It’s 3:01 AM PDT, and there’s roughly 16 hours until my flight takes off to Frankfurt.

From which I go to Barcelona and then Sevilla, an hour layover each time. WHAT RANDOM FLIGHT PATTERN 8U

I feel the need to bring a plush or something with me to take pictures of in various locales. But nothing really means that much to me or is terribly cute.

I COULD ALWAYS BRING MY LAWYER

Well,  if he stops running around that is.

What can I say? I’m excited! I’ve been up and down on this whole going to Spain thing for the past WEEK, worrying about everything, becoming paranoid about being arrested in Europe (srsly JYS no need to scare us into thinking we’re gonna get incarcerated and be helpless when we go abroad I mean yeesh), about my host family/mother, about not fitting in, not finding friends in the 30 or so kids going on the program, not finding friends in Spain, being inept at Spanish even as a native speaker, not having enough money, not being able to travel and explore Europe the way I want to, blah, blah blah, blah blah…

But regardless of all of this, I am alive, I am surviving, and I am going. I can’t believe it. I’M GOING TO EUROPE.

Being the only one awake in my house at this hour, I am listening to music and trying to settle my mind in one spot long enough for me to even want to go to sleep. But this is difficult. Hrm.

Still,  I am sad about missing this semester. The last time George is teaching Neurobiology, the only time that Human Cancer seminar will be offered, classes and opportunities missed because of timing. My 20th birthday will be in Spain, the end of my teenage-hood. Time that could be spent with elder Senior friends who will be gone soon. Grargh…

I WISH I COULD SPLIT IN TWO AND STILL BE AT AMHERST D:

Wait!

That gives me an idea! HOLD ON NOW

Yea okay so I’m just having way too much fun with this IF YOU HAVE A WEBCAM YOU CAN DO IT TOO

GIF Maker

Usually it has a ton of traffic and goes down, but IF IT’S UP THEN IT’S BRILLIANT 8D

Anyways, back to seriousness. I actually had a ton of things I wanted to ramble about, but I’ll spoil too much of my trip if I start now.

I’ve gone through the pre-departure packets with a fine tooth combed, used the outdated materials on their website to determine things on my own,  such as the classes I will pre-register for (doesn’t even happen until we get there, which is IRRITATING), what to do in case of blahblahblah… I’ve spent too much time trying to focus and psych myself out for this that I’ve neglected a bunch of other things.

But, I will focus this first pre-departure post with the following message:

In going abroad, I am not going to expect to return and be a completely different person. I shall not anticipate an epiphany, I shall not hope for my eyes to be opened to the world. I want to experience something different, something new, a change of pace even if I am still not completely comfortable in my current place.

The world keeps turning, so I’m just going to have to roll with it.

That said, for the average Amherst student, I will live six hours ahead of your time. I should arrive at the airport in Seville at 10 PM CEST, being 4 PM EDT for you folk. No guarantee of internet at my homestay, which I’ll need to access VPN.
The first few days I’ll probably be hard at work finishing my Bio Poster, which will lead to a post about my Research and where I got to here. Orientation keeps me busy in the evening for four hours, but I promise, I’ll be sociable because I SHOULD NOT HAVE SCREWED MYSELF WITH THIS ARGH D:<

I’ve got until the 9th anyway, so I have six days to complete my work. HERE’S A HOPING.

As orientation kicks up, I’ll be posting with detail and pictures as to the events.

Classes begin at the end of September, orientation for the Uni being September 26th, a Friday.

I’ve got many hours until my flight. I’ll be awake and online tomorrow until probably around 3 PM PDT.

I wish you all the best, and take care.
For some of you, and you know who you are, I already miss you.

Sweet dreams, Amherst. Have fun with your first day of classes!

(p.s. Title is from a song that I just cannot get out of my head lately)

(p.p.s. )