Chez moi

I'm home!

My flight from France was delayed two hours, which I found out after having taken the three-hour train from Nantes to Paris early Saturday morning. That meant I would miss my connection in Chicago and have to take a later one, meaning I'd be spending the night in Seattle and getting to Spokane midday Sunday instead of Saturday as planned. Bummed that I wouldn't be sleeping in my own bed as I had been looking forward to, I sent out a frantic email to the powers that be saying what had happened and providing potential housing options in Seattle, hoping that they'd all communicate with each other and there'd be something in the works by the time I got off my nine hour flight between continents.

As I had hoped, by the time I landed at O'Hare, family friends (Glen and Carol) were all caught up on my story and willing to pick me up and give me a bed when I rolled in bleary-eyed and saggy-tailed to Seattle around 11pm, which I was very thankful for. That all worked out as planned (for once) and I caught my little sardine jet from Seattle to Spokane this morning, walking through the airport wearing a huge grin to see my mom and Grambo (my dad's mom) there by baggage claim awaiting my arrival.

Despite frustration and many times waking up mid-flight to a my mouth gaping open and some drool involved, my journey home was successful, and relatively easily ammended considering the many airports that are now delaying, canceling flights or even shutting down completely in Europe. I don't know what I would have done if I couldn't have been home for Christmas.

These past three and a half months have been full of challenges, memories, exciting experiences, unforgettable travels, and times with friends that will last long after our return to the states. I'm so glad to be home and to have done a semester abroad in France, and I can't believe how fast it went and how different I feel about myself and the world because of it.

Thanks for taking an interest in my life this semester and spending hours following my adventures and ramblings! Without you I... would have a much less often visited blog. Have a happy Christmas and enjoy 2011!