Until I cross the Atlantic...

Alrighty folks...this is it. Yes, this is the last blog post, or at least for now. Right now I’m in the city of light, and each time I come here, it seems as though it grew more. This city is huge, and despite living off of baguettes and cookies, I’ve had enough energy to carry myself from one side of the city to another. Today, one of my dreams came true and I went to the Louvre to see none other than the Mona Lisa. The Louvre is chalk full of any kind of art you can imagine. There are centuries-old art pieces that are incredibly preserved, and it’s amazing that you can find your nose inches away from them. I saw Winged Victory, Le Venus de Milo, La Joconde (Mona Lisa), the Sphinx, etc., etc. The Louvre does wear you out because it’s so overwhelming. Nevertheless, I made sure I saw the highlights, and then I picked out my own favorites. From the Louvre, I traversed the city again (before, I did rest up in the nearby garden) and went to the Sacré Coeur Basillica. And, I must say, it was a fantastic view. Besides trying to be conned every five minutes (the old bracelet trick, and, my favorite, the lady who pretends to be deaf and distracts you while the other guy “keeps bumping into you”—yeah, it’s Paris and the pickpockets were out today), the view was spectacular and most Parisian. Here, you see the young couples kissing, drinking a bottle of wine, at the bottom of the stairs you see the French’s aspiring young artists, the old man walking by sporting a beret and smoking his wooden pipe, etc. And of course, let us not forget, there’s always the guy from Kenya giving you an awesome deal on a miniature Eiffel Tower. Needless to say, I stayed here for a while and quite enjoyed myself. I can’t believe that three months have gone by already and that I am back in Paris. I have a sleight hint of melancholy, but at the same time, I’m ready to come back home to see my family and comrades. I’ve learned a lot over the past several months. First, I learned a lot about patience. When you come to Europe, you have to have patience. There is a lot of waiting and time is different here (literally, it’s six hours ahead, yet six years in the past). People move differently, see differently, eat differently, talk differently, etc. And, you have to be patient with yourself and others in order to succeed at the other thing I learned about, which is: how not to panic. I’ve been in some rough situations here in Europe (some stories just won’t be told on this blog—they’re not meant for delicate eyes). But, I’ve learned how to not panic. Sure, I’ve been worried, but when you depend on yourself because you have A) No cell phone, B) zero money, C) no food, D) no internet, E) All of the above, then you cannot panic. It is not an option and it is never the right thing to do. Which leads me to: asking for help. One of my best revelations I ever had was in Germany. The epitome was simple. It’s the idea that all the people around me are never going to see me again, or they’re simply not going to remember me. I'm nothing more than a rock skipping across the water, in view for seconds until I sink below into the abyss. This idea gives you a sense of liberation; one is liberated from the idea of humiliation. That is, when you mess up, “these people” don’t know you or your background, nor do they know from or where you are going. Thus, making mistakes is okay and talking to these people (asking them for help, or if you’re curious of their life’s story) is no “biggie.” This also helps you cope after you have had yogurt thrown all over you by a crazy Frenchman in the suburbs of Paris. Not getting into this story. Now, I’ve also learned how much this world of ours revolves around money, and also, how much I HATE IT. Though, I've known this for quite some time. I’ve learned a lot about what it means to be an American and also a citizen of the world. I’ve heard the American stereotypes, and you know what, I love them. When Benjamin Franklin was ambassador to France (the first ambassador actually), he picked up on this. He would flaunt a squirrel hat to look like a “savage from the colonies” and the French ate it up. I’ve learned that stereotypes can give you a neat edge to things—because after all, they’re foolish. It gives you an insight into how your country is perceived, and how much you fit that perception. I would always nod my head proudly when asked if I eat cheeseburgers and corn on the cob (yes, and the airport in Chicago better have a Wendy’s, otherwise, I’m writing a letter). One thing that I love though is that despite our sincere cultural differences, I’ve learned that people can be stupid everywhere—Ron White says you “can’t fix it”, I say you can’t escape it. The same things that make people do stupid things exist in all the countries I’ve visited. I find it as a testament to our humanity because it reaffirms that not one country or one people is perfect. Therefore, I’ve learned that one should think of himself or herself as a citizen on this country of ours which I call the world. I pledge allegiance to the flag of my country where I was born, but I pledge my heart for the betterment of all people. Finally, I’ve learned that dreams can come true. I’ve taken the trip I’ve always wanted to take. I’ve lived life the way I wanted to live it for three months. I’ve accomplished goals that I set for myself years ago, and now, I find myself in a situation I haven’t been in for quite some time; that is, I have to set new goals for myself. (SPOILER ALERT: there may be a www.kylelostinAfrica.blogspot.com appearing one day soon). Nevertheless, in order for these dreams to come true, it takes determination, hard work, courage, great family members, great friends, and most importantly, love. I’ve learned that an abundance of courage and love combined render any and all obstacles ephemeral, it simply takes a dash of curiosity and a submission of yourself to the wind, and faith in what lies ahead, so that you may make what is now behind. Thus, despite being lost in France, my friends, I’ve found myself in ways that I had never expected. To that, I raise my eyes to the horizon, give a subtle grin, and fill my glass with what tomorrow brings. See you all soon :) Cheers.