Last week... Where has my life gone?

So begins the end of the greatest time of my life. I began this blog just a little over 3 months ago and now I am sitting in my kitchen getting ready to attend my last going away party. It's amazing what all has happened and what is still to come with London only a couple days away. I hope that I have grown and I hope that I have learned but most of all I hope I can continue to do this. Living overseas is amazing and I can't wait for my next chance. For now I must say goodbye to all the friends I have made which hasn't been easy. Two big goodbyes down and still many to go. Tonight I will party with Chelsey for the last time and tomorrow night we say our final goodbyes. It is surreal to think that I am going home in 4 days and yet I am happy. I miss home so much but I will miss being here even more once I am home. I wrote my cards today and as I did I realized how little i really know about some of my friends here. It has not been long enough. I can only pray that we meet again someday. the last week has been eventful to say the least. Since Paris I have written a paper and skipped my last two classes of the semester. I have taken pictures of the place i now call home and I dressed up for a club like it was 2008 and I was at prom again. Over the course of the week I realized it was ending and I want to cry even time I stop to think about it for any amount of time. I know we have memories and photos to last a lifetime. And while they are amazing I don't know if it will ever be enough to encompass all that has happened. I am going to have to stop for now as it is time to party once again and I am emotional enough right now that being sappy will only make it worse. Now its time to party like I just turned 21 all over again. Wish me luck!

Lots to Catch up on...

Starting with Thanksgiving. What a crazy day. I had class so I got up and had lunch and went to class and then came back and waited for Summer to bring ingredients to bake pies for dessert. We ran out of time and had to bake them later lol. We had dinner with her study abroad coordinator and it was fantastic. I was so happy to be with people. Then we had our pies for dessert which mine didn't turn out that well but Summer's was amazing! The following day Tori and I went to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which I loved. It was the best movie so far! Easily. I can't wait to watch it again back in the states. Then on Saturday we went out to celebrate my 21st, which is so not as big of a deal as back home. But my housemates and Chelsey's house made it a fun night! I however plan to throw a big party back home!!! Then Sunday rolls around and Chelsey and I brave the cold to go to a Rugby game. It was brilliant and I loved it but I also froze to death. We literally left at half time because we couldn't take how cold it was. It was making the experience un-enjoyable.

The next few days drug by as I was attempting to start a paper I had no idea what I was writing it over. Looking back I wish I had accomplished something then so I wouldn't have to be doing it now. But on Thursday we left for Paris. Paris was a long bus ride. We drove for about 14 hours to get there and took a ferry which I found doesn't sit well with my stomach. Once we arrived on Friday morning I was geared up and ready to see things! We started the day heading out to Versailles which was absolutely gorgeous. We walked the whole building and then some of the grounds outside. Then we came back and went to the Louvre which was free at night to get into. I liked being the louvre. the whole atmosphere was nice. I saw the Venus de Milo, Mona Lisa, and Winged Victory. Lots of other things as well but those 3 were the best! After the Louvre we went to dinner with Ryan and Moscar. We had a lovely meal at nice little cafe. I had lamb chops because I wanted to try something new. They were delicious and I am completely happy I ordered them. After dinner we headed over to the Eiffel Tower to see it at night!

 It was beautiful all lit up and we caught the light show that takes place every half hour. The most amazing site really. After an exhausting, long day we headed home and went to bed. The next day we made an early start back at the Eiffel tower. We had tickets bought already so the line was nice and short to go up. But once up it was freezing and windy!! We took photos quickly and moved on because it was so cold. We were expecting snow but it started early. so we stopped in a cafe and got a coffee. Then we headed to the Arc di Triomphe. When we arrived it was flurrying so bad we were getting pelted in the face. But the photos we took look so great in the snow. I even braved standing in the road to get the best possible shot of the arc. Literally cars were so close I could have touched them as they went by :

Then we had lunch and I have a lovely pizza and tart meal. the tart was amazing. I found quickly that I loved French cuisine. I was surprised since I expected Rome to be my favorite food. After lunch we sat until the snow slowed and then headed out to La Defense. Its a business district in Paris that has a modern Arc. It was a cool arc but what was better was the Christmas Market we discovered! It was so cute and had soooooo many booths. I loved being out in it. Although by the end my feet were soaked. So then we headed to the Louvre to take pictures in the day time. We got some good ones and it was cool to see the pyramid in the light. I was starting to get miserable and tired so I suggested we see the Cathedral at Notre Dame and then head back. At Notre Dame I was awestruck by the ambiance inside. There was a choir and the building and windows were majestic. I was in heaven just sitting in the chairs and listening to the music. Tori and I literally sat there for like 20 min just listening. I didn't want to move. But soon enough it was time to go. Instead of going back just yet we headed up to the Sacre - Coeur  which is the Sacred Heart Basilica. It was a picturesque photo opportunity. The place was again so beautiful but we didn't feel like climbing all the stairs. So tori and I got crepes and then we all did a little shopping in the markets there by the basilica. Finally I got to go home and dry off my feet!! Yay! Then Chelsey went to meet the other big group we had seen for dinner. Tori stayed with me and we watched a little TV before dozing off. Around 7 we woke up and went to dinner. We walked around by the hotel looking for a place. We found a nice little cafe again that had French onion soup. I ordered a duck meal and hoped for the best.
 I was more than impressed with the meal that arrived. It was the most delicious food I have ever put into my mouth. It just made my mouth water thinking about eating another bite. We then split a Crème brûlée for dessert. I was so stuffed I didn't think I could eat another bite, but when the dessert arrived I couldn't help myself. I ate my half and it was also delicious. We decided the cafe was the best place we could have hoped to find. After dinner we tried to find a shop we had seen earlier that we wanted to take pictures with. But we were a little off the path we thought and got lost. We found our way back and got our photos but it was definitely an adventure. Luckily no crazy guys came up to us this night. Back in the room we watched the Miss France 2011 pageant and i rather enjoyed it. But it was so much longer than the program run in the states. Finally after it was over it was time to sleep again. 
In the morning we woke up and packed up. Chelsey and I went down for breakfast and then packed up. We loaded onto the bus at 11 and began the 14hour journey home. Following another horrendously long trip, in which I didn't sleep once, we made it back to the Village. 
Another trip down.Only 2 weeks left. My heart is breaking just thinking about leaving. I have fallen in love with this place and with traveling around Europe. It is and always will be amazing to know I achieved a lot of my goals in life by the time I was 21 and yet the taste it has left with only leave me wanting more. I only hope that I can continue my world adventures soon. Until then I have a paper to write and one more London weekend adventure before I set foot back on American soil. So until next time, Au Revoir!