Bye Bye Miss American Pie

Since I'm flying across the ocean, it only makes sense that I learn every possible thing about planes possible just in case of an emergency, right?

Not exactly. But every year my Dad runs the Aviation Merit Badge for the Boy Scout Merit Badge College, so I am spending my last day in America showing young Scouts how to fly FPG-19's. Don't you worry, if anything is to happen on that plane, I understand the basics of avionics so we're in good hands.

My flight will leave this Sunday afternoon (1/29) from Charlotte, with an hour or so layover in Philadelphia before heading to Madrid. It is an overnight flight, so I'll arrive alive-awake-alert-enthusiastic to Madrid at 8 a.m. on Monday.

Most people who are studying abroad are already abroad, which putting me on the late train (shocker). Needless to say I'm very excited to get there. Packing is happening, and when I weighed my suitcase last night it fluctuated between 43 and 69 lbs - it's clear that we have a really reliable scale.

I've learned when going abroad thats the only thing that people really want to talk to you about, cause it's semi out of the ordinary. So for those I don't see in person very often,

here are the top 5 questions I am asked on a regular basis

1. What are you still doing here?

My program dates are January 30 - April 30. From there I'll be traveling around Europe until the end of May.

2. What kinds of classes will you be taking?

Excellent question! I put in my request for the classes I would like to take last October, but my final schedule will not be confirmed until I arrive. The classes will fill my remaining "Carolina Core" requirements, but hopefully along the lines of are International Marketing, Intercultural Management, Religion in Europe, etc.

3. Where are you living?

I am living with a host family in a lovely house in downtown Sevilla. There will be another American student from North Carolina living in the same house, and we both get our own room. I have seen pictures and read the description about 200 times. I'll be about 10 mins from the heart of the city, and 30 mins from school. Priorities.

4. How can we communicate with you while you're gone?

You can't.

I kid of course. I will get a new phone number when I arrive in Spain, so if you have an IPhone, we are set and can IMessage pretty normally! Of course my parents and brother all are Android people, so if you are in the same boat as them;

• WhatsApp is a great little app where I will have my regular phone number, and you can text and call

• Facebook Messenger is also an option

• A good o'l fashion email is delightful as well

• If you would like to send me letters (or goodies) message me through one of these means and I'll send ya the old snail mail address

5. Send me pictures! (?)

Let me introduce you to my blog page :) Here I will be updating with pictures and writing all of my deepest thoughts and feelings so get ready cause this is gonna be good. Tell your friends.

Hope that gives you some insight to my whereabouts the next few weeks.

**Also, a little shout out to my best friend Ashley for turning 21 last Thursday, it was a lovely celebration and a great last hoorah before leaving the country.**

My prayer for the next few hours is for peace. Travels are always a time where stress runs high, but I am giving over that stress to Christ. My meditation verse is John 14:27,

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

Peace and blessings friends, I'll reconnect when I reach the other side of the pond.