Dear Family and Friends,

Today marks the end of one adventure and a start of another. It is bittersweet to say the least. Through these past four months of traveling, I have learned so much about other cultures as well as myself. It definitely will be an experience that I will always remember and cherish (even if my memory is bad beyond belief...).

Thank you to all of you who have taken the time to read this blog and supported me throughout this trip. If it was not for you guys, I am not sure how far I would have gone. You inspired me to keep on meeting new people, discovering new places, and writing along the way. If you would like to know about some of the top things I learned on my trip, check it out here.

I am sure this will not be the last post, as I have learned people can and do inspire us in all walks of life, but until next time...

Inspired por you,
Kristen

Dear Susie and Matt the Lovely Couple,

You two are absolutely amazing! Kailynn and I seem to say that every single time we parted ways with you and it's the truth. It was because of the two of you that we had such a great first work away experience at Big Fish Hostel in Cozumel.

When we first arrived you guys made us feel right at home. From setting up family dinners to celebrating Kailynn's birthday and Dia de Muertas, there was never a dull moment with you two. I couldn't ask for two better roomies, even if we just were on mattresses on the floor.

When we parted ways the first time, Kailynn and I felt as if something was missing at the hostel. Luckily for us, we got to see you guys again in Tulum and we had a blast! Thanks for not only finding us a hotel to stay in but for also showing us the delicious cheap eats and taking us snorkeling with the giant turtles and through the bat caves. Besides being our work buddies you became a part of our travel family :)

From your sweet relationship with each other after months of traveling together to both of your positive outlooks and experiencing all that life has to offer (especially cheap and delicious food-a constant bonding moment for all of us) you inspire me to keep traveling and live life to the fullest!

Safe travels and until we meet again...

Inspired por you,
Kristen

P.S- The next time we meet, be ready for a rematch in the game of Twos... You're going down ;)

Dear Family and Friends at Big Fish Hostel,

Thanks for making our stay at big fish hostel so incredible. This was Kailynn's and my first work away experience and it couldn't have been better. We hope to make it back again soon!

Not only did we have a great time exploring the beautiful island of Cozumel but we also loved meeting and hanging out with everyone at the hostel and hearing their travel stories and incredible diving experiences. Throughout our entire stay there, we made so many friends and felt as if we really had a new home away from home.

Thank you Bea for your delicious homemade Hungarian meals. Vivi thanks for always being so welcoming and helpful whenever Kailynn and I had questions. Molle thanks for being an awesome roommate and new friend!

Because of this entire experience working at the hostel, Kailynn and I both have been inspired to start something like this back in the States. Whether it is actually a hostel is still debatable, but like Big Fish, we want a place where people can have a home away from home and meet new people and hang out with friends.

Best of Luck Big Fish! You are one of a kind :)

Inspired por you,
Kristen

Dear Matt the Professional Hitchhiker,

It was a pleasure meeting you on our way to Mexico. I guess I should apologize to you first, as I know I was not the best of company considering I had a bit of food poisoning on the bus, but that’s another story… Regardless, I just wanted to say thank you. Because of you and your incredible stories, you not only made the bus ride go by quickly, but you also sparked the desire to venture further, travel longer, and discover more!

I think when doing anything for too long of a time, you can sometimes get bogged down, and I am not going to lie to you, it was happening to me with traveling and I was a bit homesick.

Anyways, when I saw you with your juggling bowling pins in hand and your long dreadlock hair, I was excited to talk to you, as your appearance alone seemed to tell a story. It wasn’t long before you started telling us about your stint of hitch hiking through the US and Mexico. From being offered plenty of drugs, falling in love one day with a beautiful blonde California girl who picked you up, all the way to being escorted off the highway in handcuffs by the police and then asking for a picture; your adventure sounds like something right out of the playbooks.

My friend, you could write a book with the kind of stories you had. Although I know that probably doesn’t top your list of things to do considering you still have too much life to live, I want you to know your stories inspire taking risks and being open to new people. Safest travels and best of luck with your juggling career!

Inspired por you,

Kristen

Dear Jessica and All the Other Children I Had the Joy of Meeting and Playing with,

Although you can’t even read this yet, as you are still learning your abc’s and 123’s in Spanish, I just thought you should know how much you made me smile. The very first time I met you, you gave me the biggest hug your little arms could manage and then you took my hand in yours and led me to your classroom as if I was supposed to be with you all along.

Every single day we came into the school, you or one of your many friends would welcome both Kailynn and I with open arms and the biggest smiles. During recess, you guys would show us all your cool tricks on the monkey bars, and then just come and sit by us, or more so, on us for that matter. There was never a dull moment with you, as you were either holding my hand or climbing all over me as if I was the actual playground. You never had a care in the world that we couldn’t speak your language fluently, and it was because of you, that it made it so easy to come to a new and foreign place feeling completely at ease and wanted.

I and so many other adults need to learn a few things from you and your other friends about how to be as wholehearted as you are. Besides your eagerness to just play, create, and learn; you also carry with you a complete and utter delightfulness- and it is not just that smile of yours (although that does wonders too). You were never there to judge us, and in actuality, you just accepted us, as we were. I hope you continue to grow, learn, hold on to your wonderment and stay golden.

Inspired por You,

Kristen

Dear Sara My New Sister,

I never thought in a million years that I would be a part of your crazy adventure of finding your birth mother, but like you said yourself, “you never know what is next with me,” and I am learning that is not far from the truth! I am still in awe of what happened with your journey, and because of that, it has taken me a couple of days to even process everything and come up with the right words to write you.

First of all, thank you for opening up to Kailynn and myself and allowing us to take a part in this huge life endeavor of yours. I know that must have taken a lot of courage to share your experience with two other crazy girls (as I am sure you now realize Kailynn and I both are). Also, the tenacity you have to actually take the necessary steps to do what you set out to do in the first place and really accomplish it is astounding to me. I know not everyone would have had the bravery to do what you did, especially with the constant setbacks that you had to overcome- such as the language barrier, the questions from various people, and your own fear of the “what will happen when I actually meet them?”

I can only imagine what you are feeling as of now, since you not only met your birth mother, but you also met many of your other family members. I am sure you are feeling quite a lot, whether that is tired, confused, happy, or a sense of accomplishment at this moment in time.

I wish I could just go to the store and pick you up a big pint of Cherry Garcia Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream to help ease the feeling of being overwhelmed, but since that won’t really work here, I just want you to know that besides finding your birth mother, you have found yourself another sister from the United States J I am so happy to have met you, and I will always look up to you for your bravery, determination, and positivity throughout this entire experience of yours.

Inspired por You,

Kristen

Dear Lezette Mi Madre from Guatemala,

It has only been 2 weeks since you "adopted" Kailynn and me. I was going to wait until we left town to write you a letter, but I just couldn't wait any longer, because you have already made such an impact on the both of us.

Besides having the two of us and one other host student, you have your hands full with your own 3 rambunctious, but quite adorable children who are aged 6, 10, and 11. Every single day, you make a full breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the 8 of us. From the typical beans and rice to some very creative and unique dishes, the meals have all been so great to try. Not to mention when you are feeding Kailynn and I, you are more so feeding two grown men with huge appetites. We even tried our hands in the kitchen one night to help you out and let's just say, it was not as easy as you make it look- day in and day out.

After every dinner we go over the homework you assigned us the night before and then you are back at it helping your other children with their homework. Your life is non-stop, all the time. Although I haven't experienced the life of motherhood yet, I know it is not easy, but Lezette you do such an amazing job at it.  I am so happy to have you as a mother figure in my life right now. It is so nice to know I am coming home every day to a warm meal and a home full of laughter, love, and generosity. Thanks for welcoming us into your home and letting us become apart of your crazy and wonderful family.

Inspired por you,
Kristen