Final Days - USA

Volleyball...Roger Style! :)

All of a sudden, what I started planning for last September, is just hours away!!! I leave tomorrow at 11:30, and I can not believe how fast it has come! Last weekend I had my family's annual "Family Weekend" at my house. This involves 30 people or more from my close-nit family spending the weekend at my house doing anything from volleyball, to launching fruit from my brother's school project catapult 200 feet!!! While I had a blast, it also made me realize how much I was going to miss these people. Since then I have turned 16, said goodbye to over 50 other people, and had a going away party. Its like I have almost become numb to what these goodbyes actually mean so I have been able to get through with only crying once, when I said goodbye to my best friend Laura. She was suppose to come to the airport with me, but a week ago realized she would be gone on family vacation all this week. While we managed to hang out until the very last minute, the final goodbye was definitely not fun.


Packing...The scariest thing about an exchange ;). For the past week I have been laying my clothes, toiletries, miscellaneous items and more, out on my bed, figuring out what I wanted to bring. I must say it is a daunting task, looking at a tiny suitcase, and backpack, and trying to stuff everything you want/need for a year!!! What on earth do you bring?!?! In the end I think I have finally narrowed it down, and am left with just a few simple things left to shove in the already over flowing suitcase....Here are a few picks from the process to give you an idea of my confusion ;)

The carry-on supplies 

The suitcase...

Months ago, I planned a final campfire to spend time with my four closest friends, and my family. Simply a last time to relax and enjoy a nice night in Vermont before I go. I am so happy I decided to do this, and I must say the weather today is perfect! Until I realize that afterwards I have to say goodbye to them all....maybe some things are better put off until the last second.....

For my birthday my father gave me a sign which reads, "Shes not where she has been, She's not where she is going, but she is on her way." It was scary how accurate this describes my life right now, and how good it made me feel about what I am doing, knowing I have my parents full support behind me. :) With that I board a plane tomorrow, and start the greatest adventure of my life!! It is hard to believe in just three days I will have been in Switzerland for over 12 hours!! Who know what the future will bring, but for now armed with my two favorite quotes, I am ready. 

"Its not good, it's not bad, its just Different."

"If life was easy, where would all the adventures be?"