End of the Maggie Trilogy

It is strange to think that tomorrow, I will be back home in New Orleans. I will be back in my city, with my family and friends, sleeping in my own bed… back to the old grind. I don’t feel ready to leave Mexico, because for the first time in my life, I feel like I’ve experienced a genuine adventure. Yes, I’ve been to camp, paddled rivers, climbed mountains, and slept in the woods…but there is something about this trip that has pushed me out of my comfort zone and challenged me in very unique ways. Leaving the United States and traveling to different countries is definitely something that I think everyone should try and do at some point during life. Regardless of where you go, who you’re with, and whether or not you speak the language…international travel can five you a chance to see the world and its inhabitants from a completely different perspective. I am so grateful that I came on this trip, because there really is just no denying the impact that cultural immersion has on a young person. Everything from directly interacting and experiencing the mountains and rives of Mexico has helped me to understand who I am and where I want to go in life. Stepping back from the superficial worries and demands that can so easily take over our lives as teenagers in the USA and leaping into a different culture and lifestyle is refreshing. It has served as a huge wake-up call for me, because I remember the elements of life that are universal: friends, family, love, nature, and adventure. The amazing experiences and realizations that have hit me while in Mexico will be a part of me, hopefully long after I leave here. I feel like every day here has been a non-stop adventure, and that is due not only just to the amazing paddling, but also to each and every aspect of life here the we’ve been opened to.