missouri stop

with only seven more days left of the program, it's pretty crazy to imagine myself at home in my bed without seven other people around me all the time. I've been living out of hotels and a duffel bag for the past nine and a half months and to think about being somewhere permanently is so foreign right now. and I guess I won't even be home permanently because after sevenish weeks, I'll be packing up to move to new york city to attend fordham university. 

we're currently driving out of st louis, missouri (where we dined on grilled cheese and tomato soup and took photos with the arch). driving through the country is a fascinating thing. there are so many different types of homes and communities and people and hobbies. I've been comparing my soon-to-be home (new york) with, for example, southern illinois or even louisville, kentucky, and it's so interesting to see the different lives people live (even if just on the surface). I can't believe nyc and the rural towns of the great plains (passing through those soon-staying in kansas tonight) are a part of the same country. I feel so lucky to have gotten to experience so much of this country and meet so many wonderful and different people along the way, from those we've worked closely with to those we've given our elevator speech to during pee breaks at gas stations across america. had I not been in this program, who knows if I would have ever climbed up on a hay barrel at sunset in nebraska for the sake of an iphone photo or have stayed at jellystone park in a small cabin in missouri with yogi the bear and boo boo. oh the things I've done and the places I've gone. 

also: fall photo shoot taken in st louis (all under fifteen minutes as the meter we parked at was 15 min only. now THATs impressive).