...And I'm off!

January 9

Leading Up to Takeoff

Today, January 9th, 2022, marks the day of my departure from the United States for five months. It's an incredible mix of emotions: excitement, nervousness, anxiety, all feelings that come before embarking on the adventure of a lifetime.

As of this morning, I am officially all packed and ready to fly. It's amazing how much stuff you actually need, not just want, from home. From your favorite moisturizer that you finally found that won't make your skin break out to a little stuffed animal that reminds you of home, there is a lot to bring. In the end, I need to check three bags. I'm sending my future self prayers that she can get all these bags to her dorm room and not have any of them topple into a puddle.

I'm publishing this as I wait for my flight. Saying all the goodbyes was harder than I thought, but I think the quote, "How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard" from Winnie the Pooh perfectly sums up my experience leaving home. I am incredibly lucky to have so many people in my life, and I cannot wait to see all those people when I get back in May.

Surprisingly, getting through the airport could not have been easier. Going through security was a breeze, and now all that's left is to board the flight.

Signing Off from the United States

I could not be more excited to start my adventure abroad. It's with a mix of great sadness and excitement that I move into this next chapter of my life. I cannot wait to see what this next chapter brings me, but for now, I'm signing off from the U.S. See you in May.

The next time I write, I'll be writing from Ireland! It's crazy!