Joining the Travel Blog Bandwagon

In light of several of my friends around the world creating their own blogspot accounts, I've decided to hop on the bandwagon and make one for myself. So for the time being, this account will mostly serve as a means for me to stay up to date with those friends who are lucky enough to already be abroad.

In the meantime, many of you know that I am working at UCSB this summer with Orientation Programs. I absolutely love it, despite long hours and unforeseen obstacles such as blackouts, GOLD being down, losing spots in classes, and the like. However, the amazing staff that I've become really close friends with has been able to work through everything with smiles and laughter, which has hopefully given the freshmen a more positive attitude about their upcoming UCSB experience. I'm also fortunate to be living on DP with 3 of my close friends from freshman year, Fei, Shannon and Taryn. My favorite roommate, however, would have to be Frank the Tank, our adorable and rambunctious pug!

I actually leave for France in about 5 weeks. Our O-Staff banquet is on August 16th, and after that, I have less than a week before I head out. I fly out of LAX on August 21st in the wee hours of the morning, so my parents will essentially move me out of DP on to the plane. I arrive in Paris early on Friday, August 22nd, and have until Sunday evening to get to Lyon for our first meetings. I haven't decided yet, but I will either stay in Paris for the weekend and take the train down to Lyon on Sunday, or I will just go straight to Lyon via the TGV as I arrive at Charles de Gaulle, and spend the days exploring my new host city. Here's a map to show where Lyon is exactly, in relation to Paris, and the journey I'll be making.

I am definitely excited about France, but it has not hit me yet that I will be gone for the entire year, or even that I am leaving the country next month, as I am currently working 40+ hours per week and still have 12 Orientation sessions ahead of me. I also am planning a trip to San Diego next weekend, where I will stay for 1-2 nights, and then fly back up to Sacramento for my brother Andrew's 18th birthday. This will potentially be the last time that I see Sacramento until next June! Yikes!

So keep updating me with your awesome stories and pictures from abroad. I will be joining you guys sooner than I expect!