Photo du Jour!!

31 August 2009

And the Airport Blog...

I am currently in Boston Logan International Airport halfway through my 6.5 hour layover. It's been eventful - I was worried about having things to do, but I realize now that was a mistake...I unfortunately left my iPod on my connecting flight from Chicago to Boston. Therefore, I've been running around the airport, finding people and having them call other people and filling out forms. I have my doubts that it will be found. It was bad timing, seeing as I was already a bit emotionally unstable, but ah well. Material things shall not control my life, right?

I really like Boston's airport, though. I'm currently sitting in one of about 30 lovely rocking chairs, lined up in a sun-lit hallway, next to an elderly couple who are sincerely enjoying themselves. I am watching the luggage carts run around and the food carts load up the planes. There are some clouds, so I get the sense of autumn over here on the east coast - just like when I left home. The Appalacians are off in the distance, and when we were landing you could see lots of white-steepled churches and cute neighborhoods. There was also a gigantic cruise ship in the harbor - I had no idea that you could leave on a cruise from Boston. Where do they go? Hmm..

I sat next to a great, very well-traveled and friendly woman on the flight (I must have been so engrossed in our conversation as we got off, that I forgot to stash my ipod. ugh!) She was on her way to see her daughter at Emory, who was also a junior and majoring in Political Writing - doesn't that sound interesting? We talked a lot, which was really nice. I've been wavering all day between being unbelievably excited to nervous, shocked that I'm actually leaving to not really believing it yet. My dad pointed out, as we were saying our goodbyes, that I have honestly been looking forward to studying abroad in France for a verrrrrrry long time; at least since 5th grade, which was when we went to Europe the first time. It's nuts that that time is actually here, and also that I've been so dedicated to that goal for so long. I'm proud of myself - the WORST decision-maker on the planet - that I've stuck with my love of French for so long. Through all of middle and high school, plus 2 years of college - getting grilled about 'what do you want to do when you grow up' all the while, I think I've always known I was going to have to do something international. I'm too fascinated by being a part of another culture and knowing how to connect to things outside and across our borders.

So. I just have to focus on that - my love for the culture and how excited I really am...and not on the fact that I'm going to be across an ocean from pretty much everyone I know and love, for the next 4 months. I think I can do that.

In the meantime, I'm ridiculously gross, after sprinting around the airport. I hope the Parisians won't judge me too much, before I get a chance to shower at least. I'm going to go watch some episodes of West Wing and watch the planes take off.

Next stop - Paris!!



30 August 2009

The requisite 'day before' post...

So I officially leave for France tomorrow. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!?!?! I'm incredibly excited: my 2 bags are packed, I have my toothbrush and a pair of clean underwear in my carry-on, all the rest of my clothes are vacuum-sealed and things feel very...final. I have had an awesome last week here, fitting in Ray Burgers and Miss Lisa's, a day at our cottage, an awesome dinner with my aunt and uncle, and even a final visit down at Wooster to get some last things taken care of.

I have to admit, I'm a bit anxious...I had a dream last night that I went to bed on Sunday night, but woke up on Thursday and missed everything. That's a tell-tale sign, I'm pretty sure.

BUT I have full confidence that everything will go smoothly, and that I have enough travel prowess to figure things out even if they don't. I have a 6 hour layover in Boston tomorrow, before I'm on to Paris, so I'm sure I will be on again...but after that: next stop Nantes!

Good luck to everyone at home with schools starting and all that jazz. Keep me posted!