Last Night in the US!

I've packed, overpacked, unpacked and repacked about a hundred times and I think that after years of longing to travel abroad, my dream is coming true! There were some mishaps with my flight, but I managed to not freak out (at least not too much). I've already learned my first lesson...stay calm. With a clear mind and a good prayer everything will be ok.
So after much anticipation my flight has changed. My mom, Micoli and I drove to Charlotte today (I'm now flying out of Charlotte by the way) and tomorrow at 11:15am I will be on my way to Philadelphia. There I will have a 6 hour layover (super fun...not.) before departing for Barcelona around 6:35!
I know that many people have given me some great advice. My Aunt Susan gave me countless tips regarding my itinerary (which I have printed out and have in my cary on bag), my Aunt Nancy has given me some words of wisdom regarding guarding my money, my Aunt Lisa informed me on what pick-pocket-proof bag to choose, my grandma and Aunt Debbie were always there for me to talk to,  my mom lectured me (I mean calmly spoke) about the horrors of bed bugs and of course my dad made sure I knew never ever to talk to anyone foreign. Never. (it's not like he is nervous and paranoid or anything...I guess it comes with the fathering package). 
I can't wait for my adventures to begin. It will just be me, my red and white polk-a-dot suitcase, a shiny new passport and a whole new continent to discover. Well, just Italy, France and Spain, but it works for me!!!
Until tomorrow,
XXX Jess

So excited about Europe!

I am so excited about going to Europe this summer! I leave Raleigh on June 26th and that is when this blog truly begins! My friends and family have been really interested in the trip I am taking, so I figured that blogging would be a good way to keep people updated on my adventures abroad. On the right side of this webpage you can sign up to "follow" my blog- that would be greatly appreciated! You can follow using gmail, twitter, yahoo, etc. Just click "follow" and the directions are very simple. It would also be awesome if you could comment on my posts. I am traveling with 30 teenagers whom I have never met, so I am sure that even a short comment from a friend in the US will put a smile on my face when I am a trillion miles away (OK, maybe not quite a trillion miles, but France, Italy and Spain sure seem like they are worlds away!).

So, thank you again for checking out my blog. I hope that you stop by again when my adventures begin!
xoxo
Jess