And so it begins....

Today is the day! In just a few hours I will be on my way to JFK international airport in New York, and a few hours after that I'll be boarding a Boeing 777 for a transatlantic flight to my new home for 3 1/2 months. Needless to say, I am incredibly excited. I am also slightly nervous...understandably.

I have finished my packing, and incredibly, I have a little extra space! I have a giant duffel bag, and a large suitcase that I am checking (both under 50 pounds....i'm amazed) and a little suitcase that is my carry-on. Then I have a few essentials, including my laptop, that are going in my backpack and a pillow. I've been steadily packing up all week, and now that the day has arrived I can finish up and place my last minute things like shampoo and toothbrush in my bags. My flight is an overnighter, which is great because that gives me most of the day to finish up these things so I don't have to rush around in the early morning.

When I get to Heathrow I'm meeting up with Angelica, a girl in my sorority who is also in the program. We're on different flights coming from different airports, but we land within 5 minutes of each other, so we're going to take the Tube together to our flat in Kensington.

Thats all for now, cause thats really all I know. This is the most spontaneous thing I have ever done thats taken 6 months to plan. I say that because while I have known that I am going for ages and been planning all that I can, the only thing I am sure of is getting there and coming home, because I'm the one who booked the tickets. The people who run the program have told us next to nothing about what is going on and what we will be doing. And what they have told us is so confusing and cryptic it may as well be jibberish. I wonder if they think that is part of the fun. Anyhow, once I get there and things start happening, it'll be here!



The road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it meets some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And wither then? I can not say.