As my departure date gets closer and closer things are starting to fall into place. Today I got my apartment assignment. Granted I still don't know my actual address, I do have a chart showing me where (inside the building) my apartment is. Mine is 5F :)

I found out I will have a washer and dryer! I could not be more excited....I know that sounds silly but 11 years of washing with quarters will make someone crazy over a washer and dryer of their very own!

I will also have food in the fridge when I get there, can you believe it! I get 1 carton of milk, 2 bottles of water, 1 box of cereal, 2 apples, 2 oranges, 2 tomatoes and a loaf of bread. Pretty cool! :)

I'm nervous but getting more excited as pieces of my new adventure trickle in. As it becomes more real I begin to miss my friends more and hope that in the chaos of getting settled I get to talk to everyone.

8 Days until take-off!!

I was out of school for a week to attend the graduation and wedding of my oldest friend. Lisa and I used to live a few houses down from each other and met when we were about 5. Many years and memories have past and she is now a doctor in Connecticut. I could not be more proud or happy for all that Lisa has accomplished and was SO happy to get to know her (now) husband and celebrate their wedding. Here are the photos from the photographers website of that wonderful day! :)

Trying to get used to life back in Western, MA :) This is a photo my mom took upon my arrival to show that my silver bullet and I made it safely! The silver bullet is still riding a little low because she is completely stuffed with my stuff (packing compliments of my awesome brother!) But she is now unpacked and dad even cleared a space in the garage for her. She is liking MA so far although has not seen the snow so who knows :)
My next adventure is not so far away!!

Home Sweet Home

I made it! I drove over 3000 miles but made it to the east coast without a scratch (unless you count the multitude of bugs on my front bumper..may they rest in peace)
My last few days were long without a buddy but good.
I drove from MN to Chicago to see my aunt and uncle. Some highlights:
Going out to a delicious meal and eating Walleye!
Going to a cute fondue place and dipping marshmallows in chocolate!
Hanging out with my aunt Kathy and my uncle John.
Seeing the end of the all-star game
Being in the car when my uncle realized he had gotten promoted :)

Next day I drove (what felt like) a million miles from Chicago to Buffalo, NY. Some highlights:
Finding out most of the middle of the country is covered in corn fields
learning I can drive 12 hours with out going completely crazy (not saying I didn't go a little nuts at the end)
Covering 5 states in one day
Successfully making it to NY!
being really glad my Dad, and brother and Mandy and Kim all answered the phone when I really needed them too!

The LAST day of driving!!!!!! I can't belive my last day came....I thought I would drive forever!
Some highlights:
Stopping at Niagara Falls. I had never been before and it was amazing. I'm SO glad I stopped.
Riding the Maid of the Mist
Walking up right next to the falls
making friends with an older couple who were RVing their way across the US and getting my picture taken by them.
Looking at useless souvenirs and realizing I don't want to buy anything! (not usual for me haha)
Not having to exit the highway to stop and get gas or use the restroom.
Getting Starbucks :)
Seeing my exit on the highway!
Making it home :) :) :)

I am surprisingly sore from driving. I didn't know my muscles would be so sore. When you sore from running you run more to get in shape...does this mean I need to drive more to get in shape? Guess I couldn't be one of the many truck drivers I followed across the country.

Well another item checked of the list of "Things I have always wanted to do"
3600 Miles later I'm safe and happily at my parents house :)

(pictures soon...when I can get them loaded!)

Article closer to home

Here is an article posted by the Daily Breeze about Songdo:

http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_15500112?IADID=Search-www.dailybreeze.com-www.dailybreeze.com

ABC news

This was posted on Facebook by another teacher at Chadwick. It is a news piece from ABC News on Songdo....pretty cool:

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/city-future-11132168

Cross Country

I am on part II of my adventure. I am now driving across the country. My big brother (being the saint that he is) flew to California to drive the first part with me. We drove from LA to Grand Junction, CO the first day...that was a long one! I started to go a little batty about 11PM.
Some highlights:
Lunch in Vegas: we ate at the Paris Hotel's restaurant (Fred's recommendation) and watched the water show in front of the Bellagio Hotel.
A traffic jam in Death Valley that put us at a complete stop in the middle of the desert (thank goodness my air conditioning worked!)
Multiple traffic jams from partial road closings in the desert.
Driving up the rocky mountains entering Colorado (pictures on Flickr to follow!

From there we had a short trip to Castle Rock, CO to stay with my cousin Lara and her two little girls.
Some highlights:
They took us to a Rockies game! And, lucky for us, the Rockies won with a grand slam in the 8th inning.
My brother being overwhelmed by little girls in pink and purple dancing all around him to Miley Cyrus playing over and over.
Lexi (5 years old) dropping ice cream on Victoria (7 years old). Victoria looked at Brendon and says "And that is why you don't need little sisters."
Lexi scooping ice cream at the game then trying to dance with it in her hand...Brendon lost track of where the ice cream landed!
Lexi being very over tired and claiming "no one likes me" to which we all broke out in song "Nobody likes me everybody hates me, guess I'll go eat worms" (we laughed..she did not)

The next day we drove all day to arrive at our cousins (from the other side of the family) in Brandon, SD.
Some highlights:
Following a storm just to the left of the car for most of the day and then having it hit us after we got to our cousins house.
Remembering I did not get my suitcase out of the car after it started to thunder and lightning
Blair and Valerie have a 5-month-old little boy named Landry. I got him laughing so hard he sounded like a little squeak toy. It was awesome!
We had time to catch up with them and meeting the newest addition to the family!
Blair made us breakfast the next morning...Pancakes, eggs, bacon, and sausage as well as coffee and juice. It was delicious!
We got some much needed exercise in hot muggy weather.

From there we took the short drive to MN to my grandma's house.
Highlights so far:
There was a great rainstorm just as we entered the twin cities and we almost couldn't see the car in front of us.
My Aunt and uncle and my two cousins came over for dinner.
Caleb saying a prayer in my honor to send me safely to Korea.
My grandma making a delicious meal (As always)
Running along the lake this morning
Meeting with Jill (a friend met on my trip to Tanzania) where I went to one Caribou Coffee and she the other...only to end up at the one we always go to.
Laughing and telling stories with my auntie Barb
Sharing the book Marla made me from all the kids at Chadwick with all my family.

Unfortunately today I had to take my brother to the airport (some people work over the summer) and will have to continue tomorrow on my own (oh dear!)

From here I head to just outside Chicago to visit my uncle John and Aunt Kathy. The next morning I drive 10 hours to Buffalo, NY. I will get up early the next morning to visit Niagara Falls for the first time, then drive home.

Hopeful highlights:
Seeing my aunt and uncle
Seeing parts of the country I have never seen
Driving through 5 states in one day (Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York)
Seeing Niagara Falls
Getting home and not having to drive anymore!!! (until I go to Boston for a Sox game woo hoo!)
Having Mandy visit for the weekend!

Adventure 1: BVI

To start my adventures I moved out (yes I no longer live in California...sad I know!) and went on the most amazing trip through the British Virgin Islands with 5 wonderful people. The trip was incredible and I'm so glad that I started this crazy (and stressful) adventure with such a fun and relaxing trip. We did everything! I swam, jumped off the boat (many times), kayaked, snorkeled, and even learned to sail!
We were on a 40ft catamaran for about 9 days. We would wake up, eat breakfast together (as seen here) sail to an island, play all day (swim, kayak, snorkel...whatever) have snacks and drinks, shower, eat dinner, and then wind down by chatting or reading. It was the best non-scheduled, schedule ever! I would go back to BVI (or on another trip) with these guys in a heart beat. I miss them all so much!