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Reflections

By The Numbers...

Total days: 128
Total miles: 17094.7
Total states traveled: 31 + District of Columbia...New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Washington D.C., West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania
Oil changes: 4
Speeding tickets: 1
Accidents: 0
Visitors: 4...Shawn, mom, Jen, and Madeleine
People visited: 24...Jen, Shawn, Lesley + Deran, The Phillips (Barry, Therese, Zchary and Charlotte), The Lentz (Aunt Sandy, Uncle Steve, Katherine and Michael), The Goldsteins (Lisa, Sam and Noah), Ian + Marita, The Elstons (Uncle Rog, Aunt Tana, Polly), The Minters (Judi, John, Maya and Dede)
Lesson learned: countless

Some final thoughts:

This is a truly beautiful country. If you ever get the opportunity to see it all go for it. You will be amazed at the similarities and differences that exists within our country. I think I have a better understanding of what it means to be American. Every state and every city in this country has a history and a story. When given the opportunity residents want to do nothing more than tell their story.

There are so many amazing people in this country. I’ve definitely learned to relax more when meeting new people. I’ve learned that more often than not people can be trusted. I made a lot of new friends on this trip that I will hopefully continue to keep in touch with.

While the core of who I am is still the same but I have learned so much about myself. I am more comfortable with who I am. I am more confident. I mean if I can make it 5 months on the road by myself, what can’t I do?

There are so many places that I visited that I absolutely have to go back to and places that I didn’t get to see that I absolutely want to visit. This of course means that at some point I’m going to have to get over my fear of flying. I’ll get there.

Before I left on my trip various people had some predictions. My grandmother decided that I would meet the man of my dreams while my mother was convinced that I would find the place that I want live. Well grandma wasn’t right but mom was. One of the most important things that I learned on this trip was that I want to be where my family and friends are.

So my trip is over and it’s time for me to enter the real world. Time to get a job and find a place to live. But first things first…time to talk to and see everyone that I have missed so much the past 5 months.

posted by Jenna Dabney @ 4:25 PM