I graduated from high school in June 2004 and after spending the summer with one of my very best friends from Germany my mom had planned a girls trip to Boston, Mass while she was there for a conference on Harvard University. I was absolutely thrilled, I love my sister but being 8 years older than me meant that during my later teens we were in totally different stages in life. This trip was also during the end of my ‘home’ life, the day I flew back to Utah I packed up my car and drove to college.
Salt Lake City has a deceiving name, the lake sure is salty but anyone who knows what a city is knows that you won’t find one in Utah. Boston was my first exposure to a ‘real city’ and it didn’t take more than the harrowing taxi ride from the airport to the hotel to feel the thrill of being in a city. I also remember coming across a young mens singing group staying at a hostel. Huh? I turned to my sister and asked what a hostel was… I thought to myself ‘I bet Utah doesn’t have any of those, I want to stay in a hostel! Haha Humorous little Heather! I’ve now stayed at hostels in several countries including Lithuania, Los Angeles, London, Paris and several in Israel.
Back to the point… Boston. I fell in love, I got that magical rush of possibility, contentment and drive that I usually get when something changes internally and Boston definitely planted a seed in my heart!
A few years after our trip my sister introduced the band Augustana to me and they have a song titled Boston that reminds me of the memories with my mom & sister and the beginning stages of the passion for travel that would later lead my life.
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