HOLA.

Let me start off with recognizing all the men and women out there who have been foreign exchange students. I will forever admire your courage and willpower.

I realized today that this was the first time that I've been in a foreign country (in which I didn't speak the same language) by myself. Katie had class today, so I went out exploring on my own and every second I got nervous because I was afraid someone was going to talk to me.

Example one: I hadn't even left the house yet and I was straightening my hair in the bathroom when someone knocked on the door. I opened it to a flood of Spanish, so I just moved out of the way, because I think somewhere between the pointing and flailing of arms, I figured out she needed something in one of the cabinets.

I also realized today that having a good sense of direction is REALLY beneficial. Katie showed me a map of Madrid and the metro, and without being able to read signs or talk to anyone, I got myself through the metro system and to a plaza and walked around without ever getting lost.

Most interesting thing I saw today: fat spiderman. Apparently he's pretty famous and on a "Top things to see in Madrid" list. It's pretty self explanatory, but see picture below:

Besides being charmed by this superhero, Katie and I walked through the oldest plaza in Spain (Plaza Mayor), and some streets of Madrid, and ended with a small dinner party of 5 at a friends apartment. So far it's been relaxing and a great way to start the summer.

I love Europe. I wasn't off the plane 10 minutes before I saw a vending machine with the usual European sodas and small bottles, and I just had to smile. Europe is like a second home in a way. A lot of my biggest life changing memories took place here, and still continue. The smell, the way buildings and shops look, the way people dress, the metro systems, the pigeons, the fountains with people sitting around them. It's good to be back.

Transitions.

Hello everyone!

It has been quite a long time since I last updated. I think I find travel adventures easier to write about than normal life adventures. Although I have been told I should start doing that.

Here's a quick update on my life:

1. I graduated from Taylor University on May 22 with a BA in Media Communication.

2. I leave for Europe tomorrow for 2 1/2 months. Two of those weeks will be spent traveling Spain, Venice, Switzerland, and south France with my best friend Katie. The rest of the time will be spent doing what I did last summer in London with Operation Mobilization.

3. When I am finished with OM, I will be flying back to the states with my friend Hannah who will also be working with OM this summer, and we will hang out in her home state, Minnesota and look for potential jobs in Minneapolis.

this is hannah and me as we try to imitate the stereotype of "graduates in a movie"

Here's how I'm feeling:

Graduating is a strange thing. My thought process has been something like this: "Wait, I don't have to do homework ever again? Am I supposed to feel crazy? Everyone is asking me how I feel during this great transition. What transition? The transition from leaving school on Saturday and leaving the country 3 days later? Or the transition from school to no school? Will that question finally hit me when I don't go back to school in August? Am I supposed to be pondering graduating? I don't have time to think about that. What about my friends? Will I ever see them again? Why didn't I get to say goodbye to everyone at school that I wanted to? Will I ever even speak to them again? I most certainly will never see them again unless by chance. Where do I want to live? Where do I want to work? Should I be thinking about that when I only have 3 days to pack, repack, throw a party, and leave again? Where are my passport and plane tickets again?"

Here's my hope for the future:

The future to me is the time period from May 25 to August 15. I'm extremely excited about what this summer is going to bring. I can't wait to spend time with my best friend tramping around Europe and being free from school and every obligation. I'm hoping this will be a great time to catch up and reconnect with Katie and just soak in our new stage of life.

I'm equally excited to spend the rest of my summer in London and ending with the youth conference in Germany again.

Then, I'm looking forward to a few relaxing days in Minnesota to debrief the summer with Hannah and our good friend from school, Ryan, who also lives there.

Like last summer, I'll keep you updated as frequently as possible, and hope that you will continue to read and keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I embark on a new chapter of my life yet again.