what's up in nola

I seem to think that my excuse for having no real job is that I am going abroad soon.  I think I'm just overly excited, letting myself make list after list of clothes I need, how to pack efficiently, learning how to blog about it, ect. It's a little overwhelming, but I have till July 12th to figure it all out. So if you have any advice, or really anything to help me as I begin my first big trip ever, holla at ya girl.  But first, let me explain exactly what I'll be doing. 

It's called European Studies.  Western Europe in the Middle Ages and Renaissance - and it contains the perfect itenerary (in my opinion) for any new traveler who is itching to put those pins up on that map hanging on their wall.  First, in July, I get to spend 3 weeks up on a mountain, also known as the University of the South, or Sewanee.  Here, we basically get prepared for Europe - both academically and socially.  We take a class, get to know one another, and for us Rhodes kids (the program is split between Rhodes and Sewanee kids, with a few others added in) we get to explore the territory.  I've never been, but I've heard from plenty of ES alums that the hiking is awesome, the view is spectacular, and the cell phone service sucks.  Regardless, I can't wait to see what it's like to live at the top of a mountain - my whole life I've lived in two places, both less than 10 miles from the Mississippi River, and one severely below sea level.  Elevation sickness, here I come.    

Following my Tenessee adventures, I'll be returning home to New Orleans to rush pack (in about 4 days) and tell my loved ones goodbye.  No doubt it will be bittersweet, seeing that my family is a huge part of my life, but I'm so ready.  On August 7th, I'll arrive in Edinburgh, Scotland our first destination overseas.  After three days, I'll be residing at the University of Durham for about a week, before heading to Lincoln College, Oxford - my home for the next six weeks.  In Oxford, there will be plenty of weekends free, giving me and fellow travelers to journey to other parts of Europe.  I'm hoping this will include Barcelona, Amsterdam, and Ireland - but time and spontanaeity will tell. 

After many classes, tests, papers, and hopefully a handful of good memories, I'll begin what they call The Continent.  What that means is that we are going to be on the move, around the Western part of Europe.  And by on the move, I mean we travel to (this part makes me pee my pants), Paris, Chartres, Dijon, Beaune, Autun, Rome, Siena, Tuscan, Florence, Padua, Venice, Ravenna, Vicenza, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Bamberg, Nuremberg, Munich, Bruges, Ghent, and back to London.  Clearly, I'm going to be overwhelmed with my life, and I can't wait.  

The program wraps up on or around October 27th, giving me about a two and a half month winter break  - and there is no way I'm heading home just yet.  While this next journey is it's early planning stages, my brother is going to come meet me in London.  We want to backpack in the Alps, maybe head up to Holland, maybe Greece. I know I'll be dying to get home for Thanksgiving, so it'll only be about  two and half week trip.  Who knows where we'll end up, but that's what I'll be filling in my time with before I leave for Sewanee. I've never done this before.  And by "this" I mean go to Europe.  It's going to be one hell of a trip, but I'm a newbie.

I'm excited.  I can't really describe the feeling I get when I travel - and I've only been out of the country once, to a little island called Isla Mujeras.  Being away from everyone at home will be a challenge (especially during Saints season).  But I also know that the older I get, the harder it will be to travel.  So I'm just going to go for it. 

Comments

Posted on 6/12/2009 by

Dawnielle Castledine

Your trip sounds like it is going to be absolutely amazing! I am happy that you are sharing it with others :-) I am in a similar situation with getting ready for my trip and find myself making those same lists. The best of luck to you in your journeys, I look forward to reading about them!

Posted on 9/18/2009 by

Alaina Rose

This sounds SO exciting! I also want to cram in as much travel as possible during my year abroad but it adds up SO quickly! I am currently in the budgeting for next year and soon to be filling out applications stage.

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