The Olsen Effect

So I have a horrible confession that I must admit to before it strangles me to death.....The main reason I ever wanted to travel in the first place had nothing to do with adventure, cultural curiosity, or intellectual stimulation, my desire to see the world was completely and totally a result of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen movies.

I mean come on:

When they went to Paris at the age of 12, not only did they solve a major sewage/diplomatic debacle, they also met 2 adorable french boys who delivered flowers for a living AND had mopeds. I mean come on, Paris on the back of a moped with roses at the age of 12, can you even attempt to beat that?!

The answer is: of course you can! Thats why they went to Australia just a two mere years later. Down under they solved a major diamond heist, met two hot Aussie surfers, hung out on a yacht AND they had the luxury of replacing mopeds with jet skis...upgrade!!

Our Lips Are Sealed

But oh no, France and Australia weren't enough for these world travelers, soon they headed to Atlantis in the Bahamas where they stole two hotties from a young Megan Fox, solved yet another illegal operation and had several montages involving water slides. I am also 99% sure that both jet skis and mopeds were involved in this classic.

Then there was the big one....the one that pretty much determined everything for me. Winning London. Not only did they meet some gorgeous Brits, they were also in Model UN....cute and smart? check and check. The clothes alone blew my 14 year old mind. I was green with envy. I am also pretty sure that this is why I have an emotional attachment to the Peter Pan statue in Hyde Park.

There were a few more, the one where they went to Rome and then that horrible one where they ran around NYC being followed by the Dad from American Pie but by then I was sooo over it, but the point is, every American girl has seen these movies and every single one of us lived vicariously through them. God I want to be them because (confession #2) I am still a little sore about the fact I have yet to be invited on to a moped by some charming European.

Ed. Note: I used to spend hours trying to make my hair look like theirs...AND I STILL DO