Tori 3.3

So far, 2011 has been defined by a discovery of places, people and myself using two wheels. I have relied on my eyes and ears and legs to take me to new places philosophically and physically. My odometer crossed 17,000kms y-t-d sometime in early august. That's more distance than most people cycle in a lifetime. That's more distance than I've driven in the last two years.

I've satisfied a long kept dream of crossing Africa, and captured a number of spontaneous opportunities along the way and in between. The lessons and struggles and wonderful adventures that these experiences have afforded me are impossible to describe. I am indescribably grateful for the opportunities this life has afforded me.

What is there to do after 17,000km of enlightenment? Keep going.

In just a few weeks, I will trade in my wheels for textbooks and lectures, opting instead to propel myself through the next chapter with my brains and imagination. I will begin a Masters program at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). Though I will miss my family and friends back home, I am extraordinarily excited at this opportunity to study something that I love and enjoy the wonders of living in New York City. At least this time, I'll only be two time zones away!