Playing Hide-and-Seek with my Passport

There are exactly two weeks until I depart for the adventure of a lifetime.

I would like to say that everything is very in order, that I have my clothes laid out and in neat little piles just waiting to be put in my suitcase. That all of my carry ons are in order, my journal is in my backpack, my socks clean and passport ready.

The reality of the situation, I still haven't unpacked from moving all my stuff home from college. I recently attempted unpacking my trunk, but realized I did not have enough space in my drawers for all of the t-shirts I'd brought home from school, and instead of returning them to the trunk, I just left them all over the floor and finished watching an episode of The Office.

Everyone keeps asking me "what are you doing now that you have a two month break?" and generally I get puzzled looks when I say not much of anything. It is not generally my style to not have "not much of anything" going on, so it's a bit of a change for me. I haven't been completely wasting my time though, the short list of my activities for the past two months are that I ...

• Refereed basketball games most weeknights.

• Spent a few days in Gatlinburg, TN working with Smoky Mountain Resort Ministries helping with wildfire relief.

• Babysat my baby first-cousin-once-removed (who is now walking).

• Hiked the Little Pinnacle Mountain trail.

• Visited USC because I just couldn't stay away that long.

My lack of packing progress thus far does not reflect on my enthusiasm about this upcoming adventure. I have been waiting to do this for 16 years, and it is finally here. I am very excited, but I know it is not really going to hit me until I am on the plane in the Charlotte International Airport leaving my family, friends, and English behind.

Spanish Math and Science

When I was a kid, my parents put me (and both of my siblings) in a Spanish Immersion program at Blythe Academy of Languages. The program was relatively new at the time, but has since grown to also include a French Immersion program as well. From the time I was in Kindergarten, all of my math and science was taught in Spanish, truly immersing us in the language. It was a sink-or-swim mentality - we said the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish, did our homework in Spanish, and even had Spanish textbooks. At the time I found it to be just an inconvenience, as my parents weren't always able to help me with homework (this was before online translators, we only had paper Spanish-English Dictionaries), but now I consider it one of the greatest experiences I've ever had. Major s/o to Blythe for starting it all.

I tell my Dad that it's his fault that I've always wanted to go abroad. "What did you expect? You put me in a language school with teachers from all over the world. You knew I'd be curious." I'll tell him. He was hesitant at first (as most fathers are), but he knew I had the desire for more than ordinary like my Nana (Dad's mom) did. He has come to be very excited for me, and is even planning on coming to visit later in the semester with my mom, brother and aunt.

Before we can start getting them ready for their trip, we've got to finish getting me ready to go on mine. I've been playing an nonconsensual game of hide-and-seek with my passport for the past few days, and it is winning. I'm 90%, no, 65% sure it is in my house, so I'm banking on it showing back up in the next few days. If anyone runs across it, it's in a red passport holder with my business card in it.

My Desired Check Marks

I spent my last summer working as a missionary in the Great Smoky Mountains. While I was there, our group of nine had a "to do" list for the summer of activities that we wanted to complete, as well as goals we wanted to accomplish personally. Considering I accomplished 80% of my goals and 95% of our to do list, this whole "goal setting" thing that I learned about in 6th grade is really starting to pay off.

I've started to pull together the list for my semester abroad. Of course, when I arrive they are bound to change, but editing is always easier than writing fresh. I'll keep it updated how I'm doing.

Goals

• Learn how to cook one Spanish meal I can bring back to the States

• Read one book a month (New Years Resolution)

• Blog once a week (this may be a stretch, possibly every other week)

Spain Activity Wishlist

• Hike a part of El Camino

• Learn to Flamenco dance

• Attend a fútbol game

Europe Travel Passport

• Italy

• Switzerland

• Germany

• Prague, Czech Republic

• Paris, France

• Portugal

Now that we're at the two week deadline, things are coming fast. There's a lot to do before I step on the plane in Charlotte, but having this blog set up is a step in the right direction.

Stay tuned for more fascinating updates, such as what cookie flavor will be the chosen snack on the plane? Will Madeline meet her goal of finishing her book for January (I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai)? How far into "The Office" will Madeline get before she leaves for Europe? and much more.