One person can't feel all that!

I still haven't fully processed what happened during my time in Europe and how it changed me and affected me. It's been almost a week since we've been back. In three weeks I saw my dreams fulfilled, my expectations exceeded, and I experienced a medical crisis in a foreign country. I need a whole book to write about the things we saw, felt, and learned (and we're toying with the idea for sure!). I honestly don't know where to even begin. So here are some things I felt and learned:

• excitement and amazement at an unexpected seat upgrade on the flight to London
• being overwhelmed and in disbelief at being in London after just having been in the U.S.
• being at afternoon tea in London and remembering the exact things I had been thinking and feeling when I made the reservation. 
• Staring up at the Eiffel Tower and realizing my dreams were now my reality.
• the thrill of being a part of the Euro Cup, the huge European soccer tournament
• absolute awe, amazement, and some grief while visiting the Notre Dame Cathedral
• wonder (What's a better word than wonder?) and my heart pounding with disbelief about how beautiful the Sainte-Chapelle is.
• joy at spending time getting to know and understand new cultures by meeting new people from all over the world
• contentment just doing something like eating a fresh baguette and drinking wine in our Paris apartment.
• fear at witnessing a riot/protest down below in the streets one night in Paris.
• being mesmerized by the beautiful sights of Venice and astonished at how much it feels like being in a movie set.
• panicking and running to catch trains at the last minute with luggage.
• Fear and panic when realizing something was not right with my eye.
• Confusion and fear while at the hospital, having to get ready for surgery, having surgery done, and staying overnight.
• Empathy for people who daily experience the feeling of being confused and not understood because of language.
• Gratitude for the wonderful people we met who helped us in some way. Kindness means everything.
• Marveling at seeing sights like the Colosseum and Roman ruins and feeling the weight of the people who lived and worked in these places.
• Fun and happiness during moments like having a wonderful dinner with wine.
• Being scared and also relieved that we were scheduled to be in Istanbul two days after a terror attack.
• A feeling of sadness and loss when coming home.
• A sense of knowing that this is just the beginning.
• Le joie de vivre