Sunny San Diego

I made it safe to San Diego. It was tough saying goodbye to all my friends, and family. It was tearful, but in a positive way. My dad and Carolyn were a huge help, and it is a good feeling that I have so much support. I'm really greatful that my friends all came to see me and spent time with me on my last day in Lewiston. My luggage was 13 lbs over weight...haha! So I paid the $25 fee....I'll try to repack in Sacramento, but paying $75 total to get my luggage to Europe isn't too bad really. San Diego is AWESOME. Duh. It's been 2 years since I've been in So-Cal. I haven't been down here since I left UCR. My sister and her boyfriend, Dan, took me on an awesome hike on a cliff above the ocean. We saw dolphins swimming right below us! Yesterday my brother and I went to PB (Pacific Beach) and layed out for a few hours, tanned, jogged. I saw 2 more dolphins about 20 feet out in the water and caught them jumping and flipping on my videocamera! Last night we went to a wine bar for happy hour with my sister's friends. It was fun. I saw 2 of my UCR Delta Gamma sorority sisters so that was great. We'll catch up again tonight for dinner at a sushi place. Well, I'm off to PB again with my sister, and a quick trip to the mall. Paris in a week!!!! I'm relieved most of the goodbyes are done, and now I can focus on the excitement ahead.

Time to say my goodbyes

Tomorrow is my last full day in Idaho. It's a weird feeling, exciting but sad. I can't write much because I'm really tired, but the last few days have been a lot of fun visiting with relatives and friends....saying bye is really hard for me. But in all honestly I'm ready for this next week to go by and get the goodbyes over with and get on to Paris. Okay...off to bed and sleep so I can wake up early and get as much accomplished as possible. I want to see some more people before I go....sniff sniff.....but YAY FRANCE!!!

I leave Lewiston in 6 days

It is Thursday, and I fly out of Lewiston next Wednesday. It is soo weird how it's already time. I'm actually flying down to San Diego to spend my last week in the States in California. I'm excited to hang out with my sister Megan....she's planning a fun weekend. We're gonna hit the gym one day, I'll spend Thursday at the beach and shopping around (tanning, duh!), Friday she's taking off work and we'll beach it some more. We're having Happy Hour Thursday night when she gets off work at a wine bar w/her girl friends. Friday evening mom and Harry fly down, Chris will meet us and we'll catch up with Aaron and Megan's boyfriend, Dan. I think we're going out for sushi, and probably beaching more Saturday...going out on a 'brunch cruise' that morning for mom's birthday too! So...it'll be a fun way to end my summer here. On Sunday mom, Harry and I fly up to Sacramento where they'll finish packing and I'll grab my passport and VISA and hang out in Sac town for a day or two...we'll drive to San Francisco Wednesday evening and fly to Paris on Thursday the 5th! That is exactly 2 weeks from today...wow. I am going to be sad this weekend saying goodbye to all my friends and family here in Idaho...not looking forward to that part. I'll be glad when the goodbyes are over. I am scared...and nervous..and excited. I KNOW it's going to be such a great experience and adventure, even though I'm nervous for the inital first few weeks when I'm all alone across the world...well I won't be ALONE, but I might feel that way. I am calling the Vatin family this weekend to say hello to the kids on the phone. That'll be fun! I think they are going to make me feel very welcome and it won't be as bad as I think. Having my mom and Harry with me the first couple days will make it easier...and then I leave with the family for 6 weeks on the Atlantic Ocean to have summer holiday on the beach! Rough..... haha. Well, I'm done venting for now....must get back to my last 2 days of work. I will say that planning to move to another country for a year takes a LOT of preparation and planning. So, needless to say I am very busy getting everything together.