My Travel Diary

Welcome to my travel journal. Life can really feel like one big blur, especially with how demanding adulting can be. We go through the motions, ticking off our to do lists. It’s so refreshing to interrupt that pattern and explore the world, reminding ourselves of what it means to be alive, to love our planet, and of how much we have to feel grateful for.

NYC, Jersey City w/ Aziz (Nov 2017)

Long Island, NY (Nov 2017)

Poughkeepsie (Nov 2017)

Sleepy Hollow & Tarrytown, NY (Oct 2017)

New York w/ Mom (Sept 2017)

Paris, France (Sept 2017)

Barcelona, Spain (Sept 2017)

Rabat, Morocco

Marrakech, Morocco

Essaouira, Morocco

Casablanca, Morocco

Budapest, Hungary

Vienna, Austria

Kutna Hora, Czech Republic

Prague, Czech Republic

San Francisco, CA

Kauai (July 2017)

Hawaii the Big Island (July 2017)

Oahu (July 2017)

Zion, Bryce, Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, Grand Canyon, Laughlin Nevada (July 2017)

Palm Springs (June 2017)

Hearst Castle, Monterey, SF, Santa Cruz, 7 Mile Drive (May 2017)

Cruise – Catalina, Ensenada (Feb 2017)

Las Vegas (Dec 2016)

Joshua Tree National Park (Sept 2016)

Costa Rica (Aug 2016)

Bocas Del Toro, Panama (Aug 2016)

Portland, Oregon (July 2016)

Portland Day 1

Seattle (July 2016)

Visiting Seattle and Portland was one of the most blissful trips we took together. It was one month into our relationship and we were still getting to know each other and exploring the chemistry. Things are shiny and new and you don’t have some of the harsher realities of life together weighing on your mind. You know, like bills to pay, etc. On our way to Venice Beach for the fourth of July, I mentioned in the car that I was starting to feel a travel itch again as I recovered from a brutal year in grad school. Aziz casually wondered aloud whether we should travel somewhere together — then laughed that he had even dared suggest such a thing to someone on their third date. The seed had been planted in our minds. Later on, after I got home from Big Bear (after our 5th date), he texted me and asked whether I really wanted go somewhere together. I agreed. We discussed Miami, but that would have been too expensive. So we settled on Portland and Seattle, though Aziz initially wondered why on earth we would want to go there! Haha! I guess he hadn’t heard the hype.

We woke up very early to catch a plane to Seattle. After landing, we took a tram downtown and I was in awe by the gorgeous fir trees that blanketed the landscape. Aziz wasn’t as impressed. We checked into our hotel in downtown Seattle and then I quickly made an itinerary in the hotel lobby as Aziz set up the selfie stick I brought. The first stop was Pike Place Market.
Seattle Day 2
Seattle Day 3

Big Bear (July 2016)

Lightning in a Bottle (May 2016)

Baegas (May 2016)

This was the first night we went out.
These are the ladies I visited Las Vegas with after we turned in our capstone projects in May. From left: Me, Jasmine, Maddie, Tashina, and Taiye. Honestly, I didn’t know anyone very well, except for Tashina. The group was supposed to be much bigger before ladies started dropping out like flies.
Somebody at Annenberg started a Facebook chat inviting most of the Annenberg ladies on a Vegas trip. I was so burned out from school that the prospect of lounging by the pool with all of our grad-school struggles and worries behind us, was extremely enticing. I kept looking forward to that vision. It was definitely enjoyable, but this didn’t end up being the most fun Vegas trip, that’s for sure. The other ladies were closer (Jasmine, Taiye, and Tashina were roommates all year), so I felt a bit like the odd one out. All the clubs we visited played dirty hip hop, which wouldn’t be my first choice. Also, I felt there was a culture among the women that I didn’t like. It very much stemmed from the attitude of Jasmine, whom was constantly putting herself down in a very attention-seeking manner. Conversations were constantly like: X – “Oh my god I’m so fat.” Y – “No you’re not, OMG you’re so gorgeous!” X – “OMG no I’m not! You are!” I wanted to say – “Guys let’s just accept we all look good and move on!” I think the dynamic was too “girly” for me. However, I’ve got a great relationship with Tashina. She is one of the kindest people I know and is constantly making other people feel good about themselves. Taiye was also very cool and funny. At one point we both asked each other why we hadn’t talked all year! She was one of those people I always saw in passing, but I never shared a class with. Later, Tashina’s friend Mandy, from her hometown of Boise, Idaho, joined us. She was genuinely kind and I could tell had a really good heart.