"Patience and Fortitude"...;)

Some of you know that I have pointed the sail home for the US. I arrived on July 1st and was greeted by a wonderful friend, Astrid. I have kept this a secret for a while to surprise some friends for a big event, wink wink! And with success, my surprise was indubitably a surprise!!!!!!! :)

I have had an amazing journey for 6 months and feel so blessed that I crossed paths with a few amazing people that now are friends for life. The experiences along the way emotionally, physically and culturally were beyond description but will forever be in my heart and spirit. I have no doubt that my traveling bug will ignite over and over in this life and my passion for adventure in other cultures will forever be a steady flow throughout this life journey. I have traveled only South America and Central America before this journey BUT.....I will say without a doubt everyone should travel to Asia and embrace it's sweetness and colorful worldly views. Asia was a slow love for me, it wasn't "love at first sight"..........However, as I continued to dance through Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan and back to Thailand I fell in love to the fullest.

What will I miss? Oh, so many things and so many people. I will miss the smiles from the Asian people, I will miss the sweet smell of flowers and incense in Indonesia, I will miss the romantic feeling in Bali, I will miss the special friends I made along the way, I will miss the romances that were short but open hearted and honest, I will miss the freedom of just "being" in the moment, I will miss riding my bike through crazy traffic, I will miss my favorite cafes, I will miss the beautiful laundry woman of Thailand and there laughs, I will miss the yoga community, I will miss the ocean and it's vivacious personality, I will miss the fruit that melts in your mouth, I will miss living out of a bag and having almost nothing, I will miss the times of "lone wolf" and getting to know myself in a deeper and connected way, I will miss the funny soup man in Bangkok, I will miss having beers with my friend Manis on the "curb", I will actually miss crazy Bangkok, I will miss Elinza and our nights of ever flowing laughter and comedy...;) and I will just miss the soul of being a traveler for a while......;) I know it will return so in comfort my traveling feet will dance again to unknown places and cross paths of unknown strangers.....!!!!!! If I have given any of you the "bug" to travel then I have given you a little inspiration and a gift to last a life time and enrich your soul along with others and that is a gift to me......:)

Some of you know I did have some hard times along the way but I have embraced those times with clarity and with content, I ended my journey a little earlier then I had planned. Some of you want this explanation and I will try to give it to you in a very simple way if that is possible. I was supposed to only travel for a month or two with the "purpose" of getting certified (TEFL) to teach English and then actually teaching English abroad (Taiwan or Korea). Well, 5 months later and still traveling (not working) I realized that I needed a "purpose" to not feel guilty about wanting to travel without a "purpose". I believe that traveling abroad is one of my biggest passions and yet I felt guilty to just travel without any purpose....hmmmmm Why, I don't know but I do know, NOW......it's ok to put a backpack on your back and travel without any purpose at all. The purpose is the experience and the experience in the traveling / backpacking world is one of the most amazing journeys you will experience in life......This I know! Ok, that was a bit confusing but do you get the PURPOSE!!!!?????? LOL!!!!! There of course are a few more reasons but this is the simplest way of explaining my reasons for coming home early and not staying or living in an Asian country for another year.

I have let myself melt back into the American culture with wonderful Colorado friends and every day I smile at the beauty that surrounds this amazing place (mountains, rivers, friendly people, etc...). I have decided to stay in Buena Vista for the summer to enjoy a little mountain town and spend time with some beautiful chicas, babies, wedding celebrations, wonderful mountain men and some really cool dogs....:). I will hopefully be working at a friends newly opened restaurant, "The Asian Pallet" until I can work in Denver but have plans to spend the rest of my summer in BV and living a simple life for a while.

I also just want to say thank you to ALL my friends and family for your support along the way, I love you all very much and feel blessed that you are in life!

I have no doubt this blog will continue with other Jenna journeys but until then I wish you all an abundance of happiness and laughter within your own journeys!!!!!!!!!!!

Love Love and more Love!!!!
Jenna

P.S......Can't wait to see you Mom and Dad!!! xoxox