Goodbye Europe...it's been fun.

So we're leaving tommorrow to head home. I'm not exactly sure how I feel about it. Well, that's not entirely true. I pretty much know how I feel about it, can't pinpoint it exactly, but I have the jist. I'm scared of what next semester will bring. I don't want to sit at home for a week, alone and/or arguing with my dad about stupid stuff so he can feel like he still has control over my life. My sister decided that the morning of the day I get back she's going to move to DC. That's right, she couldn't wait another week, day, or a few hours. My parents are taking her to the airport Friday morning and picking me up that night. Wonderful.

I refuse to have a repeat of what last semester was. Hopefully this summer was a time of growth for everyone involved. I've made some mistakes, I know, but I've grown and i've also made some good decisions to live with next semester (and through the end of college). Maybe this semester will be the best yet. Working (making money) and taking a class (learning about what I'm doing at work) ought to keep me occupied. I guess we'll see.

Things I've learned in Europe:

French people are rude. Most of them at least.

Everyone speaks English, whether they want you to know that or not.

NEVER take a seat on a train over a couchette on an overnight voyage.

Plan ahead. Then plan farther ahead.

Don't plan too far ahead.

Listen.

Breathe.

Take pictures of life.

Real friends...yeah I'll just leave it at that.

Georgia Tech should adopt the idea of flats for students.

Some people who are hired by GaTech are actually helpful. And might actually care.

Just go with it.

Plan your return.

What the hell am I supposed to do now?

You're a prick. Period.

We can count hours now until we're leaving. I'm kindasorta dreading it. I hate not knowing exactly what's going to happen with my life. I hate that other people have the ability to totally destroy it like they almost did the last time I was in that place. I will not allow for a repeat. I'm in a different life now, one I'm actually enjoying. He's different, I'm different (except not really). The more people screw with me, the harder I get, the colder I get. I don't think I can get any harder and stay me. I don't like planning for a future of misery. That's not what I'm supposed to be doing. Stay out. Just stay out and everything will be fine.

One day I'm going to learn that very few people can be trusted. Cynical, I know. But true too.

The rain in Spain falls mainly on the first day...

In times of trouble or personal suffering remember that you always have the opportunity to make earnest request to God through your prayers for the strength you need to continue.

--Patrick Gordon

Paris for the day...

This weekend was wonderfully relaxing, although still tiring. S, N, and I went to Paris for Saturday, just for the day. It was absolutely fantastic not having to deal with hostels in Paris (again). Since N was there and I had already been to Paris before, she was able to show me some sights I hadn't seen last time. And I got to tell S and N allllll the history I learned from the bike tour I took the last time I was in Paris. We went to the top of the only skyscraper in Paris to have a view of the almost fake looking Paris. It was wonderful.

What was very sad was that the field in front of Tour de Eiffel was completely blocked off for a STAGE?!?! I figured someone as huge as Sting had to be playing to have that accomplished. It was U2. We didn't stay for the concert, which was probably a good thing considering how absolutely insane that would have been. Then we came home and did laundry and got to sleep in our own beds.

Sunday was the day to Brussels. We (S, N, C, and I) spent more time on the train (9 hours total) than we did in the actual city (4 hours). But it was absolutely okay since there isn't a whole lot to see in Brussels and we were among friends. We had Belgium waffels and chocolate and flavored beer. C missed out on having mussels in Brussels, but I think he'll live. He's enjoyed them in ttwo other cities thus far, so he's doing pretty well.

One thing we didn't get to do this weekend was sleep in as our train to Paris left at 7 and to Brussels was at 9. That's okay though. Who needs sleep when you have Europe at your fingertips?? And time is running out...

Sometimes you have to step outside of yourself in order to find out who you really are.

More than knowing what you think, I wish I had a crystal ball.

Yesterday, Today, and...Always?

So I was reminded today of how rare it is to find someone in your life that you can truly share every thought with. Every hope and dream. Every desire. All your troubles and pain. And even those thoughts that happen when life sometimes gets the best of you. I was also reminded of how many times people walk into a situation with someone by their side, like studying in a foreign country with all new people and surroundings, and walk out completely alone. How rare it is to have the blessing of tightening bonds without destroying them. So many things have changed since May. Not only am I in France, scurring from country to country on weekends and studying/watching what shows I can get over here on the internet, but I am with some of the most amazing people. I don't know how, but I'm walking out of here in a month with (what I feel) is a better situation than when I walked in. I feel stronger and more capable. I have been changed for the better in some ways, and in other ways I have remained completely the same. It's amazing how much inner beauty I can feel inside me when I don't have to watch my back every moment. In this experience I have learned that there ARE nice people in the world and not everyone has to tear people apart just to feel better about themself. Not only this, but I am walking out more in love than I could have ever imagined. I am so thankful for that blessing.

and now i have to finish my presentation that's due in less than 8 hours. yay.