If you've got leaving on your mind...

So the first departure of journey starts from Quincy. I'm sitting on the train with my life long friend(LLF). I look out the window being reminded of recent farewells. From the faithful friends, my Keems bid me "adieu" with an lettre de bon voyage. Tears of joy I say, "a bientot". But turning around I followed with a "ca va" to my LLF.

The train conductor came round collecting tickets, double checking stops. Over ahead through the charasmatic conversation my LLF and I carried, we hear, "Snacks with a variety of sandwiches and sweets" Advertising food for a three hour train ride... Only in America.

Listening to the drone of the whistle a little nervousness set in. Will I be longing for a Thursday with my friends or a breakfast with my family? I thought, "sure... a little... but I'm going to France. I'm going to explore so much!"

Un semaine je vais arriver a Frankfurt et je departe de Marseille.

Et le premiere etape de mon voyage....commence!

Working on vacation...

I decided to go to Quincy for the week to see my friends and teammates before this great adventure. I arrived Sunday evening to participate in the years first "Sunday Funday". Releasing all my fears about the upcoming months with my Keems and roommates to meeting the new freshman to slip n' sliding on senior row, Sunday was nothing but a "Funday".


Classes started Monday at 5pm. For most students, night classes don't come around until your second semester here, especially art majors(arggg!!), so I was able to hang out with my roommates a bit. While walking to the grocery store, Kelly and I saw a man on a Mo-Ped wearing a bicycle helmet, hilarious. We got back from the store and hung out a bit nothing too crazy, a little TV and dinner, just the usual for us.


I was bored Tuesday when everyone was in full swing and I had nothing to do. While walking around campus and through Francis hall, I had to stop and hello to the admissions secretary. In doing so I roped myself into working this whole week at the Public Relations and Marketing office where I was previously employed.


Because of boredom, I decided it was a good idea to work on vacation? I'm not sure where my head was yesterday, but I am immediately regretting this decision upon arrival this morning at 10 a.m. With a lack of sleep and plenty of good memories from last night with my favorite coaches, I sometimes wonder what I'm really thinking while decisions are to be made. But then again, at least I made a decision...for in Jake's words I am the Queen of Apathy. (Sad but true, and I almost wrote sometimes...argg!!)


Working on vacation has taught me that I do need a break sometimes. But when does this occur? I'm really not too sure. I keep thinking of the hundreds of things I have to do before I leave. And today I started thinking about packing for the semester... and my Dad thought I was so nonchalant and worry free this week. Malheursement Pere, je pense trop de ma valise, passporte, visa...etc. I realized sitting here writing this, I could be making lists of things to bring. Alas, I Google "Semester abroad, what do I bring?!"


Quel Domage...

Duck Fest 2009

(Previously written this summer but forgot to post it!!)


I had the experience of a small festival. Not having been to a whole ton of them this particular festival was truly an experience. Bonnaroo being my first "real" festival, (because Lolla and Pitchfork aren't up to par) Duck Fest allowed a transformation of a very boring suburban night into one for the books.

If you've never experienced a festival, go; run as fast as you can to get there. I promise that you will never find a place quite like it. I have never been to a happier place. To me a, a festival can morph into so many things and there are no limits upon what you experience. There's something for everyone as long as you're open to experiencing a change in yourself.

After picking up my PIC for the evening, we made the journey to Martington, Illinois. After a few wrong turns and a few thousand corn fields, we spotted the tinfoil duck that directed towards to music. Pulling into the driveway it reminded me of your typical country farm house, lots of open area. The ground was nowhere near open, spacious but scattered throughout the property were music fans, tents, a stage, lights, friends, family, boyfriends, girlfriends, hula hoopers, glow sticks, fire dancers and an attitude to uplift even the lowest spirit.

Walking around for a bit checking the scene, we found the bonfire where we connected with some of our other kindred spirits. My PIC found his buddy, I found my best friends, and this is where we parted for a portion of the evening.

The evening was underway hearing the sounds of local artists playing their instruments with ease. Sitting around the fire talking to old and new friends felt like being home. Home always reminds me of being able to connect with someone around a fire where there is no limit to where a conversation can go. And that's usually how it's done.

A close friend of mine taught me how to "glow stick". It was a little bit difficult at first but getting into the rhythm was the biggest part. Once I found the rhythm I was on a roll. This portion of the night was seemingly minute but was a pinnacle in what I found to be a place to move and think at the same time. I spent about 10 minutes twirling these glow sticks and found myself some clarity. I think that the clarity comes through when you realize you surround yourself with the people you want to experience moments, seconds, days, and any amount of time. Because in your mind, you will always remember a moment of clarity as with whom you were and where.

Thanks to those who helped me find a little bit of clarity through frustration.