Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Saturday, May 2, 2009
PICTURES!
Here is a link to about a third of the pictures I took :) :
http://picasaweb.google.com/swirlytoez/PICASAEUROPE?authkey=Gv1sRgCOeeq6eCyPbW8gE&feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/swirlytoez/PICASAEUROPE?authkey=Gv1sRgCOeeq6eCyPbW8gE&feat=directlink
Thursday, April 2, 2009
I LEAVE TOMORROW!
I leave on my plan for Europe in about 18 hours. SCARY! Mel and I both took the day off work today to dedicate it to packing. Mel didn't seem to have too much trouble packing her stuff, but me on the other hand had a VERY frustrating time. I am the type of person who packs 13 pairs of undies and socks for a 2 days trip to Rocklin. (ridiculous). Mel had to help me pack my jackets because I wanted to bring about 7 different jackets/sweaters but well they filed up my entire suitcase. Mel talked my down to 4. :)
It is a very big deal for me to be able to have this experience, so I want to say thank you to everyone who has supported me financially, through prayer, by giving words of encouragement and advise, and also to those ho have loaned Mel and I things to bring with us to Europe.
The following are a couple optional excursions that Mel and i decided to sign up for (we had to give advanced notice sot he tour director could make reservations):
1. Theater Night in London. Les Miserables on Monday night in a London theater
2. Curry Night in London. Aunthentic Anglo-Indian feast in London's East End. (Indian food is very popular in London)
3. Paris by Night. French meal in the Latin Quarter (including frogs' legs, snails, "normal food", and wine), Seine River cruise, and a trip to the Eiffel Tower.
Not sure if I will actually eat any frog legs or escargot at dinner, but you never know. I would rather not say no until I am there in the moment. Trying to keep an open mind so I can experience their culture best. Mel on the other hand said she will defiantly not eat any frogs or snails. Can't really blame her.
I have to be at SFO at 9am. Our flight is scheduled to depart at 12:21pm. We will arrive at 7am London time, which is about 11pm here. (well where I live, depending on who is reading this). I'll be back on Monday, April 13th at 7pm.
It is a very big deal for me to be able to have this experience, so I want to say thank you to everyone who has supported me financially, through prayer, by giving words of encouragement and advise, and also to those ho have loaned Mel and I things to bring with us to Europe.
The following are a couple optional excursions that Mel and i decided to sign up for (we had to give advanced notice sot he tour director could make reservations):
1. Theater Night in London. Les Miserables on Monday night in a London theater
2. Curry Night in London. Aunthentic Anglo-Indian feast in London's East End. (Indian food is very popular in London)
3. Paris by Night. French meal in the Latin Quarter (including frogs' legs, snails, "normal food", and wine), Seine River cruise, and a trip to the Eiffel Tower.
Not sure if I will actually eat any frog legs or escargot at dinner, but you never know. I would rather not say no until I am there in the moment. Trying to keep an open mind so I can experience their culture best. Mel on the other hand said she will defiantly not eat any frogs or snails. Can't really blame her.
I have to be at SFO at 9am. Our flight is scheduled to depart at 12:21pm. We will arrive at 7am London time, which is about 11pm here. (well where I live, depending on who is reading this). I'll be back on Monday, April 13th at 7pm.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
5 days!
Last Monday Mel and I went to a dinner meeting with the rest of our travel group to Europe. (Well about 6 or 7 people of the 22 couldn't make it.) It was fun to have a chance to meet them all before we depart. I can already tell that some of them I will get along with really well, and others, not so much, which is completely fine.
Mel and I bought a couple travel books for London and Paris and have been doing some research of places we would like to visit that are not part of the tour. This has been a lot of fun for us. Planning for London has been the easy part. Paris has been a different story.
Our flight to London will be 10 hours 34 minutes. We do get served in-flight meals. I looked at the April movie selection and it looks pretty good. Perhaps best of all, there are outlets on the plane. I was worried that there wouldn't be and that my iPod would die and I would have to listen to people snoring and children whining.
Mel and I both have pretty much everything that we need, we just have to get it packed and leave plenty of room for souvenirs on our way back. This past weekend I got to see my mom and sisters, all of my aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins, as well as two of my best friends before Mel and I leave. So that as a wonderful blessing.
Hopefully I will get in a few more update posts before I leave. :)
Mel and I bought a couple travel books for London and Paris and have been doing some research of places we would like to visit that are not part of the tour. This has been a lot of fun for us. Planning for London has been the easy part. Paris has been a different story.
Our flight to London will be 10 hours 34 minutes. We do get served in-flight meals. I looked at the April movie selection and it looks pretty good. Perhaps best of all, there are outlets on the plane. I was worried that there wouldn't be and that my iPod would die and I would have to listen to people snoring and children whining.
Mel and I both have pretty much everything that we need, we just have to get it packed and leave plenty of room for souvenirs on our way back. This past weekend I got to see my mom and sisters, all of my aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins, as well as two of my best friends before Mel and I leave. So that as a wonderful blessing.
Hopefully I will get in a few more update posts before I leave. :)
Saturday, March 21, 2009
almost all ready!
Today, I went to Target and Walmart and got pretty much everything I need for Europe. Tomorrow I just need to make a trip to Radio Shack and hopefully get an extra li-ion battery for my camera. I am really hoping they have the right one it stock. Other than that I am pretty much squared away.....I think, I hope. Only 13 days left!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Meeting my fellow travelers...
This coming Monday, the 23rd, Mr. McElderry has planned for all of my fellow student travelers (or as many as can make it) to all have dinner at a restaurant together so we can all get to know each other. I am very excited about this because besides Mel of course, I have not met anyone else who is going on the trip.
As of today, only 17 days remain. I am constantly thinking about this trip. At random times during the day I get this rush of excitement that really gives me chills. It is still VERY surreal to me that I will soon be in a completely different country on the other side of the world. I truly cannot wait.
As of today, only 17 days remain. I am constantly thinking about this trip. At random times during the day I get this rush of excitement that really gives me chills. It is still VERY surreal to me that I will soon be in a completely different country on the other side of the world. I truly cannot wait.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
22 days...
Only 22 days left before my departure. I spent this last weekend getting a few things I need, and learning a lot too. I am so thankful to all of my family and friends who have been giving me advise. Mel and I have been getting so many tips and ideas for what to do in Europe from many of our co-workers. I think the two best words I would use to describe you I feel at this point is excited and nervous. I feel like my trip is so far away but when I look to the number 22, I realize just how close it is.
I was watching the news last week and there was a story about the new full body scanning machines that were put up in the San Francisco Airport as well as airports in Las Vegas, Miami, Albuquerque, and Salt Lake City. Instead of using the metal detectors, individuals will be screened by body scanning machines that look through clothing for weapons. The scanners will be able to find things that the metal detector may not, such as non-metallic weapons including plastic and liquid explosives. These body scanners are currently up in SFO. The news program said they will be up for the next two weeks as a trial run. Individuals may choose to either use the new body scan or do the old fashion metal detector and pat down. I am not sure if the will still be up when we depart for Europe, but I hope they are. I think it is cool. Mel on the other hand does not like the idea of it.
I was watching the news last week and there was a story about the new full body scanning machines that were put up in the San Francisco Airport as well as airports in Las Vegas, Miami, Albuquerque, and Salt Lake City. Instead of using the metal detectors, individuals will be screened by body scanning machines that look through clothing for weapons. The scanners will be able to find things that the metal detector may not, such as non-metallic weapons including plastic and liquid explosives. These body scanners are currently up in SFO. The news program said they will be up for the next two weeks as a trial run. Individuals may choose to either use the new body scan or do the old fashion metal detector and pat down. I am not sure if the will still be up when we depart for Europe, but I hope they are. I think it is cool. Mel on the other hand does not like the idea of it.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
