Final day reflections : Acadia Day 5

Final day reflections : Acadia Day 5 For our final day in Bar Harbor, I attempted to soak in the quaint coastal town that welcomed us with open arms. From day one, so many kind souls greeted our group of 14 scraggly Texans with recommendations, must sees (or must not sees) and the most efficient way to spend our time here. Sitting out from our group activism activity due to a fear of an asthma attack, I was blessed with the opportunity to sleep in. For breakfast, it was a treat getting to enjoy a highly rated breakfast spot named 2 Cats. It wasn’t on the itinerary but was recommended by EVERY. LOCAL.,so it was basically written in the stars for Jess, Kira and I to go. We visited the Abbe museum and I was incredibly taken aback by the sheer talent and intelligence displayed in each aspect of their culture. From the woven baskets, artwork from indigenous school children and tools developed to hunt for food- it was overwhelmingly inspiring. The Wabanaki people are the first indigenous tribe I’ve researched, and through this experience at their own museum I feel a sense of responsibility to learn the history of America through their lens. With our time back at the cabin and in Bar Harbor, I reflected. Any expectation I had for this trip was exceeded ten fold. I was nervous, I’ll admit, to spend an extended period time away from what has been my safe space during my first breakup. I felt vulnerable being around new people when I was in a headspace where change was the last thing I needed. People who don’t know me, my personality, and my passions were the last thing I thought could make me feel better. I was so wrong. It was more than therapeutic to have a reason to get up, to laugh, to think - it was dire. The girlhood formed on this trip found me before I even knew I needed it, one of the many joys behind community I suppose. There are no words to describe how grateful and rejuvenated I feel. To Bar Harbor, you magical little island: Thank you. To Acadia, and the park of many wonders: See you next time!