Ticket to Ride

It's Official.

I bought my ticket to France Tuesday morning. The whole trip has seemed like one big maybe up until this moment. Now I'm committed to going--in just two weeks.

Next step, packing my bags.

My plane leaves on June 14th; I'll return on August 1st, with just enough time to get myself ready for my very last year at GVSU.  Everything seems like a whirlwind, and I'm hitting that point where I'm wondering where the hell the last few years of my life have gone. The final stretch has begun.

This trip to France has offered me the wonderful opportunity to work toward a distinction in writing, which I was told about this last fall. I was told that most people start it in their sophomore year at Grand Valley, but as it would be, I'd already worked my way through half of it.

I told myself when I came to Grand Valley to study writing that I would do as many writing related activities as I felt I could handle.  That was the whole purpose of coming to GVSU--writing.

I've had my ups and downs over the last three years, but I'm hoping this trip proves to be a productive one.

The writing across cultures aspect of the distinction in writing interested me greatly especially after having spent five months in Ireland at the end of my senior year of high school. I knew I wanted to go abroad, but none of the study abroad programs appealed to me.

Well, all the distinction says  under study abroad is that you have to keep a journal/blog about what you've learned and where you've traveled. Any credits I'd earn on a study abroad trip would be empty credits--they wouldn't be going toward anything except the distinction and just be free electives.

I was told I could just go for six weeks and keep my blog--make it about writing.  So that's what I'm doing.

I've been offered room and board through a Rotary connection my dad made while in France for a wine festival in March (To learn more about what Rotary is and the wonderful work they do, please visit www.rotary.org). In exchange, I'll help out a few days a week with the villa's (on a vineyard!) the couple rents to tourists.   It's a fantastic opportunity, and I'm extremely grateful and excited to have it.

I've added a donation button to my blog if you would like to help me recoup some of the cost of my trip (as I'd like to still be able to buy books come the beginning of Fall semester. You know the whole poor college student shtick).  Immense gratitude would be sent to anyone who gives me just $1 (I don't expect you to go broke either) and sends this along to other people.

Here's to an awesome summer!