The Beginning

“What is that feeling when you're driving away from people and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing? - it's the too-huge world vaulting us, and it's good-bye. But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies.”
From On the Road by Jack Kerouac

Blogs are an interesting thing. Have you ever just typed an address in and put .blogspot.com on the end? There are some interesting (and disturbing) things to be found in the blogosphere. Yet as one blogger I found put it - this blog has filled its purpose. I began this to record my amazing adventure living in England for grad school, and that is what I've done. Time has gone by so quickly.

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Homeward Bound

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 All packed and ready to head home

A Swede in Stockholm

“What you see and what you hear depends a great deal on where you are standing. It also depends on what sort of person you are.”
From The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis

As the plane landed in Stockholm,  the weather couldn't have been more different than what I'd left in Amsterdam.  The sun almost blinded me and the blue sky went on as far as I could see. I could only see the trip sailing smoothly.  I couldn't have been more wrong.

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Aerial view of a beautiful city

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Classic Stockholm

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At the Vasa Museum

A New Favorite: Amsterdam

“How happy is the little stone
That rambles in the road alone,
And doesn't care about careers,
And exigencies never fears;
Whose coat of elemental brown
A passing universe put on;
And independent as the sun,
Associates or glows alone,
Fulfilling absolute decree
In casual simplicity.”
― Emily Dickinson

So, I like traveling alone.  Not just a little bit,  but a lot a bit.  I think it feeds two needs: 1) My need to be alone - being an introvert,  by nature I struggle being with people 2) My need to do what I want,  when I want - I'm like a two year old this way. So when I decided to go on a trip at the end of my year in the UK, going on my own was a dream come true. Where to go, and how long to travel were much harder choices to make.  I,  of course,  started with an elaborate plan that spanned four countries,  two weeks and transportation included air, rail, and water.  However,  the price tag was a little steep, so I scaled it back to two cities and nine days.

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Clouds rolling in (or out?) over the canal 

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Ironically the only windmill in Amsterdam was a restaurant!

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Bikes were parked everywhere

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One of the most recognizable bridges in Amsterdam

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Safely arrived in Amsterdam

In a Year

“There is a kind of magicness about going far away and then coming back all changed.”
From New Chronicles of Rebecca by Kate Douglas Wiggin

You don't realize how much happens in a year until you starting examining it. As I wrap up my time in the UK I look back and am amazed at everything that has happened both here and back home.

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This is what our lives have become

being excited for a free backpack that will hold more stuff for the journey homeward

She made me touch the lower-back pad because it was "so soft" - what has become of us? 

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Great time at Shadya's going away party - I'm going to miss this girl!

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Long lunch with my WMG peeps before we all disperse to our own countries

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 For the first time in my life I get to celebrate my birthday at the end of the school year, instead of the beginning! 

I had a great time with my friends on a day trip and then some cake at Anni's, the weather even cooperated!

Oh, and since it's my birthday I'm doing what I want and am having more than one pic - so there.

With the girls at the Broadway Tower

Course I had to get my pic next to this!

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And so the packing begins . . .