Thursday, April 30, 2009

So it has been way too long since my last blog post - how awful! I promise to be better once I'm actually in France, which is soon! This week marks the end of the spring semester here at UF, and lots and lots of work being done. The grad TA office has been alternately very busy with all desks occupied and almost completely empty once people finish their projects. No matter - I'm off on Saturday for France!

In the past month, our study abroad group has met twice more to discuss our schedule (which days we'll be in which cities, when and where classes will be held) and other particulars about the trip. Increasingly I'm worried about the terribly small bit of French that I speak, but I've been assured by a few folks that making an effort to speak breeds friendly replies to return conversation in English. I've got my Berlitz book and some language CDs to study on the plane flight over, so hopefully I'll have an opportunity to learn just a little bit more to help myself out!

So, as my departure date nears, I realize how many things have to get done in such a short space of time! Grades to enter and work to finish up here at school, and laundry, packing and chores to do at home - yikes! Saturday I leave from the Jacksonville airport and head to London for a couple of days. I was able to book my flight on United using frequent flier miles, but I wasn't able to get all the way to France. No matter - a stop in London before and after the official trip is a welcome opportunity to visit dear friends! On my way to Paris, I will be visiting a friend from college and her fiance at their lovely flat in Wandsworth/Wimbledon for two nights. Then on Tuesday morning, I'll be meeting up with one of my fellow study abroad participants to take the train to Paris together! When it's time to return home again, I'll stop in London once more for a few days to stay with our dear family friends the Collinses who live in Fulham.

If I were a good blogger, I'd figure out how to post our travel schedule for the trip with my blog. However, given all the small things that absolutely have to get done in the next days, I'll settle for posting the link to our program website so that you can peruse the schedule on your own if you wish!

My plan is to blog every few days while traveling, but there is no guarantee as I'm told that free wireless access isn't as prevalent in Europe as it is in the U.S. Plus I'll be doing lots of studying, you know.....