"You didn't recognize me, did you? Have I changed?"

I had joked, when referring to my forthcoming European trip, that I was going to find myself there, because that's where you go to find yourself. I had no real plans to find myself. I'm sure that no matter where I went, I would not be able to do that in three weeks. Still, I had vague notions of a Sabrina-like transformation when I came back.

So I haven't found myself, and I also haven't found a rich older man to buy me clothes. I'm the same person, no more enlightened or better dressed than I would be from many other experiences. Nevertheless, I had a wonderful time, and have slightly different perspective. Here are the things I think I've learned:

1. I don't like museums. That's not to say that I don't like art (which I am still undecided on), but it's like they try to cram in as much as possible in the smallest area. If I was to make a museum it would have 2-5 pieces of art per room, like a living room or something. It would have couches conveniently placed so you can fully appreciate it. No flash photography would be allowed (because it's annoying), and there would be a guestbook, where cool people can write their cool thoughts on the stories and emotions that happen in response to that art. Plus, you don't really get a feel for a city by going to a museum. They're the same no matter where you go.

2. High school friends are different from other friends. I feel like so much has happened in my life in the last four years being away at university. To be honest, my memories of high school are kinda cloudy and imperfect. I had forgotten that while I had changed, my friends from high school had changed too. I went on this trip with two friends who, honestly, I hadn't spent a lot of time with since high school. And it's strange - in high school, even more so than now, I didn't really know who I was, but my friends had some sort of idea. That Sort of Idea may not be exactly what it would be if they met me now but it's still very true in many ways. Weird, eh? Transversely, my ideas of my friends are outdated. They've had all these experiences that I had nothing to do with. I think this is the biggest thing I learned on my trip. It was really neat (and, admittedly, sometimes annoying) to meet my friends again, to learn more about who they are and who they've become. My friends are cool. Apparently, in high school, I must have been cool enough to make them.

3. The only problem about the view from the Eiffel Tower is that you can't see the Eiffel Tower. I have a feeling that this fact has a deeper meaning but I haven't figured it out yet.

4. Tourists make things tourist attractions. Sometimes it seemed arbritrary which monuments were popular, and just because someone had written in a guide book that it was cool, more and more people would flood to see it.

5. I should experience where I live. In Toronto, I never really went to a cafe just to feel the atmosphere or saw a play to understand the culture. I will do this more this summer (right before I move back to Stoney Creek).

6. Mind the gap.

I wish I had much more to say. I wish I had a novel or play in my head as a result of my travels but, instead, I have a longer-than-usual blog entry. I suppose that's enough for now.