home sick.

D-day

Even though I am sitting here at JFK waiting for my flight to Madrid, I sort of don't believe that I'm going. Is this me in denial? Perhaps.

Oddly enough, I was pretty calm this whole winter break, but I had a mild freak out last night while I was packing. I know I shouldn't have waited, but legitimately I didn't finish packing until 3 last night. But then at the same time, I fell asleep around 11 PM, and woke up at 2 still in my jeans a little panicked. One of my good friends texted me last night telling me how packing was the most stressful, and hardest part is packing, and I now I wholeheartedly agree. Maybe it was my lack of preparation, maybe it was my sleepiness, but as I was packing, I had a tidal wave of fear and cold feet, I'm not going to lie, I got a little emotional. :P But you know what, whatever may come, God's got my back. I had this verse spoken over me by two people, and I wanted to share:

"fear not, for I am with you;

be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." [Isaiah 41:10]

So encouraging. That's not to say that I'm not nervous, and scared, but I have the Lord's promise! What is greater than that?

I hope to be continually reminded of one goal: to be loved, and to love back. Let myself by showered with the Father's love, and reciprocate that love, and share that love.

That's all for now. The next time I update, I will be in España. Hasta luego.

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This is too cute to keep for myself. :D

T minus 2 days

Things are getting pretty serious. I have laid out and neatly folded (most) all of the clothes I want to bring with me, I got the luggage case out, and got four months worth of contacts. What's more, I've made two significant purchases today.

My new guide to Spain, apparently. Blame my
indecisiveness, my frugality, my practicality, or whatever, but it was very hard choosing a travel guide! So many options, all having their own pros and cons. One is too heavy, the other too many pictures, one with great hotel recommendations but horrible taste in restaurants, the other with great practical tips, but outdated information...etc. And then, to make matters more difficult, the books are divided by country, region, city, the whole continent! Ay Dios mio. If I had an unlimited budget, and an unlimited weight restriction for my bags, then I would have bought at least 5 of them.

Despite the dilemma (what a luxurious dilemma, eh?), I just went with the Frommer's guide. Seemed pretty organized, and people around me seem to recommend it so, there you go.

I sure hope I'll get my money's worth out of this book.

My second purchase of the day is the notorious money belt. While I was at Barnes and Noble thumbing through the travel guide books, Rick Steve's guide to Europe was going on and on about how to avoid theft, getting pick-pocketed, mugged, ripped off, falling for a scam, losing essentials, etc., and he mentioned how he ALWAYS travels with a money belt and feels really uncomfortable traveling without it. And naturally I was convinced that I needed one as well. I hear how common petty theft is in Europe (Spain), and I thought, well, although slightly uncomfortable and unfashionable, it's better to be safe than sorry. Right? Right, so I drove over to Target, and bought myself a nice, ugly, plastic-y money belth. But now that I am home, thinking about it, I'm not 100% sure I'll be using this contraption. Should I return it??!

Am I being super paranoid? I mean, once I can pull off "I know what I am doing, and where I am going" look perfectly in Madrid, I probably won't use it, but during my weekend trips, doesn't a money belt sound like an insurance of sorts?

But it really is happening. Really is happening. Really. Is. Happening.

T minus 7 days.

This time next week, I will be patiently(?) waiting for my flight to Madrid.

HOLY SHMOLY. This is actually happening. Currazzy.

A New Fate

I will be leaving for España in less than a month, and I thought in order to keep others updated on my life, I thought I might use this lovely blog as a means of sharing with people back home what I've been up to, and share praise reports as well as prayer requests.

I don't know how good I'll be about regularly blogging here, but I will make an effort. :) But please don't hesitate to send me emails. I wanna talk with people individually as well!

Today I said goodbyes and see you laters to many different people. It's still a bit surreal, yet the thought of not returning next semester tugs at my heart. Going to miss you all very much. <3