“Families are like fudge – mostly sweet with a few nuts.”

Flowers for America
day

Today I just ended up waking up extra early, made myself some breakfast and then watched some TV. It was quite a nice relaxing morning. I'm marathoning scrubs right now so that I can stop thinking and being overwhelmed by things such as events and get together that are happening everywhere and how I'm missing out on one opportunity by taking another or taking a day off yesterday.

I actually do feel really guilty taking the day off yesterday. I know I did go out and walk around and see things, but it's just frustrating because I feel like there's always something to do and I'm missing out on stuff too much. Maybe I won't take another day off until I get back to Toronto/Ottawa.

Though I think it's interesting that when we know have a finite amount of timeany time.

Drinks

and the exact amount of time, we try to do as much as possible and cram as much as possible in - as though we won't ever be going back again. I mean it's a very interesting take (and in a city like New York where there's so much to do and so much happening, I probably won't ever be going to the same New York again, even in a years' time) since our lives themselves are very finite - yet we take days off and push them off to tomorrow, next week or next year because we know we can do them

I mean I could come back to New York any time right? So why bother doing so much? I guess I'm rambling a bit but I feel like it's because I know how finite my life is, and I am well aware that anything could happen at any time. Yes I'll take a day off once every month or do something relaxing, but it makes me feel unfulfilled and like I've missed out on an opportunity. And I never want to miss out on an opportunity.

I think, that I also feel like I carry not only my own hopes and dreams but the hopes and dreams of a lot of people who may not have the same chances and the same doors opened as I do. I don't ever want
to close those doors or take those chances for granted, it feels like I'm letting them down. So when I live, I try to live for all the people around me who don't have the same chances. I have these chances and I have to take them. There are people all over the world who would probably kill (although that may destroy their chances of getting to the UN) to get the same opportunities I have and I just can't shake that off.

And I don't want to. I'm proud of being here and humbled by the support of the people who have brought me here. I will be forever grateful for the love, comfort and support everyone has given me and try to continually make sure my supporters don't regret sending me to the UN.

Happy Fourth of July!

Because they didn't just send me to the UN, they also sent me out into the world. Learning doesn't just take place at home, it also takes place outside in the world, it takes place when you talk to someone on the streets and learn about a new secret of the city, it happens when you talk to the bartender and hear about their homeland.

It happens when I'm in New York, a city full of possibilities, hopes and dreams. Yesterday was much needed, although a bit of a setback, but I think it'll be the last relaxing day I'll try to take for a while, there's a whole world out there to see (And I always check stuff out here: https://theskint.com/)

Anyway, now that I'm finished my rant (sorry everyone) let me get on with my very exciting and eventful day.

SOME of the food

I was invited to a friend's family get together and there, we helped set up for a Fourth of July party where we had all the drinks - literally all of them, all three different types of sangria, pina colada, coconut pina colada, lemonade, corona, you name it.

We drove out quite early into Queens (I'd never been before) and it was quite nice to see. It reminded me a bit of Ottawa and Toronto with all the nice houses that are only one or two stories high, not a single skyscraper, ma and pa shops, dollar stores, kids playing on the streets, and quietness.

It was actually really nice to get away from the city for once and really enjoy the outdoors experience. I loved it.

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely am 100% a city girl, I love the city, I love the rush and I have the hustle. But I didn't realize I missed the small town and small city feel until I really got there. The air is fresher and that same night, I could see stars.

We helped decorate the backyard with red, white and blue, we had some balloons and it was just all in all an amazing party. We had delicious food, like BBQ chicken, salmon, beans and rice, fruit and all the works.

There was a lot of family there, and when they came, the place was lit up! There was Caribbean music playing, people were dancing, having fun and just all around enjoying themselves! It was great to see and amazing to be a part of.

I've never been so grateful and so humbled to be so welcomed into a family like that before, with such wide open arms and caring hearts - especially with such kind hearts and such genuine emotion. It was amazing.

We danced, ate, talked and enjoyed all night - so far into the night in fact, that we only got home around 7am.