It's finally time!

8/25/10

Well, I can hardly believe it, but it's finally time for me to leave the US and begin my European adventures. In just a few days, I will be flying to Madrid and beginning my year abroad on a Fulbright scholarship. I've had a lot of time to plan for and think about my upcoming trip, but now that my flight is just a few days away, the nerves are starting to kick in. I'm incredibly excited, of course, but also anxious, particularly about the first few days. Those of you who have talked to me about my trip recently know that I don't have an apartment yet and will be visiting several when I first arrive. Furthermore, anyone who knows me well also knows that I'm definitely a "planner," so going to a foreign country without a place to live is a little difficult for me.

Neverthless, I've done all the planning I can do given the circumstances- I've researched neighborhoods, reviewed metro maps, emailed with a bunch of girls looking for roommates, and set up several appointments to visit apartments during my first few days. Also, I'm lucky enough to be staying with a friend of a friend when I first arrive, while I search for an apartment, so that should be nice.

If all goes according to plan, I will leave Newark on Sunday night (Aug 29) and arrive in Madrid on Monday morning (Aug 30). I have a week to search for an apartment and get settled before my Fulbright orientation starts on September 5th (hopefully I'll be able to move in before then!) As is the case with any new experience, I expect that I will undoubtedly encounter situations that I did not forsee and could not plan for...so I know I will just have to take one day at a time.

Hopefully, I will have internet access once I arrive and you can contact me via email/gchat/facebook etc. Also, find me on skype- as I'm sure I will be using that a lot to communicate internationally (I believe my user name is just my name). I plan to buy a Spanish phone once I arrive, but I will mainly use that for domestic calls.

Anyway, I think that's it for now, and the next time I post I will be in Madrid! Back to packing/ weighing my luggage and trying to avoid overage fees :)