I do not have the time, or energy to finish this blog.
Moving back from England has provided as much material for writing as living over there did. Unfortunately, the material that I've gotten since arriving home hasn't been nearly as exciting or fun... nothing says "Good reading" like applying for a student loan, getting my tires changed and getting TOTALLY screwed over by some administrative procedures currently in place by the UofA.
The stories I've told have been based entirely on vivid memories - memories I don't think will fade any time soon. And even if some of them do, letting the less important memories fade is a very commonly used technique for writing non-fiction.
This coming semester I'm finishing my journalism requirements. The department has told me I really should stretch it into 2, but the job I want after graduation starts considering candidates in January - and I want as much relevant experience as possible by that point. One of the things I'll be doing is an internship with an online newspaper, and it'll require me to have a blog. Continuing my tales of travel in Europe isn't one of the things I can chose from - but... we'll see what I can do.
Both for myself and for my readers, I do want to finish writing these stories. I don't know when I'll have the time to - but WANTING to is what will eventually get them done.
So - thank you for sharing my journey through Europe with me. Thank you for your reading, your emails, your comments, the packages filled with presents - and most of all, the phone calls.
To my former flatmate's - not all of the exchange students I know had the same experience I did. Some of them actually hated it - but in each case, it had to do with whether they were happy with who they were living with.
Susan, Juliette, Maria & Dom - thank you all for being so much fun to live with. (God - I hope I didn't forget anyone... hey Sam, can you think of anyone I forgot to include in that list? Hmm...) Living with you 5 was one of the best experiences I've ever had, and I'll look back on it fondly for the rest of my life.
Thank you.
Susan, me and Juliette in the kitchen on our last night in Norwich.
Susan, me and Juliette in the kitchen on our last night in Norwich.
Me, Juliette and Susan broke into Sam's room (which he had moved out of a week prior) to take pictures. Sam's reaction: "Oh my God, why?"
Sam and I hanging out in his back yard in London on my last night in England.
