Today is the day, and to be honest, it’s a little bit stressful! I leave today on a midnight bus for Berlin, all alone. I’m being a little dramatic – I’m alone for about half a day, but I haven’t traveled alone since I got to Utrecht, so I’m a little nervous. Mostly about my sense of direction. I absolutely suck with directions. Always have.
But I’m off!! I have to remember to print out all my tickets, pack everything that needs to be packed, finish all my homework today (whoops!), bring my bike up into my apartment because I have to take the lock with me, PAY MY RENT, all this stuff!! And then I leave. I can’t even believe it!!
Tomorrow I arrive in Berlin at 9am, at which point I plan to just wander around all day until my friends are done with their professor (they’re currently there on a class trip). This will be followed by a small amount of partying, and then Saturday is even more sightseeing in Berlin. From there we do Prague, Budapest, Vienna, Munich and Brussels, coming home to Utrecht on April 9 – two and half weeks of backpacking around Eastern Europe! I can’t even believe it, the biggest part of my traveling on this exchange begins now! These are cities I have dreamed of seeing, there are so many things to see and do and I’m really, insanely nervous for some bizarre reason, but at the same time, this is why I came here. No way around it, I came to Europe to do the traveling and the backpacking and this is a once in a lifetime experience that I can’t wait to have.
This exchange is life-changing, and I’m aware of how cheesy that sounds, but it’s absolutely true!
In other news, I registered for my last U of L classes ever! Ever! This summer I will take my last two Education classes, and in the fall – PSIII! I can’t even express how excited and nervous I am to be totally finished with my degrees. Registration was bittersweet, though. I don’t know if I’m ready to be an adult! I come home from this exchange where my only responsibilities are: go to classes that are mostly pretty easy and also don’t miss my buses/planes while traveling. That’s it. And I come home to the last two classes of my degree and an internship that will, in all likelihood, weigh heavily on my future as an educator. It’s pretty daunting, but it’s also really exciting!
Either way, I know that I only have 98 days left of this amazing experience, and I have to make the most of each one.
See you in Eastern Europe!