And the adventure begins!

I would like to start out by giving one basic (yet, in my case, overlooked) suggestion before starting your trip overseas - check your flights dates and times. So simple right?? Not exactly. When the stress of buying tickets gets to you, mistakes come easy.

I had started packing about a week before my trip, getting things together little by little because I wanted to have the most organized, carefree, easygoing trip. Ten minutes before my first flight left from Medford to Salt Lake City, I asked if I could just get checked in on my last connecting flight from Paris to Bilbao, Spain just for good measure, you know, since I am so organized...surprise! To my shock and horror, that flight was scheduled for the perfect time, but for the absolute WRONG day. It felt like I literally swallowed panic, it burned all the way down until my face flushed white. My dear mother knew I was going to be late for my first flight so she said "don't worry, I'll take care of it!!" So, dad took me to the airport and I was off.

*Sidenote* I would like to clear up some confusion. The only way my parents were going to let me go on this study abroad was if someone from the group would fly out with me. Luckily Adam Young, a fellow huntsman scholar, spanish ambassador and china traveler, was flying out but was planning on stopping through France and Germany on the way down to La Universidad de La Rioja that I am attending in Spain. So we are getting hostels, (not Hotelllllls Anna), which are large rooms of bunkbeds, a way for students to travel cheaper. I can see people thinking in their minds...oh wow, she is traveling alone with a boy for a week that looks horrible...but to be fair, he has been a wonderful, trusted friend for a long time and come on guys, I have a boyfriend!

I called home upon arriving to Salt Lake and was relieved to hear my mom had successfully found me the same flight from Paris to Bilbao and everything was to be fine. Sadly...there is more to this story.

Adam and I realized there was an hour and a half to get me through customs, to get my luggage, get checked in and make it to the gate a million miles away. This was no medford airport people. Things were looking promising when the stewardess let us sit in business class for the last portion of the flight so we could get off the plane fast, but as my dad would say, at airports you "hurry up and wait." We were the first on the bus to be shuttled to customs and got stuck in airport shuttle traffic; I didn't even know that was possible! One hour left. We got in line for customs. 50 minutes left. I found an agent who took me the front of the fast track. Yes! I walk up to the window...then red lights flashed at me. Closed. WHAAATTTTT???? Yes, I might possibly have the worst luck in the world. They had closed all the passport check windows due to an unattended bag in the luggage pickup area. France was so on top of things that they even brought out all their police to herd everyone back in a mass, mad mess. 30 minutes left. Mom calls, tells me I have five minutes to cancel my ticket and she had called dear Lorie Frodsham to come get me at the aiport. After what seemed like an eternity, they reopened the passport checks. I ran to find my luggage while Adam barely caught his connecting flight to Bilbao. My luggage was lost. Mom thankfully cancelled my ticket successfully and I saw Lorie off in the distance. After 30 more minutes of searching, crying, running...I found my beloved duffle. Lorie and I bought metrotrain tickets and made our way to the Louvre to meet up with the Lyles, who thankfully were visiting Paris the same week as me.

Wow. I was tired, starving and emotionally drained, but I had never been so happy to see those jacksonvillers in my life. We dropped off my luggage at their awesome hippie apartment in the center of Paris, and spent the next three hours walking through the Louvre. It was incredible. Pictures and words don't do it justice, so everyone at some point in their life needs to come experience all the history and artwork. Also, be sure to use the bathroom there that costs 1 euro, you will be pleasantly surprised...

I ate the best baguette everrrrrr, rich cheese and extra sticky honey. Had a banana/nutella crepe and ratatouille for dinner. I was told to take every opportunity to try the delicious food so, I am going to make the most of that suggestion :) I am going running tomorrow morning with Lorie mom, don't worry. We all went out tonight and saw all the little bands on the corners of the streets and took a few pictures and fun videos!

All in all, I just love being here. I am glad I made it and thankful for mom for spending two days with no sleep to make sure everything worked out, Becca for helping her, Lorie for being patient at the airport and for the lyles for making my first day in Paris an unforgettable one.


ps. for those of you who are wondering about poor long lost adam, he made it safely to Bilbao and is currently on a sleeper train back to Paris.