One Down, One to Go

My first semester abroad is officially over, and my second one is off to a good start (not including the initial stress). At first it felt a bit bittersweet to be studying abroad all year. I was excited to travel, but I missed Hendrix and all of my friends. Now most of my friends are studying abroad so I am not really missing out on much anyway.

It was an adjustment living on my own without a roommate in a foreign country. I had to go through putting in all the effort that new friends require, as well as adjust to a few differences. It is really the small stuff, the stuff that I didn't even think about that require the most adjustment. The "@" is on a different place on the keyboard, the ketchup has more vinegar in it, and its difficult to find a decent tasting canned soup. I still am not a fan of grocery shopping without a car, but you just learn to make more frequent, smaller trips. 

I've also learned that making a packing list before a big trip is a very smart idea. That way you don't forget important things like converters. It also might make you think twice about what you really need to bring. For example, I did not need two big coats or more than two pairs of jeans. 

When I think about it the first semester had its ups and downs, but hopefully that will make this semester easier. If not then I will just catch a coach to London and bug Elizabeth.

Now that the first semester is over, its time to plan my trips for this coming semester. In May my dad is coming up and we are going to rent a car and travel around Ireland for two weeks, and then I am going to backpack with my mom, my friend Ally, and her mom through Italy. Finally I will end the year abroad in Spain with Ally and head back to Alabama at the end of June. I have all these great plans and now I just have to figure out what to do during the semester. I have the perfect travelling schedule because I only have class on Wednesday and Thursday (Children's Literature, Sociological Theory, and Popular Culture). Five days to travel a week and then I also have Reading Week and Easter Break and two weeks before I join my dad in Ireland. 

I meant to spend the last two weeks planning but oh well. I guess we will just see what happens.