Eight Month Itch

I’ve decided that eight months is the longest I can stay happily in one place before I have to make a change. I became really homesick for the U.S. after living about eight months in China, and now, eight months after being in the U.S., I have already planned a trip to Europe. I’ve only been to a few places in Europe—England, France, Greece—and it just seemed like the right time to take a month to explore a little more of Europe.

It’s sad to say this, but after living in China, taking a trip to Europe almost seems mundane. Everyone goes to Europe, which is why I must go. Everyone goes to Europe for a reason, and I am really excited to experience all of the cliché’s, (Irish pubs, Belgian chocolates, liberal Amsterdam, German beer, flirtatious Italians), to see all of the history and culture (medieval Belgian towns, the Berlin wall, Buchenwald, Trinity College, Venice, Romeo and Juliet’s Verona, Florence’s Duomo, etc.), and to discover the unexpected (to be announced). I think it will be anything but mundane.


I will be going on this trip with a couple friends—Caitlin, whom I just recently met while working in the U.S., and my best friend, Lindsey, who has traveled with me so many times. The only thing set about our trip right now is the date and the starting and ending point. Caitlin and I have round trip tickets to and from Dublin May 4-27th. Lindsey will join us a week into the trip. Our rough outline includes Ireland (Dublin), Belgium (Brussels), The Netherlands (Amsterdam), Germany (Berlin, Hamburg, Munich), Italy (Venice, Florence), and possibly Southern France (Nice) and Barcelona. It’s an ambitious plan that probably needs editing. We plan on starting a blog soon with more details and fun stories, so stay tuned for a link!