Pre-Departure

It's past 2:00 AM the night before I leave for my 2-month stay in Europe. Naturally I am still awake at this hour, but I'm experiencing a different feeling than my usual late-night boredom and probable craving for a diet coke and something salty. It feels weird that I have all my stuff (almost) packed. I have been waiting for this trip for so long that I've almost convinced myself I'm not going. It was always the trip I would take sometime in the distant future - a day that seemed to be slowly approaching, but that I would never actually reach. Now that it's here, I won't let myself accept that I'm leaving. I said goodbye to Sarah for 6 months since she is studying in Italy for fall semester, but it still feels like I'll see her tomorrow. What's odd on top of that is the fact that I am a little nervous to leave. Those of you who know me know how painstaking it is for me to spend more than a week at home - not because I don't love my parents or because Akron totally sucks (it's not the most exciting place in the world, but I do love its quirks and some fraction of the familiarity I have here). It's because I have grown to be a very independent individual and have developed a hunger for experiences Akron can no longer offer me. So I find it odd that I am nervous about leaving....yet on the other hand I suppose it's natural. Maybe I am nervous because I subconsciously think that something this good could never happen to me, and if it did, it would inevitable that something bad would happen. Really? A successful two-month trip to Europe combining both a prolonged stay in one location and exciting, day-by-day travel? That's the kind of thing other people do...not me. At least not until now. I want - I NEED this trip. People tell me I am meant for this (love you Ari) and I believe it. I thrive in environments of spontaneity, adventure and...cultural enrichment, if you will. I have spent too long sitting in the Midwest attempting to live vicariously through my friends who spend months in Israel, or Argentina, or Australia, or... [insert other amazing location here].

Time to try to finish packing again...probably won't happen until 5 minutes before I have to leave though.

Tot ziens U.S. of A., and to the rest of you - goedenavond.....see you in Europe. :)