Introduction

So this blog is going to be about my study abroad experience, or my European adventure (mon aventure européenne). This is a month in advance actually - I don't leave until May 21st, but I thought I should get this whole blog thing figured out before I go since blogging is something I've never done.

I'm blogging for a couple of reasons: so my friends and family can know what I'm doing without me talking their ear off, for me to fully remember my experience, and to have a written record of my experience for my degree/the Study Abroad Office/the 1hr credit course I'll probably be taking in the fall.

As far as previous experience in Europe goes, I've been to France twice (once with my family when I was nine, and again with my high school when I was seventeen). Unfortunately I haven't been to any other European countries so I'm excited to finally do so. Some goals for France though... if I can fit in a visit to my beloved St. Malo, I will, and I'm determined to find some Moule de Curry in the northwest. There was a family stay included in my high school trip so I might try to contact my French family but that would only be possible if I can get their information from my high school French teacher, I've long since lost the information I had.

The general study abroad plan is to study art, architecture, and photography at the Institut catholique de Paris for five weeks starting May 23rd, which includes excursions to Versailles, the Normandy beaches, Mont Saint Michel, and chateaus in the Loire Valley. At the end of the program, my mom and her sister (Aunt Susie) are flying in to start the second half of my trip. We'll be visiting London, the south of France, Italy, and a little bit of Switzerland. All of this will take about three weeks, with us returning to the US on July 16th.

I'm starting to get pretty excited but I still have this semester to finish, not to mention more study abroad paperwork to complete. Regardless, this summer's gonna be amazing :)