USA 2014 | New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, New York

Another year, another USA trip. Since receiving Canadian citizenship a couple of years ago, annual visits to our family in New Jersey seem to have become a thing for my family, so here is this year's rendition. I have to say, this year's trip has been the most amazing and enriching so far! From the well-spent family time in New Jersey, to shopping mania in Delaware, topnotch educational experience in Maryland, and sights & sounds (& eats) of New York. This trip truly had a bit of everything.

The Highlights

Last Friday the clan made the trek over primarily for my great aunt Lola Betty's birthday, who I was super excited to see. A lovely Saturday at-home dinner celebration finished off with ice cream cake was just what the occasion called for!

Two days later I'm in an OR living the dream at Johns Hopkins Hospital, all thanks to Aunt Micah and Uncle Dominic, family friends from Maryland. (If you're slightly confused at this point, it might help to know that I'm an aspiring physician.) I still feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to shadow doctors and observe surgeries at one of the most prestigious medical institutions, and I will always always be grateful to Aunt Micah for giving me that experience. The whole experience was completely above and beyond anything I could have ever imagined; it was so surreal and so captivating and overall reassured me of my passion. I met some of the nicest people during my short stay there and wish I could have stayed longer!

The next two days were spent traipsing the Concrete Jungle, seeing as much of Manhattan as we possibly could (we being myself, my sister, and our cousin Mark). We made it to the American Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Modern Art, and the High Line; and made sure to stop for some NY eats, which included the cute, quaint Le Pain Quotidien, good old food trucks, and Chelsea Market. My favourite part of Manhattan sightseeing has to be the High Line, an old railway that was converted into a gorgeous and modern 2-kilometer above-ground park. This relatively short stretch provides the perfect balance between natural and urban life, and is a vantage point for some of the most beautiful views of the city. You can tell how much I loved it by how many photos I have of it in this photo diary!

Enjoy this diary of Instagram photos collated from my week-long trip! 

Le Pain Quotidien