brighter than sunshine

Lately, I've been filled with an overwhelming feeling of wanderlust. I've grown so sick of being cooped up in suburban New York, I need to go out and get away from everything here for a little bit. In high school, (well in mine at least), the curriculum is set up so that in the humanities department, freshman year consists mostly of ancient world history/literature, sophomore year is modern world history/literature, and junior year is american history. In AP English, we've been reading a lot of classic American literature, and a lot of the settings take place towards the South and the West. I know I shouldn't judge based on simple readings, but the homey, unsettled, almost deserted prarie lands appeal to me so much. When I'm bored, I even go as far as to do a little bit of research about the Midwest/West. I suppose to most people, the dry soil, humid weather and sparsely populated towns wouldn't garner much interest, but with all of my heart, I want to go and visit them. I would like to go to Kansas, perhaps the Carolinas, Dakotas, Iowa. I want to camp out in the vast plains, soak in the fresh air, run on the neverending grasslands, watch the stars at night. I'm so sick of being cooped up in the city. That's partially why I'm really hoping and praying to win that scholarship to go to Japan. Although it is one of the most technologically advanced places in the world, the country has managed to find a unique balance between the faced paced modern world and the old nation's traditional values and culture. If I get in, I'll probably be staying somewhere near Hiroshima, not Tokyo. I long for days when I can just sit and breathe, maybe listen to some music and take out my watercolors. Get away from everything for a little bit. I need time for myself.