Pre-Adventure

So.. after a long and tumultuous few months, I'm finally set to head to Europe! I'm starting a blog so that I can somewhat organize my thoughts and experiences, as well as keep anyone interested in what sort of trouble I get myself into. I've finally got the trip paid for, booked my plane tickets, and emailed my host parents in Brussels. The only thing standing between me and Europe is a heavy dose of finals and then time. Then I'm off to see the EU!

Backtracking a bit, I have been planning to go on this study abroad trip for months now. I have been wanting to go since the fall '11, after hearing all about it from my friend Alyssa and others who took the trip last summer. I've been planning on studying abroad in general since before last summer. I've never been out of the States, hardly ever away from the East Coast, so I've been thinking it's about time I go somewhere. Issues arose mid-spring semester when I found out I wouldn't receive the main part of my financial aid to pay for the trip. After several attempts to figure out why and how to fix it, in March I had pretty much given up hope that I'd actually get to go. I'd even gone to my program director to let her know all of this, and she had all but taken me entirely off the roster to go. Then in early April a miracle arose in the form of my grandparents [who are now supporting me for the trip] and suddenly everything is back on track. I can't thank them enough. Grandma I promise I'll visit you 10x more often for the rest of forever!

It was a little difficult finding a decent series of flights at a reasonable price in late April when the trip begins mid-May, but given the short time I think I found pretty good airfare. I'll have a week and a half at home to get several things in order and see as many people as possible before I leave, so I'll just have to make the most of my time while I'm there, even if it means giving up some of the summer vacation sleep I truly enjoy.

The same day I booked my flights, I sent an email to my host parents. I'll be sure to dedicate a post to them later, but I'll mention a bit about them now. My new family is the Quinns. I'll be staying with them along with another student on the trip, and unlike most of the other students on the trip, my new family is American. Brenda and Bill both went to Virginia Tech, but they're taking me in, so I'll have to forgive them for that. Brenda is a teacher, and Bill works within the EU, so I'm sure he will help give some insight to some of the places and events we witness during the trip. They live in a small town called Sterrebeek, which I currently know nothing about but can't wait to learn all I can. The Quinns have three grown children who are back living in the US, two of the three having already graduated college, and the third about to graduate.

Everything seems pretty unreal at the moment. I don't even feel like I'm about to take finals, let alone be living in Europe in just a few weeks. I definitely cannot wait to go though! Finals, pack, home, errands, busywork, pack again, go. T-minus 22 days and definitely counting!

"Just as free, free as we'll ever be" - Zac Brown Band