------->  (photo courtesy by my good buddy, evan) 

less than 2 weeks left here -- 1 week and 5 days exactly until i return home to dubuque, a little over 2 weeks until i move back to iowa city. naturally, my emotions are out of control and changing constantly. some moments i almost panic at the thought of leaving -- sitting at a cafe or pub drinking beers with friends, laying in the grass outside of the louvre, walking home along the seine -- those are some of the simple things i will miss the most. But then, i think about this summer and i would rather nothing else than to spend the summer months in iowa city with my friends, visiting my parents in dubuque, and planning seldom seen at my childhood farm. 

i have been a bit sick the past couple days but i've pushed through it and forced myself out of the apartment anyway. i have a feeling thats going to be happening a lot the next couple weeks -- despite how im feeling physically, i want to take advantage of every moment. i want to be outside walking around the city as much as i can, hanging out with my friends whom i will deeply miss, and enjoying my last few dance classes here. it's going to be strange taking these pictures off my walls and packing up my clothes, to move once again. 

last cours pratique on wednesday -- it will be nice to get the final over with but i'm also really nervous. many of us are i think. it's one thing trying to study while you're living abroad in paris, it's another thing trying to study while you only have a couple weeks left in paris.. it's clear that a majority of us have little to no motivation to focus on school work at this point but i think we'll be okay.

the other day, i was briefly skyping my father when he asked "so tessie, how does it feel that you're going to be home in about 3 weeks?" ....what
i had a small panic attack, enforcing the fact that my time left here is closer to a month than 3 weeks. but i knew it didn't matter. afterwards, i sat and thought about it for a long time and have been thinking about it pretty consistently since then. 3 weeks. that's nothing. what was i doing 3 weeks ago? it was the first week of spring break i believe... it feels like almost no time has passed since then. i really cant imagine leaving at this point. i have finally gotten to that point where my urge to stay deeply overrides my need to go home. my life here finally feels real. i feel like i'm about to start over again by going home -- new adjustments, a new unknown. of course, i know my home and, in a way, i know what to expect but there is so much that i cannot anticipate. i cannot anticipate how this experience has changed me and how it will continue to change me. i don't know when i'll have the means to travel again or when i will see these people again. it's a pretty scary thought in some ways. some moments i feel more ready than others. last night my friend and i walked home along the seine after the ballet and a few beers at a small, intimate irish pub near st. michel. the entire way, we couldn't help but talk about how lucky we were -- to live in such an incredible location, so close to all of these beautiful and historical spots, so close to all of our friends, in one of the most romantic cities in the world. this is an experience we will never get back. and so, although, i have such a hard time living in the moment most days, i'm going to try really hard during my last three weeks here.

xo

spring breaK #2:

the second half of my break was spent in the beautiful and wild city of barcelona. the trip was interesting to say the least, composed of many ups and downs but i don't regret a second of it. to be honest, the challenges i faced while there helped me to really grow in a way i wasn't sure possible. traveling was a bit of a pain in the ass this week but i suppose that's what happens when you fly with the cheapest airline you can find. but really, please never fly with ryanair. they are very strict and the flight attendants spend the entire flight walking up and down the aisle trying to sell you useless things. both the way there and the way back seemed to be much more exhausting than any other traveling i have ever done, hour long bus rides to small airports and waiting in long, endless lines.
but the hostel made up for the airline. "hip karma hostel" was the name of it -- i know, hilarious. it was actually very nice though. very clean and very "hip", cute exotic boys working at the front desk, comfy beds surrounded by dark curtains which made you unaware the time of day it was when you were laying in them. the first day we met up with our friends and ventured out to park guell -- the famous park designed by gaudi which has a breathtaking view of the city below. we brought our books and journals and some snacks and found a spot at the very top surrounded by trees and rocks to sit on where we talked for hours and listened to music on my friend's small portable ipod player. it was the perfect. that night we decided to go out. we went to a traveler's bar where we were told we could get a free meal with the purchase of a drink. the atmosphere made me laugh, crowded with broke, young travelers all with cheap beers and free meals sitting in front of them. we ordered cocktails and cheers-ed to our first night in spain. walking around that city at night is one of the most entertaining things you can do -- at first anyway. it gets old quickly. people are friendly and outgoing, especially if you're a young, female tourist. we made many friends on the first night -- the most memorable being a group of charming club promoters who hooked us up with wristbands that would give us discounts and free entry into clubs for the rest of the trip. the next day was spent at the beach where we were all burnt to a crisp by the intense spanish sun then got seafood at a restaurant right off the beach and went to bed early when we got back to the hostel.
over the next couple days, i broke off from the group a bit in order to get some of that much needed solitude i'd been craving so much the past week. it was really perfect in every way. i spent my mornings reading and writing in a nearby cafe or park over a cup of cafe creme. one of the days i went to the picasso musee and walked around there for a long time. it was SO wonderful -- they had everything from his sketches to some ceramics he had done and some of his graphic designs (which turned out to be some of my favorites). i spent a lot of time getting lost around the old, curvy passageways -- i stumbled into a couple thrift stores and became friends with the young girls working the cash registers.  both days, i looked forward to and deeply enjoyed dining on my own -- something i had always wanted to do but had been to insecure to try until i came to europe since there is a sense of anonymity that comes along with it here. the first day, i went to this small, vegan cafe called "cat bar" which, as you may have guessed walls were covered in the most adorable cat-like decorations. the next day, i walked into a dark, romantic restaurant that was decorated with old furniture and dimly lit vintage lamps -- none of it matching. i sat at a table in the back with a candle and sipped on my glass of red wine while sexy, spanish music played over the speakers. it felt so good to take my time eating and drinking, taking in everything around me, no one to distract or rush me.
our second to last night in barcelona was a bit rough for me -- we were having a great time at a local bar, my roommate and i had just finished a wonderful conversation and we got up to search for the rest of our friends when we realized that my purse had gone missing. my first reaction was panic as i suddenly remembered all of the horror stories i'd heard about people's things being stolen in barcelona. i searched the entire bar and it was no where to be found. i was shocked, i felt like i had just had it around my shoulder and now it was gone. although, i was a bit of a mess that night, the next day i woke up feeling at peace. i was safe, worse things could have happened, everything in there was replaceable. of course, it would be a bit of an inconvenience and it would be expensive but i decided to let go of the guilt and anguish it was causing me, take it one step at a time, and enjoy my last day in spain. my friends and i spent the day laying around in a near by park filled with half naked hippies doing yoga while children and puppies ran around chasing each other. we ate flowers and laid under multicolored clouds and people watched. it was the perfect way to end a crazy trip, a nice, relaxing afternoon.

--- no pictures because my camera was inside of my purse...

<3

SPRiNG BREAk:

drinking a cup of coffee at my desk and enjoying my first time alone in days. break has been perfect so far. although, it feels like it has taken place over one long blurr of a day rather than 5 separate days -- full of loud laughs, countless bottles of wine, late nights that have quickly turned into early mornings, rainy afternoon walks, blissful emotions. the closer i become to the people around me, the more rich this experience seems to become and the more anxious i become when i think about leaving this magical, romantic place. i have begun to film random moments with my friends, mostly for myself, to enjoy later in the future -- nothing specific, just small bits of conversation sitting in my room late at night or drunkenly dancing in the streets of paris.

i am slowly beginning to plan out the music fest for this summer -- the date is still up in the air but it should be happening within the first two weeks of august. my cousin, rory, and i have decided to give it an official name this year: "Seldom Seen Music Fest." i am really looking forward to putting together a beautiful weekend of music on the farm that i hold so dear to my heart. i am also hoping that some of my study abroad friends will be able to make the road trip and join in the fun!

in general, really loving this moment and feeling so ready for the adventures in my future - tonight, this summer, and years from now.

sending love & light -- <3 <3 <3

it was one of those weekends that it really hit me where i actually am. i look around at my life and wonder how the hell i got here -- sitting in a white and yellow, sun filled room surrounded by photos of love. i feel so genuinely blessed in my life right now. 

loire valley, as expected, was absolutely breath-taking. the group was slightly different yet equally as wonderful. many make believe games were played as we walked into each chateau as if we were viewing it as a possible home for the upcoming summer months -- we discussed in detail of the parties we would have, who would take which rooms, and how we would spend most of our time laying in the gardens and swimming in the water. i came away with much too many "husbands/lovers", "roommates", and "future homes" which just goes to show that some things never change... 

saturday we viewed château de chambord and château de blois, two massive, royal castles which seemed to go on and on with rooms covered in gold leaf and floral wallpaper. that afternoon we had a wine tasting at chateau gaudrelle, an ancient, family-owned business whose focus is mainly white wine but varies in all different directions from dry, sparkling whites to still, sweet dessert whites. we were lucky enough to try a little of everything! that night we stayed in tours, which i didn't realize is actually just a big college town. in the middle of the town is a square filled with all kinds of cheap bars and great looking restaurants, young students sit around drinking and hanging out. it was the perfect atmosphere to spend our saturday night. 

  sunday we all awoke early to continue our journey. first, we saw chateau d'azay-le-rideau which was great because there was almost no one else viewing it that day so we were able to get some great photos and really appreciate the smaller details of the castle. we took off our shoes and had a sliding contest in one of the royal bedrooms then spent the last bit of our time there laying in the grass outside talking about our hometowns and future travels. after that we went to château de chenonceau, which we almost all agreed would be "the one", our home for the summer, where we would spend our time when we weren't adventuring around europe. in other words, it was our favorite. surrounded by the most astonishing gardens, including a maze, and acres of paths carved into the forest. the castle was big but not massive and it had an incredible 5-room kitchen which overlooked the water. we were blown away. 

the ride home went quickly and smoothly -- especially compared to normandy. no one got sick or claustrophobic and the ride was much shorter but it still left us all exhausted and ready for a long night's sleep. 

time is going so quickly. after this week, we have a 4 day weekend for easter and then 2 1/2 weeks off for spring break. after that, i'll only have a month left here. it's unbelievable that it's already april and, on account of, we only have 9 days of class in the duration of this month, it's bound to fly. i'm not sure how i feel about going home at this point. one semester does not seem like nearly enough time here yet i am anxious to spend the summer months with my friends and family in iowa. 

going to see a vivaldi concert tonight -- really looking forward to it especially considering that since i've been here, i've spent a lot of time listening to opera and classical music (including vivaldi). it serves as great studying/relaxing music for early mornings and late nights. 

bisou ! xo 

i'm so bad at this -- mostly because i keep a personal journal that i write in like 3 times a day. but i will try harder, even if it's a little bit.

Lately, I've been busy, but also not at all. My sister's visit was wonderful for the most part. Everything was perfect until Venice when Josie and I got really sick with some flu/bug and ended up spending the rest of our time in Italy as well as when we got back to Paris in bed. We did get to experience a bit of Venice and Josie got to experience about 5 days of Paris before everything so it wasn't terrible but it was still a bit of a disappointment. We did a lot of sightseeing, a lot of shopping, a lot of eating, and a lot of aimlessly walking around. She got to see first hand how obnoxious French boys can be when two of them grabbed her face and made out with it at the club we went to Saturday night -- twice i had to rescue that poor little girl as she timidly squealed for help. All in all though, I was content just having her by my side all week. Her leaving made my time left here seem long and empty for a few days but I got back into the groove of things pretty quickly.

It has literally turned completely from winter to spring here in the past week and a half. It's completely gorgeous. Whenever I am in my room, I leave my windows wide open. It's perfect - they open up among freshly budding tree branches and the smell of summertime. Seriously though, it's beginning to have that summertime smell and it makes me ache for bonfires with friends and porch beers. But really, I've been in the summertime mindset since January. Last night while skyping my friend, I referred to something that happened last September as "last spring". This is like one long vacation. Even school for the most part doesn't feel like school to me. Which is why midterms has come as sort of a shock for all of us here in Paris. We're like "Wait, we actually have to take exams and write papers? WHAT IS THIS?"
Next fall when I go back to school, it's going to be a huge slap in the face. I'm worried that I'll have a hard time adjusting. I can barely remember what it feels like to be stressed/overwhelmed over school work. Monday was my first "exam" and my teacher's directions were something like this: "Okay, just sit down. You're going to have one question. You can take it in any direction you want. It can be answered very simply or not at all. Just write whatever you want - I don't care if it's a sentence or two pages. You can cheat if you want but you probably don't need too. Just don't use your notes. Actually, you know what, I don't want to be a stuffy teacher - use your notes if you want. When you're done writing, you can leave." Yep. That's what it's been like for me here. Not all teachers are as laid back as he is but they definitely give us a little bit of a break seeing that we're studying in Europe. It's so hard to concentrate on school - last night for example, a quick dinner with friends turned into walking around for awhile, getting gelato and judging each boy that walked past us, and then long conversations over several glasses of wine at the outdoor patio of a cafe. We could've stayed out all night, just taking in the spring air and people watching while musicians such as Bob Dylan, Harry Nilsson, and Elton John played on a tape deck behind the bar.

Besides that, I've spent a majority of my time lately reading in the parks and walking around. My favorite spot is finding a shady area to sit in the Tuilleries or by the Seine -- both are incredibly beautiful and within a ten minute walk from my apartment. I can't spend enough time outside now that the weather has warmed up a bit.

Anyway, here's to hoping the rest of midterms week goes smoothly for me -- and that i can get in a little bit of studying this morning before I have to go to class. I'm going to Loire valley this weekend to visit some castles and taste some wine ! Really excited for another road trip along the French countryside and a change of scenery for the weekend. As usual, feeling so lucky and full of life.

<3 <3 <3

sitting in my bed after a wonderful week full of sleep and green foods. this was one of those weeks i was craving a cleanse and i feel so great! i cut out caffeine and overloaded with fish and veggies and fruit and water which in turn allowed for the best nights of sleep that i've had in a long time.

--but this past weekend is what i really wanted to write about because it was probably the best weekend i've had here yet. i went with a group of people from my program to normandy. after a bit of a stressful week, i woke up early saturday morning and enjoyed every moment of the bus ride along the northern country side. we started the trip off watching a silent, black and white film at the dday museum - actual footage of the preparation/attack in normandy. it was mind-blowing. i dont think i blinked my eyes throughout the entire film. i've always been fascinated by world world II so the entire day felt like a nostalgic daze to me. visiting the cemetery, which seemed infinite, and then omaha beach. they were equally as beautiful as they were heartbreaking and touching -- to imagine what had happened on these grounds which are now so completely peaceful and picturesque. our last visit of the day was pont du roc - the actual point of attack now composed of large bomb craters and chamber-like, destructed stone hideaways all on a cliff overlooking the sea - unbelievable. i was overcome by so many flashbacks of my childhood - running around the woods with josie, anna, and david playing one of our favorite games "run away from the nazi's" in which we would quite literally pretend to be little jewish children trying to escape nazi soldiers (yes - that's how obsessed we were). i imagined that this would've been our dream place to come as children to play make-believe games, how we could've spent hours and hours running from underground cave to crater, making up a new game in each spot.

that night we stayed in saint molo - my new favorite place. it's an old pirate town on the coast surrounded by ancient stone walls and eery, fog-covered islands. we rolled in all a bit tipsy from playing card games with cheap, boxed white wine on bus on the way there. a group of us went out and ordered the dish the area is most well-known for: mussels & frites: delicious. afterwards, some of us branched off with a few bottles of red wine and apple cider and found a tall rock on the beach where we could sit and enjoy the view. the night was blissful -- the moon sat directly above us with a large halo around it. and after only minutes of being on the beach at nighttime, i realized something that filled me with glee: this was the same beach that one of my favorite local native's videos was filmed on! i had watched this video on repeat during summer '10 (when i was utterly obsessed with them) and now, here on was, dancing on that very sand. [[http://vimeo.com/9645436]]<---here's the link to the video :)

in the morning, we had a bit of time to walk the wall around the town and take some photos. we sauntered out to the island and admired the hazy view from the top. i was on such a high during my visit here - completely in awh. my euphoria continued as we made our last stop of the weekend at mount saint michel -- an intensely beautiful monastery which has the appearance of an island surrounded by clear waters but was originally built amongst forest. yet, another unbelievably gorgeous place. the monastery was never-ending with large windows bearing incredible views of the vast lands around it.

the long ride home was a bit rough, most of us were either hungover or motion sick or both -- but good conversations were still had. in general, there were lots of wonderful talks and laughs throughout

the trip. i got to hang out and get to know many people i hadn't really had the chance to yet which was   really great. i'm really excited to continue many of those friendships in paris. in general, the weekend was exactly what i needed in every way - a breath of fresh air, the country side, the people, it was perfect. 

tomorrow i will wake up early to greet my little sister at the airport. praying that she has peace on this long night of travel and that she gets here safely. as for me, i'm hoping i can actually get some sleep tonight despite my excitement for the upcoming week.

<3 <3 <3

the most magical moments here lately have been while taking long walks, usually (and preferably) on my own. whether it be early in the morning, mid-afternoon, or late at night - i've always really looked forward to clearing my mind and organizing my thoughts by aimlessly walking and admiring my surroundings. my go-to route in iowa city includes a detour through the ped mall to people watch, down along the river where i cross every bridge i see, and over to city park where i usually end up sitting in the shakespearean theatre for awhile before heading back. in dubuque, i love the routes through the forest of swiss valley, heritage trail lined with tall trees, and sometimes just simply along the gravel roads near my house.
but, in paris, it's another world. whenever i feel out of it, not myself in someway, or just simply nostalgic, i force myself to get up and take a walk which, naturally, always turns into hours and hours of getting lost along the seine and exploring which ever old street has the most provocative stone passageway or the most colorful storefront. this city seems so small sometimes, everything seems to be within eye-sight. 2 minutes from my apartment, there is a beautiful view of the sacre coeur in the distance and a view of the eiffel tower from the other side. if i keep walking i run into the tuileries gardens, the louvre, and the notre dame. but in general, everywhere i look there is some kind of artful masterpiece, beautiful garden, or mind-blowing cathedral.
walks of solitude, to me, really seem to be a healer of all wounds - for anything from a hangover to homesickness. i come back to myself when i am able to really lose myself in the beauty that surrounds me.

im going to normandy this weekend with some people from my program - really looking forward to it. but even more than that, i am unable to express how excited i am about my little sister coming to visit me in less then 2 weeks! when i think about it, the only thing that could make this experience better would be to share it with a loved one from home. i am so antsy to take her to my favorite walking spots and to share a bottle of wine with her in a local cafe, to dance the night away together in a foreign country. we will spend the last weekend of her visit in venice, italy where i hope to indulge in the best pizza in the world and get hit on by the best flirts in the world. plane ticket and hostel were booked last night - couldn't be more stoked!

writing has saved my soul here. studying abroad can be almost equally as intense and overwhelming as it can be beautiful and full of wonder and new-ness.

many sleepless nights
spent tonight listening to mix tapes and looking at fashion blogs

here are a couple of my favorites:
http://nzca-lines.com/#2178243/Mixtapes
http://ftbh.blogspot.com/

Settling into my life in Paris. This weekend was especially wonderful for me - a bit more relaxed maybe than many of my weekends here have been so far, but nonetheless, wonderful. I've been trying to surround myself with things I love, things that make me feel more at home while also stepping out of the box and trying to expand my horizons. Thursday night, I ventured to a less-seen area of the city to see a couple local Parisian bands play in the cave-like basement of a cafe. The musicians were experimental and played with large smiles on their faces. For the first time since I've been here, I felt like I had found a spot that was familiar to me - a crowded basement of captivated, music lovers, clear plastic cups filled with beer, and a magical late-night energy. 

The next day, a couple new friends and I went in search of a dance studio and found a part of the city which held the jackpot of thrift stores! Every street corner we passed, another one seemed to pop up and the clothes seemed to be getting cheaper and more beautiful by the minute. I was so overwhelmed with excitement that my hands literally shook as I ran my hands over gorgeous 30 euro fur coats and velvet skirts. After a couple hours of hopping from store to store, we stumbled upon a large building which blasted loud house music over large speakers. We walked into a large open room filled with young fashion designers and artists showing their latest work. A group of Dj's bobbed their head in the corner while beautiful, young people walked around wearing beautiful, unique clothes. It was places like this that made me want to go to Paris in the first place. My friend and I stayed all afternoon and then came back later that night to see a band play. I spent more money then I probably should have but tried not to feel guilty about it on account of I was supporting young artists/designers. 

Last night, I took my first dance class in a long time. I have no words to describe the way I feel physically and mentally when I dance. I took a hip-hop class in that same part of town that held the thrift stores and designer show (new favorite area in the city obviously). It was perfect. The minute the music started and we began to warm up, I felt as if I had never stopped. I'm beginning to realize how important it is for me to balance my life out with a physical activity that I am passionate about. Dance needs to be something that I continuously pursue in my life. 

Today was laid back. I went with my roommate this morning to see the famously beautiful view of Paris from the Sacre Couer  and it was just as wonderful as I had always imagined it would be. Since then, I've spent most of my Sunday afternoon in my bed - reading, doing French homework, watching re-runs of Sex and the City, napping, and skyping with my family. A perfect ending to a perfect weekend. 

The universe continues to send me the most amazing opportunities, lessons, and adventures - I am so thankful. xo

snuck some photos of my homestay - it's so beautiful and french with large golden-framed mirrors and oil paintings that cover the wall (which reminds me of my grandparent's home, Derby Grange). the best part is that i have my own room with a tiny bathroom attached. the couple we live with are older and seem like such kind souls - i already feel so comfortable. but they don't speak a lot of english so it's a bit hard to communicate sometimes. they have a granddaughter who is also living with us. she is our age and speaks english well so if we really need to communicate something she can translate. i'm excited to improve on my french and be able to get to know them better on my own though!
we are in the 7th district right between the notre dame and the eiffel tower - doesn't get any better than that. we are neighbors with the most beautiful cathedral and only a couple blocks away from a large, beautiful park which i plan to spend lots of time at once it warms up a bit. so far everything has been a bit overwhelming - at this point, i'm physically and mentally exhausted and praying that i won't get sick so that i can fully enjoy the busy week of activities ahead.

bonsoir -- xo

stood merely inches from this work of art by marc chagall - an exhilarating experience which i will probably never  forget. a rush of flashbacks came over me as i remembered sitting in my childhood bedroom flipping through a book of chagall's work, fascinated by the colors and curvy images. also, enjoyed the work of giacometti (my cat's namesake) as well as many more incredible art that made my eyes water with excitement at the modern art museum in Saint Paul de Vence - which made it on the already huge list of most beautiful places i've ever seen. the small village sits on top of a mountain, is surrounded by a massive stone wall which used to serve as protection against invaders, and is made up of the most tiny art galleries and bakeries you can imagine - all which have a window showing off the beautiful mountain sides and gardens that surround the town.

lately, i've been able to sleep - long, deep sleeps which leave me a bit drowsy during the day but i can feel my body lovin' me for it.

this weekend was wonderful. i spent friday afternoon/evening on the beach with some friends from my program. we shared some bottles of wine, laughed a lot, and watched the sun set over the mediterranean. after a late friday night, saturday's hangover cure included a late-morning nail painting party and an afternoon trip downtown for nutella crepes and champagne macaroons. 

                                      

on sunday we went to monaco and i was completely blown away by its beauty. the statement "this is the most beautiful place i have ever seen" has been of frequent use in my vocabulary lately - but especially on that day considering i said it almost every hour. we wandered around the old, mountain top villages and took photos of the view from the top. we went to monte carlo and imagined that we were part of the rich and famous that kept their summer homes there. we toured the gardens of eze and ended our day sitting at the very top, soaking in the sun, and telling stories.

                                                                                  

 

     I'm slowly getting used to things in Cannes. Even though I'm only here for two weeks, I unpacked all my things and made my half of the room feel somewhat cozy which cancels out some of the homesickness.

    Today was my second day of class - 3 hours of sitting in a circle of about 13 students from all over the world learning how to describe our last birthday party and our room at home in French. It's fun for the most part but by the end of the class, most of us walk away exhausted with a headache. In general though, I couldn't be more excited to be completely surrounded by such a beautiful sounding language. I'm dying to get to the point where I am able to have a decent conversation in French. It will come soon enough. There is no possible way to not learn in this environment. 

    When I'm not sleeping, eating or in class, my friends and I spend a lot of time walking around the older part of downtown. It's one of the most romantic places I have ever seen - narrow, brick passageways that curve among steep hills which are occupied on both sides by the smallest, most intimate cafes and art galleries. Last night, we stumbled into a blue and pink lit cave - it was like a mini night club. We sipped on our glasses of wine and failed to keep any decent conversation as we dazed off watching as a 60-year-old man danced at the bar, large screens which featured high fashion models walk the runway, and a DJ spinned late-90's hip-hop tracks. All in all, it was a good night and it's been a wonderful past few days. 

      More later! xo

    London was a daze. I think I slept a total of 5 hours over the entirety of my 48 hour visit there - most of that based off the fact that it was such a short trip so catching up on sleep felt like a waste of time. It was amazing though - my first overseas experience. I was on an adrenaline rush as we walked throughout the parks and the markets, in between beautiful, old brick buildings. I felt like every other corner was a scene shot out of the Harry Potter movies.
    Today, my group and I woke up at 3 am in order to catch our 7 am flight to Nice. It was torture for that first 5 or 6 hours but as our plane descended on the mediterranean and I saw the hills that sat along the coast covered in luscious, deep green trees and white houses with orange-red roofs - it was so worth every frustration/stress from the early morning departure. After a brunch of a large variety of cheeses, breads, and fruits, we were brought to our dorm rooms which are perfectly charming and wonderful in every way - tall ceilings, light yellow textured walls, and a large window that opens up and looks out to our small, romantic campus next to the sea. Today, my roommate and I were able to nap with the windows open which provided the most refreshing, crisp breeze. The weather here is absolutely perfect - a bit more cold at night but we're able to walk around without a jacket during the day. Let's hope it stays this way!
    I miss everyone so very much. Being so far away from home, I am more aware than ever how lucky I am to have the people in my life that I do. Yet, I am so excited to continue to get to know the wonderful people that I am surrounded by here.

Bonsoir! <3

Today is the day.

It really doesn't seem real.

     In a few hours, I will be sitting on a bird above the clouds heading to London. I'm not really sure how I'm supposed to be feeling right now. I've imagined and anticipated this moment for months. I envisioned myself emotional and excited, unable to sleep the night before.
      Surprisingly, I did sleep - and peacefully at that. Although, I did wake at 7 am - I still slept which is big for me considering I usually toss and turn the night before over the most insignificant details of my life.
      This massive roller coaster of emotion my friend Molly so perfectly described to me when explaining her study abroad experience has come to a holt the past two days - saying good-bye to my sister, my best friend, and my home, I expected to be teary-eyed and anxiety-filled but instead I felt strong and clear-minded which I think proves already that no matter how hard I try, I really cannot anticipate anything about this experience. As many times as I've laid in the grass of College Green or on my bed in Iowa City, listening to classical French music, and watching myself in my minds eye thrive in one of the most romantic cities in the world - I can never know what is going to happen or how I will feel. Even though, I've prepared myself for the lonely nights as much as I have the blissful ones, I really have no idea what I am about to get myself into.
      I feel as though I've already learned so much about myself in the past few months in preparation for this trip and I haven't even stepped onto the plane.
      So ready for this - so ready to let go of every attachment, expectation, fear, control, and doubt that would hold me back in any way. Bring it on, universe!