Hi, all!
Thank you all so much for joining us on this amazing, crazy, inspiring, exhausting, gigantic, phenomenal, and life-changing whirlwind tour around the world. Over the past ten and a half weeks, we had the opportunity to visit over three continents, over 13 countries, and over 18 cities. We ate Peking Duck in Beijing, drank Crémant in Strasbourg, hiked through woods in Mount Vernon, performed on a cruise ship in South Korea, ate Durian in Singapore, showered in Sulfuric water in Iceland, went pubbing in Dublin, shopped 'till we dropped in Hong Kong, bathed in Onsens in Japan, and scoured the globe, seeing, eating, doing, and learning more than we could have possibly hoped.
It is such a supreme privilege to be able to have had an opportunity like this one, and it could not have been possible without the help and love and hard work from our our phenomenal hosts and guides all around the world and, of course, our family and friends. The memories that we made these past two months will not only annoy friends and satisfy family members for months to come but will also be an unforgettable set of experiences that we will always have to look back on.
The end of a tour is always a cacophony of emotion, having spent so long with so many amazing people - family, really - and it is not easy to have to say goodbye. But in addition, the end of tour also marks the end of the journey in the Dins and at Harvard for our graduating seniors, and we will miss them so dearly.
“After all, how can you put into words all of the things you did...[the] experiences that only you and eleven others will ever have?”
Returning to family and to friends, I personally struggle with the question: "How was tour?"
After all, how can you put into words all of the things that you did, all of the emotion that you felt, the highs and the lows, all of the people that you met and conversations that you had, all of the shared experience you had with people that you care about - experiences that only you and eleven others will ever have?
It is a really beautiful thing, when you think about it, and I know that these past two months will always be one of the most amazing experiences that I will ever have - that we will ever have.
So, again, a thank you.
To the people who made this possible, and who continue to make this possible for years and years and for Dins to come. To the hosts with whom we shared complex and fascinating conversations and who opened their homes and families to us. To the audience members who fill the seats and make tour possible, whose enthusiasm allows us to keep performing even when life gets in the way. To the family members and friends who stay up really late to talk to us across the world, who send their care and support unconditionally.
We appreciate it so much. And we cannot wait to see you in two years.
Signing off,
Eli Troen #250 + the Harvard Din & Tonics of 2017-2018
