This trip was an amazing one. I will transcribe my final journal entry here, as I think it sums it up best.

March 10th, 12:50pm

I'M GOING HOME! 2 months ago, it was the last place I wanted to be. But now, I can't stop smiling. I miss my mates so much--I've learned SOOO much about EVERYTHING! I'm currently sitting on West Jet flight 933. I'll be at my house by 3:00.

Yesterday was a god day. After a McDonalds breakfast, I went to both The Empire State Building which was awesome, and then Macy's. I also had the best bowl of Clam Chowder anywhere. Then I hopped the Staten Island ferry, round trip, to get a glimpse of the statute. Seeing it from the water the way millions of migrants did was great.

Then, I decided to walk from south Manhattan back to Times Square, stopping off at a theater to watch Hitch--Damn good movie, by the way--Then it was Times Square which is fantastic at night with a dinner at Planet Hollywood. All 'round a good day.

And today I go home. As I sit here, I can't help but think of everything I've done. I, at 19 years of age, have experienced more then most people do in a lifetime.

I know what it is to hate, love, and be lonely. I've experienced a vast range of emotions of all extremes. I've watched the sun set over the pyramids, sipped wine at a sidewalk in Paris, camped in the Australian outback, and been swept away by New York. I've reconciled relationships, both with people and personal demons. I've not found out where I'm going, but I'm actually content knowing that we never ACTUALLY know for sure. And to top it off, on a dusty evening on a Jordanian mountain, I discovered the secret to happiness and, as instructed, wrote it down.

Part of me, I suppose, is sorry I am done. The other part is stoked that it's all over! No more passport checks or baggage claims, negotiating hostels or bus rides--It's all over.

But it's not all over. It's just beginning. I'm returning to Guelph a changed man. Not changed completely, but when I left Guelph it was a place of despair. I return to it now with a fresh outlook, a renewed spirit and attitude. My "Adventure of a lifetime" is not over, it's only beginning. That adventure IS life, and I've been on it for 19 years.

I will miss meeting people though there are only a select few I'd like to keep in touch with. First, I guess, is my aunt Bin, uncle Ivan, Darryl, Jillian, Phyllis, Gaye, and Anne. Those folks made me realize the value of a family.

Nick from Paris--I hope his lady says Yes!

Sarah and Amanda from Prague. They were both really cool people. So was the rest of the Prague crew, but especially these two.

Jess & Ben from Rome. Bother were really awesome people to hang with. I really hope I see them again.

Atef, Mr. No Problem, and Kees from Egypt. I probably won't keep in touch with them, but I will hopefully see them again someday.

Salem, Fewas, and Ishmael, from Jordan. These 3 brothers are incredibly kind. I can't really keep in touch with them, but I will hopefully see them again.

Gavin from Australia, and Frank from Yorkshire. For no other reason besides I think we have a lot in common. I hope they both find what they are looking for.

And that's about it (the Indygear crew, Ken and Erick are obviously givens--how can one dislike a gearhead!). Considering I met 10 times that many people, it's a short list. But I think everyone I met I learned from in some way, no matter how obscure.

Fundamentally, I'm still the same guy I was when I left. Now, however, I'm far more content with that guy. I've reconciled my past and learned to accep the fate of my future--sort of. I've at least started.

This entire trip was started for all the wrong reasons. It was one mistake after another, then I just took off on this trip out of the blue. The last 6 months of my life have easily been the biggest series of mistakes I've ever made.

And it is the best thing that has ever happened to me. All of it relatively well documented here in this journal. This trip has given me my lowest of lows and my highest of highs. There were days when I couldn't stop smiling and nights when I wuold wake up crying. And each of these experiences was good for me.

I'm about 20 minutes out of Toronto now, which means I'm about an hour and a half away from home. Cardy, Will, Amy, Sarah, Sam, Porkchop, Kieran, the Meat Locker, Marsh, Laura, Mere...and Alyson. I'm actually quite interested in what she has to say. I've reached more or less inner peace on that subject. I know now that it was unrealistic of me to believe she actually cared--It was a series of lies from her right from the start. I know that now. She and I are a lot alike. However, we differ greatly in one aspect: Where she is quite content knowing that she broke every promise ever made to me, I certainly won't be doing that with her. I told her I'd be there for her, and I will be. One of the fundamentals that makes me who I am is Integrity, therefore I'm keeping my promise.

Before this year, the only experience I had yet to have was being in love. Now I have, and I loved it--it was great! So it didn't work out the first time--seriously, how many guys get it right on the first try? I can now close the book on Alyson, the reason this whole mess got started. That chapter of my life is over, but there's always a few blank pages left for the unexpected!

That's life though: Full of ups and downs and the unexpected. So as we are on final approach now, there is another book I should close--This one.

Here's to the ups.

The End.