Welcome to my Blog!

        Welcome to my travel blog! My name is Erin Cunningham, and I am a rising junior at Loyola. I am from Rockland County, New York, which is about thirty minutes north of New York City. My hometown is the area where I will be spending this summer.

Typically, when I think of a travel blog, I assume it will cover a person's travels and the people and places they encounter along the way. However, my blog will serve a different function since I will be documenting from the area where I have lived my entire life. When you spend so much time in one place, over time, you grow to overlook the things that genuinely make it beautiful. While there are things that I often appreciate, there is a multitude of aspects that go unnoticed in my daily life. 

However, before discussing my background in the area, it is important to discuss my placement there. I have lived in the same house here my entire life and attended school with the same people from my first day of Kindergarten to my last day of High School. My parents had this same experience as well. Because of this, as time passed, I grew increasingly bored with this small town. When forced to stay in one place, it is not uncommon for a person to feel trapped and restricted by the limits of their location. Despite these feelings, there are still things that I fondly acknowledge about this location.

One standout aspect of this area comes from its geographic placement. Without traveling far, this area gives its residents access to many different places. From the city to the mountains, living here allows people to immerse themselves in any environment they wish. Consequently, this type of region offers people the opportunity to grow and discover the kind of environment they need to thrive. For those who are here permanently, this area provides access to vastly different landscapes while still having a middle-ground place to call home.

Another notable aspect of this region is the people who live here. As a predominantly Irish and Italian area, many families who call this area home have lived here since their relatives first immigrated to the United States. As a result, relationships and heritage play a significant role in the lives of the people here. Over time, this feeling has created a strong community where people can share the traditions and aspects of their familial culture with others. At various points each year, people come together to celebrate their ancestral evidence with the community they found here.

While on a similar note, in addition to people's passion for tradition, their passion for the area they live stands out to me. Whether or not they know one another, people always support each other in their personal endeavors. From cheering on youth sports teams to frequenting new small businesses, people here genuinely want one another to succeed. Living in such a divided world, this is a refreshing thing to see in my community.

Another aspect that I find particularly enjoyable about this region is the presence of nature. Whether intentionally entering the woods to explore or just driving through, I have found that living in a place with easy access to nature allows me to take a break from the tiring aspects of our modern society. The second I step into nature, I feel separated from society and can focus on what is truly important to me.

Finally, a noteworthy aspect of this region is its ability to change. While many things here are traditional, people are not stuck in tradition. Though longstanding businesses and locations are respected and revered, new developments are always eagerly welcomed. Additionally, old developments are constantly being updated to ensure inclusivity and focus on moving forward in the community. While this does not sound like anything major, it has shown me the benefits of living in a place that focuses on the future rather than unsuccessfully trying to protect and live in the past.

As the summer progresses, I look forward to exploring and rediscovering the area I have called home for many years. Since both the town and I have grown over the years, I know that there will be many things that I discover, likely things that I unknowingly see daily.