Remi on the Road: 2004 To Eastern Europe we go !

Home for the first time in 8 years ! I am over whelmed with emotions, I feel like telling everyone that "I'm from here" and "It's so great to be back" and "check it out, I don't have much of an accent when I speak English" !! Well the latter is a tad on the bragging side :-)

Is this actually true? I have wanted to come home every year since we left Europe with my family, thinking this was my norm, this was my 'home' still ! I had a smirk on my face, I smiled to myself every time I thought about the people I will be seeing and re-uniting with. I tried to think of what these people looked like when I left at the age of 12.

I convinced myself that people will remember me, and by the looks of the place, not much has changed. I didn't think much has changed with me either, however, I did find it strange at first that the sent of the streets, people around me, inside the bus was both bothersome yet it felt comforting inside. I recognized this smell and it did not bother me (which may have bothered others who are not native to this city) because it was where I grew up, and it brought pleasant memories back to me. Ever since I got off the plane, my senses were alive and made my hear beat faster! I kept thinking about how people will look like to me: now that I was 20 and considered and adult.

On my long bus ride from the Hungarian airport to Romania I had enough time to think, re-live my memories, and create my own expectations. Once crossing the boarder I finally saw my most favourite people in the world waiting anxious to meet the new me. Overwhelmed and excited I jumped out of the bus forgetting about my luggages I threw my arms around old friends and teared up (very unexpected from me)!

My friend's parents in fact have changed, not in a bad way, but time and everyday stress has left some marks on their faces, and my friend Roxy ...wow she has grown up to be a beautiful woman ! I was too excited to think from here on, not until my plane ride home I questioned: so do I look much different too ?

The rest of my trip was wonderful: spending time with Granny and my long lost cousins. I re-created family ties and re-united with long time friends ! Making memories ...which at the time I already knew it wouldn't be my last.

This was my first time traveling alone over a large distance and I caught the bug....the traveling bug ! I felt so comfortable traveling that I promised everyone that I will be back to visit when time and finances permit. But this was the time where I realized that I was meant to go, travel, experience, learn and give back to many different worlds.

Note to self: I feel comfortable no matter where I go so I need to see more, experience more and see how far I will go before I am tired out :-)

Granny with her purple pride