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Nothing has changed at home. Surprise, surprise. I have this continual knot in my stomach from missing England. It's odd being at home. Comforting, yes. But odd as well. I'm not sure how I feel about it just yet....

Family

My stomach was in knots as I flew into Florence to see my parents for the first time in over 4 months. I landed, safely, collected my bags, and went through immigration. Then I waited, not too long though, only about 25 minutes. Then I saw on the board that their plane had landed. Then I saw people coming in. Then I saw THEM. And I began to freak out. I noticed my Mom had gone to the bathroom, so I abandoned my stuff (not the best thing in the airport, but I didn't care) ran to my Mom and proceeded to say "You went to the bathroom before coming to find me?!?!?!!!". She had a good chuckle and we both cried. Then she pointed me in the direction of my father and I ran and gave him a hug as well. Words cannot describe how it felt to see them. It had been far too long.

The Greatest Writer The World Has Ever Known

I went to Stratford-Upon-Avon. Yes I did!!!!! I cannot believe it yet...it's incredible! Something that I have wanted to do FOREVER....and I did it! As an English major, I have to say, I can now die a happy woman. I got to see everything that is Shakespeare, everything that revolved around the greatest writer the world has ever known and will ever know. And in only a day I will go into central London and see his well known tragedy, "Romeo and Juliet" played in his theatre, the Globe Theatre. I mean, it doesn't get any cooler than that! It's incredible...eveything that I have gotten to see and do while abroad, I am soooo lucky, it's true. Maybe not lucky in all things, but lucky in the things that count most of all. Honest I am. And now I am only 2 finals (which I have started to study for, but it's sooo annoying, cause my brain is shut off) and 5 days away from meeting my parents in Florence. I have gone without seeing them for almost 4 months, and I cannot imagine having to wait any longer, I need them. So for four months with me telling myself that I am fine on my own and that I don't need anyone, I realize that I do need them. I love my parents, they have given me more than I deserve and have supported me throughout everything. I am lucky. Beyond measure and beyond words. So now the countdown continues....5 days.

The Third Scottish Round

My third time being in Edinburgh in the last three years...crazy right? How blessed am I? To have such luck and adventures that have forever altered my life and my person...I am lucky. No doubt about that. And it's funny....cause now that it's all coming to an end, I miss home more than ever. Which is funny. Homesickness at the very end. Typical me. Always have to be different...goodness. I can't wait to see my parents, my friends, to hug people, to sweat in the Kentucky heat, to work at Six Flags and be the greatest HR rep ever, to walk onto the campus of Georgetown College for my senior (gah!) year, and to be myself in everything that I do. I know that despite being unlucky at some things in life, at other I am blessed beyond measure. My life is still open for interpretation, and I'm waiting for the clarity that will show me my way. However, for the rest of the 8, count 'em 8 (!!!!!) days remaining, I will live it up as best I can.

Things I will miss:
-walking to school
-the British sunshine
-a cuppa
-British accents
-the Farmer's Market
-friends from New York, Michigan, North Carolina, California, New Jersey, Nebraska, South Carolina to name a few...
-waking up every morning and knowing that I am IN England
-being able to drop everything and travel wherever I want
-pubs, places where I can be myself and just hang out with friends, all chill like
-trains, and the tube as well
-the history, Kentucky is soooo young compared to where I have been living
-walking EVERYWHERE, yes, I have murdered my feet something awful...but it's good exercise
-the shops
-just smiling from the inside out, because I have done and completed one of my main goals in life

"The Hills Are Alive....With The Sound Of Music!"

Ok, well maybe not literally, but they were definitely music to my ears! Salzburg, Austria is soooo incredibly beautiful it is hard to me to describe it. I will say this, it is historic, eventful, lively, and HOT! Literally. A whooping 26 degrees, also known as 85 degrees (I think...) I was burnt out on such weather, even though Kentucky weather is much similar. Being in London for so long has most likely turned off my ability to live in such heat, so it should be interesting when I finally do arrive stateside in Kentucky, t-minus a little over 4 weeks and counting. Anyways, we did tonssss of stuff in Salzburg, we saw ALL the sights and took in ALL of the scenery. I even gained the courage to face my fear of heights and take a cable car to the top of a mountain that overlooked the Salzburg city centre! Crazy I know! Haha! But other than that, Salzburg, and Austria in general was more than I expected, but in every way a great one! I had an absolute blast and would do it again if I could, but next time, cooler clothes! In about 36 hours I will be heading to Edinburgh once more, I swear I have fallen in love with that city, it is truly amazing and I adore every piece of it. Although only for two days, it will be lovely to be back in the city that took my breath away from the very beginning...After that though, I have to knuckle down, save the rest of my money (which isn't a lot) and study for my two finals that take place on June 3rd and 4th, and then after that, one day of waiting and then I will be headed to Florence to meet my parents and travel another 2 or so weeks with them! It will be total and complete bliss! Plus, they will get to pay, so I won't have to worry about money anymore, thank goodness, haha. 13 days. 13 days until I get to see my Father and my Mother after being away for FOUR months! It's still hard for me to believe how fast the time has flown, but also how much I've grown and matured and learned from this place and these people. I'm not good at goodbyes...so maybe I should stop now while I'm ahead....

Counting down...

Catching up with my life in numbers:

1 day= my trip to Austria!
6 days= my trip to Scotland!
2 weeks and 4 days= time left before I meet my parents in Florence!

I still am in shock about how fast the time has gone by.....I am going to miss my life here immensely....this experience has changed me.....COMPLETELY, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

The Luck Of The Irish

Ireland was more than I ever could have imagined! Although it rained quite frequently, which I have to admit, I didn't quite care for, it was lovely all around. Galway is a tiny, tiny town, and it was so quaint and lovely that I enjoyed it, even with all of the rain and wind. Dublin is a bit bigger, but still easily walkable (I've learned to walk everywhere!). We saw sooooo many things it's insane! All of the major sights of Dublin: Dublin Castle, Christ Church Cathedral, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Kilmainham Gaol, Trinity College, The Book of Kells, St. Stephen's Green....etc! We even managed to take in a screening of Angels & Demons while there, and I LOVED it!!!!! Everyone must go out and see it, and then if you haven't, read the book...well shoot, even if you have read the book, read it again! The five days and four nights that I spent in Ireland is a time that I will never forget. The people, the small pubs, where everyone talks to you, and laughs in amazement when they hear that I'm from Kentucky, it's funny, endearing, comical, and all around enjoyable, because they tell you the secrets of their fair city. One day I will have to go back to Ireland, to see more of it, to sit and watch the world go by....

In one of the smaller pubs we sat in, there was a band playing, and they played one of my Bluegrass favorites! (And trust me, I don't have many)

"I'll fly away, Oh Glory, I'll fly away. When I die, Hallelujah, by and by, I'll fly away..."