At the time of this post, it has been a little over a week since my return from France. I now find myself dedicated to staying in California for at the very least the duration of the summer. In one sense I am sad, since it feels a bit like my journeys are being put on hold for the moment. However, the more I think about it, it is also a great opportunity to better understand my home surroundings from a fresh perspective, with a new outlook.

In the past week or so, I have caught up with friends and family, as well as recharged my mind after so much traveling. I have also had a chance to reflect a bit about how I will spend my time here in the States. Growing up, I never really considered Los Angeles as a place to explore. To me, it was always just home. Of course I knew that there were interesting places I could discover, but I had no desire. I had my sights set on places further beyond the borders of California. After spending some time abroad, I feel much differently about my home surroundings.

Though I do still desire to travel abroad again, I realize now that even if I do call Los Angeles, and even California my home, there is much I do not know about it still. This is something that I am sure is normal, but I feel as if I have simply lived here, and not truly experienced it as I could have. Given that I will be here for the summer, it seems like the perfect opportunity. I’d like to bring that same wonder, that same desire to find the beauty and differences that I had when I was abroad, and apply it to Los Angeles. Weather it is exploring the great touristic sites, or discovering lesser known spots, I look forward to learning more about my home surroundings in the coming months, and what makes it beautiful.