Here We Goooo

I don't think I ever thought this day would come, to be honest.  Yeah, I applied to go abroad, did all the paperwork, got my visa and talked about leaving uncountable times with probably everyone I've met in the past 4 months, but actually leaving? That part isn't real. I think I have every single emotion right now and the one I feel changes every five minutes.  Nervousness? Check. Excitement? Check. Curiosity? Check. I have that weird first day of school feeling, but with the added emotion of knowing I am about to board a plane and go to a foreign country.  Somehow, I'm not as nervous as I thought I would be at this time (11:48 PM on January 19, 2012, 20 hours until take-off) but the anxiety is definitely there.  So, here I am with two full suitcases, ready to leave tomorrow.

This song has been playing on repeat for the past few days on my (brand new!!) iPhone:

As corny as it sounds, this song kind of represents what I hope to gain from going abroad.  To me, this song is about moving on from what is troublesome, finding bigger and better things, and letting yourself be happy.  Not to say I haven't had happy and fun times in my life, but I'm hoping my time in Granada will be the happiest so far. Plus, this song is all kinds of great and makes me want to jump up and down and dance (not that I am a good dancer. I am not. But I like to jump around and look like a fool.)!

I have to say, I would be way more nervous about going to Granada if the awesome and great Jackie had not helped me prepare! Jackie did the same program as I am doing last spring and told me everything I wanted to know.  She even drew me this map:

I can assure everybody that I will be carrying this map around with me for awhile, as it points out where the most important thing is: food! I'm excited to eat Spanish food, although I am not usually that adventurous when it comes to strange and new foods.  I'm going to try to be, though!   Just keep me away from those dang kiwis, or we might have an issue involving my epi-pen and a Spanish hospital.

So, I guess that's it.  The next time I write on here I will be in Spain! How is this real? I don't think it is. Nope, definitely not real. I am going to sit inside my house forever and ever and watch the snow fall.

...Ok, who am I kidding? I hate snow. Snow sucks. See ya in May, America!

"In the end, I've come to believe in something I call "The Physics of the Quest." A force in nature governed by laws as real as the laws of gravity. The rule of Quest Physics goes something like this: If you're brave enough to leave behind everything familiar and comforting, which can be anything from your house to bitter, old resentments, and set out on a truth-seeking journey, either externally or internally, and if you are truly willing to regard everything that happens to you on that journey as a clue and if you accept everyone you meet along the way as a teacher and if you are prepared, most of all, to face and forgive some very difficult realities about yourself, then the truth will not be withheld from you." -Eat, Pray, Love