International Airport Dulles, Washington DC

So.  I can’t believe that I am going to write a blog.  I always thought they were rather silly, and I really don't know what I’m doing, or what I’m supposed to say.  But someone told me I should, since I’m going to be studying abroad, first in Barcelona, Spain, for one month, and then four more months in Bath, England.  I will be taking classes to get my TEFL (to teach English as a foreign language worldwide) then I will go to England to take English classes.  In England, I'll have an internship at an art museum, but I have no idea what that will entail. 

So here I am, sitting at the airport, waiting for the British Airways people to let us on the plane.  I still cant believe that I’m doing this. It doesn’t seem real, like its happening to another person.  I'm excited, (duh!) but I’m also nervous as hell. I'm gonna be away for five months, which for me, is a freaking long time.  Last summer I went to Costa Rica for a month, as part of a volunteer program. I taught English there, too, which is what gave me the idea to do this whole Spain thing.  I always knew I was gonna study abroad.  My mother did when she was in college, and she went to England too.  I remember when I was looking at colleges in high school, I specifically made sure that I could study abroad.  I had wanted to go somewhere slightly off the beaten path—like Prague or St. Petersburg, or somewhere in Germany—but I caved in the end. I like England.  I like English accents.  I secretly want to live in England when I graduate.  And I’m majoring in English.  It just seemed appropriate to go to England.  And Bath is the place where the 4 minute mile barrier was first broken (fun fact courtesy of Sarah!) which seemed appropriate, as I am a cross country runner. 

Its weird to think that in about 6 or 7 hours, I’ll be across the ocean.  The world does seem rather small, especially when I remember that less than 200 years ago, the journey I’m about to do in a few hours would take about 7 weeks.  There’s perspective for you.