Welcome to Zeeland, Michigan, home of one of the most loved playgrounds in West Michigan. Any kid under 12 enjoys it – and over, though they might not admit it so readily. When I was that age, I couldn't wait to go back. The feeling of getting safely lost was awesome.

 

I have so many travelling friends, and I have been wondering if it is just a coincidence or if travellers are bonded together through wanderlust. Recently, my friend Molly was telling me about an adventure she was about to embark on with her family, a four-day trek around Lake Waikaremoana, which is one of New Zealand's Great Walks.

Traveling abroad can have many benefits, and educationally can be a million times more effective than opening a textbook. The perks of traveling abroad are not purely educational, of course. Martin Hodel, my father, is a professional musician and has had multiple international experiences because of concerts and tours with various programs.

So I realized there is one place that I have not written about yet, one of my most favorite cities in the world, Rome.  Rome is where my love of travel first started and where I first studied abroad. Fast forward many years later, it still remains one of the biggest loves of my life.

Snowflakes and jack-o’-lanterns. Growing up in Colorado, the two went hand in hand. The first snowfall of the season usually rolled over the mountains to coat my neighborhood just in time for October 31st. Deciding on a costume was a matter of what looked good over a poofy jacket and paired with my purple and white striped moon boots.

There is an expression my family uses: you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting……(Insert noun). In Marietta, Georgia, you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting history. History is everywhere. On every block, there is a historic house. There is a surprising amount of museums in this small town. History and modern culture blend together in harmony.