Grab your things, I’ve come to take you home

I have this slight inkling of what you’re going through.
All you want to do is run off the plane–you’ve been cramped in that space for hours (Thank God it was a direct flight)–but you know that the process of returning to your homeland is nothing but “hurry up and wait.”  On the other side of [...]

Melissa only liked them green

In Belgium there are about 4 different types of garbage cans.  After we had to get rid of our backyard chickens due to the looming bird flu, the house actually had to start using the small green-ish garbage bag for compost materials.  It was always rather gross to be around, and worse to be the [...]

Poland, place of rest

I’ve been asked to comment on my travels abroad. So here it is. Sorry for the delay Mr. Parkinson.
First of all, why Poland?
Well, my friend Elizabeth had been suggesting I come visit her in Paris for a number of months. But as the year went on time and money began to dwindle [...]

Vodka anyone?

As it turns out, I’m leaving the country in a week. I didn’t really realize it until…yesterday?
I’m going to Poland for 7 days. The trip looks like this so far:
Meet Liz in Warsaw. After a few days go to Krakow. Fly back to Warsaw. Fly home.
Thats it. Those are [...]

Here’s to you

I knew he was coming. I’d never actually met him. Dan had told me he’d show up at my door while Dan was in Spain for the weekend. Sure enough, in the middle of the week Dave (LargeDave, actually. We call him this because he is quite tall) knocks on the [...]

Food for Less, Twice the Experience

I have discovered a new grocery store, thanks to my friend Tracy.  Although Caputo’s is a good 20 minutes away, it is so worth the drive.  Today I bought 1 1/5 weeks worth of produce for $20.  It was nearly as satisfying as those Aldi trips we used to make in Belgium.  But the store [...]

The Trapeze Swinger

This song–the words you so sweetly sang to me each night–got me through a lot.  Admittedly I was miserable and I knew it.  But there was something about lying there on that foam matress,  curtains tightly closed, curled up in my white duvet, earbuds streaming a constant reminder that somewhere people loved me dearly.  They [...]

“If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaking suspision love actually is all around”

I actually knew the day it was over.  I just fought it until the bitter end, though you’d given up long before I had understood.  I stepped off the plane hoping for you to be there.  But you were not.  And that was it; with that action you’d closed our book.
Remembering that your favorite movie [...]

downing without drowning

Once when we were in Rome and about to climb the many many stairs to the top of the Vatican I had much prefer the idea of napping to stair climbing.  Knowing me all to well, Stephanie asked if I’d like some of her water.  I drank the whole bottle.  Just like that.  It was [...]

Pick me up. I’ve landed.

I’ve been going through the box from the “London Semester” program in the archives. It has been around since 1971 and has allowed 8-25 students a semester abroad focusing on British Culture, visiting sites from famous books, and a research project of their own.
Going though folder after folder reading transcripts, tutorials, and correspondence between [...]