Airports...Love em' Hate em'

I know people probably think I'm weird- but I absolutely love airports. Despite the lines, crazy security measures, and more than a few people that are just pissed off- there is something that is exciting for me. All these people either coming or going. The excitement of the people going on vacation is palpable, or just people who can't wait to see their loved ones. Whenever I walk through a concourse, I look at all the gates to see where the flight is going- Kansas City, LA, New York, Phoenix...endless possibilities. I've always wanted to just get to the airport and look up at the departure board and just pick somewhere, anywhere to go, buy a ticket and get on a plane. Especially when I land at home, I'm usually desperate to travel somewhere else.

I'm at Midway Airport in Chicago while I write this, and while I walked to the security checkpoint I was reminded of the opening scene of Love Actually, how it is so nice at the arrivals gate of Heathrow to see all the families reunited again, and the anger they might have been feeling towards each other is gone and they are just happy to be together. Midway doesn't really have that dramatic of an "Arrivals Gate" but there are family saying goodbye and hello right by the security and it's so nice to see that much love- and even makes me excited to go home and know that my family will be at the last door by the baggage claim, like they always are when I fly home from chicago. It's a comfort thing I guess.

Spending the long weekend in Michigan with Abbie was so much fun. We hung out on her boat and saw Eclipse together. we didn't do anything too exciting, but we just enjoy spending time together and we always have a good time. It was also nice to hear about her summer in Rome and all the exciting adventures she went on. It's EXACTLY 1 month until I leave for Rome. And hearing about how it was there was both nerve-wracking and really exciting at the same time. As we were driving from Michigan to Chicago I couldn't believe soon enough I won't be going to Midway, but O'Hare and getting on a 9 to 10 hour flight that will put me in one of the most beautiful cities in one of the most beautiful countries in the world....wow.

1 month and counting....

Ciao

Megan

The Time is Coming

I feel like the rest of this summer is going at warped speed- I'm leaving for Ohio, to visit my grandparents, at the end of the week. Then I get to visit one of my best friends in Michigan who has spent the summer in Rome and traveling around Europe. I can't wait to hear about the place that will be my home for the next three and a half months. I am hoping that it makes me even more excited, although I know that it will make me nervous. But isn't that the best part of traveling? The intense fear of being in a place completely exotic and unknown to you?

The next week I am going up north to my friend Andrea's cabin, a weekend of crazy fun on a lake in Brainard. Just 5 girls and a boat. I am so excited to spend some quality time with the best friends I have ever had. It feels like this is the last summer together before we go our separate ways. It's not like the summer after high school, we had the opportunity to spend these last two summers together because we have all come home for the summer instead of staying in the cities in which we go to school. But if everything works out, I hope to stay in Chicago this coming summer and work there and hopefully get some psychological research experience at my university. But anyways, if everything goes according to plan, we won't be together like this again. Of course we will still be friends, but we won't spend at least a few nights a week together; like going to the club, to movies, or hanging out in Liz's hot tub.

However, we are all moving forward, we are becoming adults. And the most important experience, I believe, that I need to have is live in Rome for a semester. Rome has always had a special place in my heart. Despite my external Norwegian features, I am an Italian at heart. I live off pasta, I have been singing "That's Amore" and "Pepino the Italian Mouse" since I was a child, and Roman Holiday is my all time favorite movie. Yes a few of these things might be "Italian American" but it's my heritage. My grandpa would be proud that I associate so much to my Italian heritage rather than my Irish, Czech, German, or even Norwegian. So to spend such an extended period of time in Roma is the greatest gift that I have ever been given.

I'm coming up a month until I get on my flight. There is so much to do until then. And I hope to keep you better updated from now on.

Until then,

Ciao,

Megan