To Ellie, From Lauren

Dear Ellie,

My summer was literally indescribable. That having been said, let me describe it.

I spent two and a half months on a tropical island in Asia working with the most insufferable, amazing American children (ages 5-10) on a marine base. I drank plenty of Orion beer ― which is brewed ONLY in Okinawa ― ate as much sushi as I could, swam in crystal clear turquoise waters and watched by far the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen in my life from my bedroom window in the barracks.

I am now practically best friends with my roommate who tolerated me this entire summer ― you know how that is ― and I think the people I worked with are more family now than anything.

I watched one day as Japanese drummers of all ages lined a busy, blocked-off street for a festival. You could feel the vibrations through the air and the ground as hundreds of them hit the drums in unison during the finale. I zip-lined through the tropical forest, flipping upside-down mid-flight and admiring the coastline from hundreds of feet in the air. I took a ferry to another small island and went camping with 10 or so other Camp Adventure counselors on our last weekend there and I climbed the rocks in my bathing suit to sit by myself and watch the small waves roll onto the untouched white sand flaked with bits of coral below me.

I've laughed more and cried more this summer than I think I have in my entire life. Oh, and I got a tattoo.

Don't worry it's a small one. My right foot is now decorated with the words “Live with all your might” in Kanji (Japanese). I lived by that phrase this summer and I plan to do the same for the rest of my life.

For the past six days I've been living out of unpacked suitcases. Putting all those clothes away is honestly difficult business when there are so many other important things to attend to, such as catching up on episodes of the Colbert Report and taking naps with O'Malley, who, by the way, is as needy and adorable as ever.

Can't wait to hear how Costa Rica is!

Love,
Lauren