...almost there!

In...

5 days: I will be done with my 3 finals and going back home to Garland!

11 days: I will be boarding my plane to London

12 days: I will be taking a million pictures of the Eiffel Tower & baguettes in Paris! <3

I am so excited for this trip, but I don't feel prepared at all. =O

I haven't:

-received my visa-- eeeeeeeek!!! i hope it comes soon!!

-finished buying stuff for my trip

-packed

-spent enough time with family & friends (will only by home for 6 days!)

-looked up directions to storage in London & the train station & how to get to the Paris hotel from the train

-planned anything for our 5 week backpacking trip!

I have never been out of the country/this far away from my family & friends for more than 5 days at a time; i will be gone for f-o-u-r months. i'm worried how I will make friends since I will be staying with this lady in Bath, not with other students. Who will I hang out with? What will I eat? How will I get around without being completely lost all the time? What if I can't figure out how to communicate in French? How will Amelia & I communicate in non English/Spanish/French speaking countries?? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

while abroad, I will miss: my family, my phamily & friends, thanksgiving, getting ready for christmas, celebrating my birthday with loved ones, & the food!

i'm sooooo ready for this trip after this exhausting summer, hope I will have lots of fun & amazing experiences abroad. I'm just worried I will get homesick after a few months, but hopefully I'll have many new friends to distract me!

thought of the day:

your words should match up with your actions.

actions speak louder than words-- this phrase is a cliche', i know... but so true. after this summer, i feel like i need a change, now more than ever. i need to hold on to what's important, and let go of the rest.

♥ from austin