Its official, I have moved from my beautiful, quaint, historic cottage in Athens, Georgia. Yeah thats rights, Athens, Georgia…not Athens, Greece…which happens to be a great get away destination, Travelocity. Three weeks ago I moved to Orlando, Florida to begin graduate school.  I know what you are thinking, Orlando! That sounds like so much fun! Sea World, and Disney, and put put….Book of Morman anyone? Well, yes it does have all of those things and those things are so much fun…but its no my Athens. My small coffee shops that everyone knows your name, your locally owned restaurants with “your table”, and your kind neighbors that would do anything for you..or your dog.

The one thing that I am really sick of hearing, is “ How can you not like living in Orlando? You grew up in Florida..isn’t this home for you?”  Some thing that I have realized these last three weeks, is that you can “grow up” somewhere and its not necessarily where you are from, its just where you spent a lot of time. I did not really have a negative experience in Florida, growing up. I just didn’t know what a great experience could look like, until I moved to Athens.

Athens, became the place for me that people truly believed in me. People told me that “yes, you can do that” “ yes, you are important” “ yes, you make a difference”. Who wouldn’t want to leave a place, where people invest in them. I moved 900 miles away from my family to attend college in Athens. People asked me all the time if I missed being around my family. Of course I missed my family, but I built a new family in Athens. A family that pushed me to do things that I didn’t have the strength alone to do. Including applying to graduate school in Florida.  What? This “family” , that I love so much, wanted you to leave? No! They wanted me to follow my dream, and unfortunately I couldn’t continue following my dream in Athens. I had to come here, to Orlando. I have talked to them every single day that I have been away from them, and I know that they are not going anywhere. That without their support, their care, and their kindness I would not be the person that I am today.

So do I miss Athens? Yes, everyday! Do I like Orlando? Its okay..I am looking forward to exploring more of it and eventually loving it.

XOXO ,

Kristen-Elizabeth