Ready for Some New Adventures

"I haven't been everywhere, but it is on my list."

It really is hard to believe that 2013 is at its close. When I am 80 years old and reflecting on the life that I have lived, I can guarantee that 2013 will be a year to stand out. After coming back from England and living through the bore of the summer, WKU's fall semester kicked off and it truly has been a crazy, hectic one. I took 18 hours of classes, worked 20-25 hours at my job and finally got involved within Kappa Delta and Panhellenic Greek life. 

I probably annoy my friends and family with the excessive talk of wanting to venture out but once the travel bug hits, its hard to avoid it. Just last night I was talking to my friend Hannah about traveling and I made the realization that without last fall's leap of faith and applying for Harlaxton, this love of travel would have never occurred. That thought is truly terrifying.  

I made it a goal to study abroad at least once a year while I was in college. I mean, I will probably never have this opportunity again in life. To leave everything behind, tell work that I need to be off for x amount of time and jump on a plane to go on a new adventure, so why not take advantage of it.

Freshman year = Ecuador

Sophomore year = Harlaxton

Junior year...are you ready for this? Am I ready for this?....CENTRAL EUROPE!

That's right, I am going back to Europe to study abroad. This time I will be living in the Czech Republic and visiting Poland, Austria and Hungary in the process! I am STOKED. After looking to two other programs, I have decided to do my Honor's thesis research while I am abroad and this trip will be right in line with my goals. I seriously can not wait!

Add going to Chicago, Atlanta and back to Washington D.C. (all during the spring semester) and 2014 looks to be one promising year. I have waited 6 long months to travel again and I am impatiently awaiting my next flight out. 

I'll be keeping this blog, mainly for my future self, updated with all my new adventures!

Ode to my Boots

Before my Harlaxton adventure came to a close I had an idea for this picture. These boots were a present from my Momma and I wore them nearly everywhere I went while studying abroad. Comfort was key and these bad boys held up, for the most part. We've all heard that saying, "If you walked a mile in my shoes..." well - these shoes walked a lot of miles...

-they roamed the corridors of the Manor 

-they skipped down Pond Street, over the Piran House to visit Kevin and Barbara

-they pranced on the grounds of Westminster Abbey 

-they led me through the streets of London

-they wandered through an 11th century Cathedral and castle in Lincoln

-they visited the grave of the fattest man in England in Stamford

-they ventured up and down the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland

-they climbed the winding steps to kiss the Blarney Stone in Ireland

-they skipped down the pier in Wales

-they tried to take a bath in the Roman Baths in Bath

-they strolled the grounds of Stonehenge

-they kept my feet warm in the small towns of the Lake District

-they marched down the Great Hall at the Harry Potter studios in London

-they tiptoed down the path at Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany

-they took a break in Venice

-they moseyed around the fairs in Florence

-and they nearly were left in Rome.

I was able to experience so, so much while wearing these shoes and if one picture could sum all these experiences up, it would the one at the top. So, ode to my boots and all the traveling they accomplished.