There was this silly dream I had ever since 2006. Earlier in my life, I did not know I would want to explore one place at a time until I set foot in New York back when I was 13 years old. You see, I started traveling late (relative to other kids these days) and I never thought I would enjoy it in particular because when I first did, it was a long haul flight right away and doing that to a kid who had (and I think still has) ADHD, it was just torture. Not mentioning the sudden drop in temperature in my environment and being the tropical kid that I was, I craved for some heat and sun.

Nevertheless, I got home from that trip and I realized, I knew more than the other kids of my age in terms of the way other people lived at the other side of the world. I was able to understand and relate with the American culture and I get why some things were done a certain way. That made me realize, it was such a fascinating journey and I am able to keep the knowledge and understand the world better. I thought it was so cool to be enjoying and learning so much at such a short period of time. From then on, I began to dream. I even wanted to live in Los Angeles before (because I wanted to stay in the US but didn’t like the cold).

So back to 2006, I never thought it would be possible then, so I tried to challenge myself and told myself I wanted the number of countries I’ve been to, to equal my age one day. And last 2011, that day happened. I have been blessed with so much that the number is even up by 3 countries (so I don’t feel pressured going anywhere new this year, next year or even the year after that, but I really want to!). So let me do a rundown for you (okay, for me as well) about the places I’ve gone to. I thought it was just 28 countries and did not consider Vatican to be a country. Silly me. I’ll try to describe a little bit about these states (if I remember them, hehe).

Let me do the first 15 first, so that hopefully, I won’t bore you.

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This has to be said. My trip to France has been too long ago yet I have very fond memories of the place. Writing this entry (and the succeeding ones) made me once again relive how I felt when I first set foot in the country.

France has always intrigued me ever since I was young. I would hear about how people would like to see the country, because apparently it is the most romantic place on earth (Paris in particular). I would hear some people’s preference to studying French simply because the language is known and said to sound romantic as well.

But it wasn’t until I watched Madeleine (the cartoon series) that I slightly realized other people’s preference towards the French. For one, they do have the cutest accent when they try to speak in English. And when they speak French, it draws the ears even if I could not understand a thing.

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