A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.

-Lau Tzu

It has been one week since I landed here in England and I have to say it has been the slowest, yet the fastest week. Some days (especially morning meetings) seemed to drag on and others (mostly the nights) just went by way too fast. If there is one thing i've noticed about myself just in one week, it is how i'm trying so much harder to put myself out there. If I was back home, I never would have gone out to parties or hell, even go talk to people in groups. But here, I've made so many friends, American and English. At home I normally would eat dinner alone but here I have people who ask me to go out or even to go on trip with them. I fit in so much better here. 

The one thing that I love about this place is just the architecture. I know nothing about it but I do appreciate a well built building especially if it is built out of brick or stone. I went to liverpool a few days ago and I fell in love. I'm not a city girl but I seriously love that city. 

“The journey not the arrival matters.” – T. S. Eliot

Here is just a picture of the town of Ormskirk since I didn't have time to post one yesterday. I seriously am in love with this town. It is the cutest little town I have even seen. 

This is Conway Castle in Wales. I can't believe that I am even here still. I was walking around and I was just in shock at how beautiful the land was and how nice the people are. I was walking around and I was just simply amazed. 

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
-Mark Twain

Day two in England is just about over and I can say with certainty that this is going to be one amazing experience. Let me start from the beginning.
So on Wednesday I boarded a plane bound for Manchester. I honestly couldn't believe that I was finally sitting on this plane headed to England. When we finally landed (without any sleep) I had so many emotions running through me. I was excited, scared, and nervous all at the same time. I met up with my group and we headed back to the university. One thing I can say is that it's really green here and two its awkward being on the otherwise of the road. We did a tour of the university and of ormskirk. I even met a group of locals that showed us a great time. We started out the night heading to a local pub where we all ordered our first drink in England. We had such an amazing night and even sang bohemian rhapsody in unison.
If there is one thing I can say about the locals, it is that they are the nicest people. The people we were with made sure that the Americans got home safely. More stories to follow!

For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go 

I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move

Robert Louis Stevenson

There are just 3 days left before I am on a plane headed to England. Man, I can't believe how fast the time has gone. It feels like it was just yesterday that I got my acceptance letter to Edge Hill. I am so happy that it is finally here. After everything that has gone on over the past two weeks with being unsure if I was even able to go. I am so happy that things finally worked out. As much as I know I am going to miss my family and friends, I think I am ready to do this. To get away and do something on my own. This whole thing will be a huge test for myself. I am going to a different place than what I know, to be around people I've never seen before in my life. It will be like freshman year of college all over again. Goodie! I think the excitement of this whole thing is overshadowing my nerves and my fears which is probably a good thing. The only thing is isn't shadowing over is the fact that I get to sit in a metal tube for 7 hours flying over an open ocean. yeah not my most favorite thought. There are only two things I still need to do and that is to exchange some money so I have cash and finishing packing. Lets just see how this goes.

The world is a book and those who do not

 travel read only one page.

-St. Augustine

The past week has been crazy. One moment I thought everything was solid to go to England and the next everything was falling apart and suddenly I had no classes to take. I thought for sure that there was no chance that this was going to be fixed and if I went I would waste $10,000 and I was not having that. I am so grateful to all the people and professors that took the time to help fix this. I cannot thank them enough. But onto this blog. I created this blog as sort of a story telling of my adventures. This is for the people who actually care to know whats going on rather than forcing people to see stories on facebook. (plus I can write so much more on here). I'm going to try to post on here at least once a week, but we've all tried to keep a diary and look how that ended up so hopefully i'll stick with it.

I have one week left till I leave, thats 7 days. This whole not knowing if I was going really screwed me up. I have 7 days to pack, make sure I have everything, pack up a room at my mother house to move, plus maybe see people before I leave ;]. Now the stress of it all is setting in. I am so excited to be going, I just hate all the stuff I have to do.  My first post I want to write is listing all the things I want to do/learn while I am there plus all the normal sightseeing. Kind of like a bucket list. so here we go!

1. Go to London
2. See the Hogwarts Castle
3. Go to Ireland, France, Whales, Scotland, Italy (if possible)
4. Even though I don't really listen to them, Walk across Abby Rd.
5. Ride the London Eye
6. See some sort of a sports team play.
7. Actually make some friends

8. Celebrate my 21st in a Pub
9.Try to want and come home

10. Learn 3 new things about myself