tourist in St. Louis and also was able to visit one of my closest friends from high school who is working on her PhD in genetics in St. Louis!
I decided to do a last minute weekend trip to Boston, since I had never been there (and I was getting restless after being home for a week!) I stayed at a hostel, walked the Freedom Trail (see pic!), and had a chance to visit with my dad and his girlfriend who only live about an hour from Boston.
After coming back from Boston, the Cherry Blossom Festival started, and I worked for the park service each weekend. The first weekend was beautiful with the blossoming trees, the second weekend it snowed and we froze to death, and the third weekend was nice until it started raining! I worked at the Junior Bloomin' Ranger Activity Tent (arts and crafts for kids), I gave Cherry Talks about the history of the trees, I handed out brochures during the Lantern Lighting Ceremony, and I rode my bike in the parade for the NPS's Healthy Living float.
The last day of the Festival I flew out for another business trip... this time to San Juan, Puerto Rico. I spent the whole week in a conference that lasted until around 3pm each day, then we had a few hours by the lagoon style pool before our mandatory 5:30 happy hour each day! (I love Embassy Suites, 2 hours all you can drink of any drink you want each day!) In the evenings we went to restaurants where we ate red snapper, mufongo, conch, and other local specialties. Saturday was the only day that I had the opportunity to tour Old San Juan, so I visited both forts, did a Segway tour (fun!) and purchased souvenirs.
All in all I ended up with five new Hard Rock cafe shirts (Philadelphia, Nassau, Saint Louis, Boston, San Juan) - I was supposed to get the Munich shirt also but we were to lazy to drive into the city! I also have started collecting National Park Service passport stamps, which they have at all NPS sites - I got some in St. Louis, Boston, and San Juan!
After all this I'm very happy to be home and able to relax and enjoy life for a bit!