Learning Lessons

Sometimes it's hard to tell what you have until it's gone.
And when you realize it, it feels almost like a slap in the face, or at least hurts like that would. Maybe more.

Even simple things, such as being able to climb trees in your yard and not have to wonder if they are on your neighbors property, because your houses are so close. Or being able to get groceries in under fifteen minutes, instead of an hour and a half. These things trigger that same feeling, because the no longer exist in my life.
The number one thing causing me to have this horrible feeling, however, is probably the community I gave up when I moved away from the town I lived. Something about growing up in community makes an impact that lasts forever. Having people that you know you could show up at there house in the middle of the night and they'd take care of you, even though they aren't family, is so special, especially at at my age. When you go to the grocery store, and everyone working recognizes you, it feels really good. Again, that's something I took for granted, until the moment I moved here, and was forced to shop in a place so big and uninviting.

Lately my family and I have been spending our extra time during the week watching The Wonder Years, our favorite show, which follows Kevin Arnold throughout middle and high school. It's so good, comforting even, but has made me miss my small town even more. Kevin's family lives in a community, and he and his friends have grown up and experienced so much together. I miss that feeling of connection with people who, even though they aren't much like me, would be there for me no matter what. The show was set in the sixties, and I think that back then community was more common. It seems to me like now, community is hard to find. There are less places where you can sit somewhere by a road, and be able to count the number of familiar faces you see. Now, where I live, I go into store and don't see anyone from school that I know. There are hardly any family owned businesses that trace back through generations, and even the library has an atmosphere of rigid unwelcoming-ness.

Thirteen is a tough age alone, and surviving it without the love and support of my childhood friends and people I would call family even though we have none of the same blood, is a difficult feat. I've even begun to miss things I never before would have thought were even possible to miss. Things like the bus ride home from school, the post office, boring middle school dances, and lots more. Even characteristic of people that once annoyed me, I have started to miss. On top of all of those feelings of longing for that sense of community, I have to deal with adolescent-moodiness and angst, and the sun deprivation. I guess this isn't the most uplifting post. But these are feelings I need to acknowledge. I've had them bottled up for quite some time.

This is not to say that I don't like the friends I've made here, the good experiences I've had here, or the cool places I've been to here. I do, but this is not a place I could ever be able to call my home.
But moving has helped me in a way, I guess. I have learned so much. I have realized how lucky I am to be part of the family I am in, and that lots of people don't get to grow up in the type of community I did, and that I should not have taken it so for granted.

This picture is not mine, but it is the same as one we used to have on our old refrigerator. I used to read it, before we moved, and not think about it very much. Now, I do. In my opinion, this is an important way of life that should not be forgotten.

Athletic Aesthetic

I made a gif! Yippee! 

Basically the purpose of it was to share with you my very sporty/girly outfit from last week. 

My skirt and socks were from American Apparel, my shoes are Adidas Sambas, and my shirt was thrifted. 

Unfortunately this is the extent of my posting today. I do have more to post soon, so stay tuned! For now just be hypnotized and dizzied by this gif since it is never-ending. Hopefully everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving.

-India 

So West Coast

After one whole week of a perfect vacation, my family and I have finally departed from the west coast and are back in Pennsylvania.

The trip was what my dad called a "Southern California Sampler," because we saw so much of so many different places, in so little time. Also it was my first time in California. Starting in San Diego, we made our way to Carlsbad, Encinitas, LA, Hollywood, Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Marina Del Rey, Malibu, Algoura Hills, Huntington Beach, Newport, Costa Mesa, and finally Santa Ana. We did all that in about seven days! It was tiring at some points, but I would redo it all over again if I could. 

Getting on the plane last night, I was overwhelmed with that feeling I used to get when I was younger at Christmas, after the final present had been opened and the surprise and excitement was over for a while. Of course, there were still all of those great gifts to look at and play with, but there's nothing like tearing off the wrapping paper and seeing them for the very first time. So, in the same way, I have all of my souvenirs to look at and play with, but I'm not there, in California anymore. But oh boy do I wish I was. Maybe it's the fact that it was 90 degrees and sunny there every single day, and that where I actually live, it is going to snow any day now. Wow, that was a painful thought to write out. I had always imagined California to be great, but it way exceded my expectations. It was almost like a whole new world, one that I still cannot believe has existed all this time and I've gone thirteen years without getting to experience it. The sun, the people, the food, the clothes, the lifestyle, it all blew me away. I saw people skateboarding to work, and people that I thought only existed in magazines and on TV. Unfortunately, I did not spot any famous people, but the area itself was so famous I didn't mind.

 This was a sketch I did while silently pleading for the plane ride to be over so I could get to the west coast already.

 This was our first stop after getting off of the plane, and our last as well. It happened to be right by the airport and 100% vegan, and also some of the best food in the world. 

 Plus, it had the cutest outside patio!!

 Vegan food makes me a happy artist. 

{Shoe Selfies}

There was sacred geometry on the streets!! What kind of a world is this and why am I not living there???

The Mission Basilica in San Diego was so beautiful and aesthetic-y. It was a bummer that I had a bad cold while we were there, so it was harder for me to take in and fully appreciate all of the beauty of it. 

 

After the mission, we drove to the Carlsbad area, and then checked out Encinitas. It was such a cool place that reminded me of teenage novels with all of the cute surfer-guys and perfect, tan blonde girls, hippy shops, record shops, and total beach vibes! Beach vibes in november….best thing ever! 

All of the days we spent in California were fantastic, but this one was one of the best. While my brother and Dad hung out at Lego land all day, my mom and I wandered the cool streets of Encinitas.

We ate lunch at a fully raw and vegan place called Peace Pies. I'm still dreaming about it. Also, Vampire Weekend was playing in the cafe and that made it even better. 

Next, we strolled to a little record shop, that had EVERYTHING! I got a Vampire Weekend record for only 15 dollars. 

We continued our walk to a bead and rock shop that also had everything (bead-wise, of course) and I found some cool little triangle beads that made me think of Alt-J∆. It was super embarrassing though, since I almost forgot to pay the guy when he rang them up. 

When we finished roaming the streets, sipping Kombucha in the sunlight, eating goji berries, and completely livin' it up, we headed back to our hotel, where I journaled a bit.

Here's a shot of the beach at Carlsbad.

The next day was almost entirely the opposite, since we did a few touristy things such as see the Hollywood sign. Let me just tell you, it's much cooler in pictures. But I guess it's cool to be able to say 

that I've seen it.

In the Hollywood Hills, there's this house with TONS of random junk and mosaic all over it. It's really private though, so we only could see the outside.

This Monet quote really made my day.

Even though all of the touristy sight-seeing wasn't really that fun or cool, I did get semi excited when I saw this. 

Next Stop, Venice Beach.

This is my new favorite shirt. 

From there we went to Santa Monica, where I went to American Apparel and got this outfit. 

This was in Santa Monica too, even though the magazine says Malibu.

Japanese markets are one of the cutest things on earth, and make me feel so kawaii whenever I go in them. 

These were a few of goodies from the day. I can never leave those stores without a mochi. Sadly, I accidentally left that mochi in the fridge of one hotel and forgot to get it before we left! It was one of the saddest moments of the whole trip. So I decided to illustrate it. 

I take my mochi very seriously. 

So, overall Venice Beach was very interesting. The boardwalk was cool, except all of the pot-smokers who stank it up. I loved seeing all of the people skateboarding, and it actually inspired me to want to use my skateboard again. I'd probably be on it right now, but unlike California, Pennsylvania is way too cold all the time for that :(. 

After Venice Beach, we hung out in Malibu, which I had only heard of before from Brandy Melville t-shirts. I guess now I know why all those Brandy girls love it. Oh, and this is a picture I made my brother take of me when we got there. 

Before we left, I put on my flash tattoo that I got in Encinitas. It's still on right now! 

Gosh, Malibu was a dream. It's extremely hard to see, but there are a whole bunch of baby sea lions on the rocks down there. There were dolphins in the water too, but they move so much, and are impossible to take a picture of!

Costa Mesa:

One of my favorite things about California is how there are vegan restaurants on literally every street. One of my favorites was Native Foods Cafe, and I got this salad there. 

In Costa Mesa, there was another Asain Market, and half of it was a bookstore! I wish I could have spent more time in there, there was so much to see! 

Some kawaii things from the market.

Right near the market was this super hipster place called The Lab, Anti mall. In it was an awesome salon, where I walked in and they gave me bangs! I have never had any before, but I actually really like them! 

Right before I got my haircut, I took a bunch of pictures in the bathroom of the mall. No, I wasn't taking selfless. It had a really cool ceiling! 

{After Selfie}

One night, we went to Snow Station. It's like a frozen yogurt place, for all you east-coasters who don't know. but instead, it has shaved "snow" and is wayyy better than a frozen yogurt place. I split this platter with my brother. 

Final Day: Santa Ana

This day was difficult, because I really did not want to say goodbye. My dad, brother, and I chilled in a little park while my mom taught an art workshop. (The whole reason we went.) I took selfies.

Last Stop, Evolution Fast Foods.

I had to get a vegan kombucha float before we left California, since I knew it was highly unlikely for me to ever get one on the east coast unless I made it myself. It may have been one of the best drinks I've ever had.