Coming home, coming home.

When I woke up this morning it was
7AM in Paris
12AM in Chicago
10PM in Phoenix.

When my flight left CDG, it was
12PM in Paris
5AM in Chicago
3AM in Phoenix.

When I landed at O'Hare, it was
10PM in Paris
3PM in Chicago
1PM in Phoenix.

When my flight leaves O'Hare it will be
2AM in Paris
7PM in Chicago
5PM in Phoenix

and

when I get in to Skyharbor it will be
6AM in Paris
11PM in Chicago
9PM in Phoenix.

Basically, today is the longest day ever.

Hello, USA. Goodbye, blog.

You can't ever go back.

When I was little I used to tape episodes of Full House when they came on during my piano lessons, so I wouldn't have to miss them. THAT'S how much I love Full House.

One of the ones I had taped was late in the series, probably season 6 or 7, when the girls go to summer camp. The episode takes place when they get home from camp and they're all sad and depressed because they want to go back. Eventually, they do have to go back because Michelle brought back a rabbit that needs to be taken home (or something like that, it's not important) and they find that it's not the same fun, exciting place when it's all rainy and deserted and camp is over.

Being in Paris right now is kind of like a super-scaled down version of that. The city is still beautiful. I still love it. I'm so happy to be here.

But without my beautiful AZ in Paris group, it just feels like there's something...missing.

Sigh.

Stars and stripes forever.

I thought it would be months before I could handle another museum (out of just the museums in my Paris travel guide, I've been to 14), but today we hit the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh museum, and the "Heineken Experience", all of which were pretty awesome. I like Amsterdam.

I can't believe how soon I'm going home...I know I've said that a million times. I'm sure it's for the best, because I'm running out of money and desperately need to get back to work...but it's going to be weird, most certainly.

Here's an interesting fact. Before this summer I never thought of myself as necessarily "patriotic", or even "proud to be an American". America has done some pretty messed up stuff and there are still a lot of things I really, really don't agree with. And the tourists can be pretty obnoxious over here. (I could go on, but I won't.)

HOWEVER. There are certainly things I have missed since I've been here, differences I've noticed, things I can't wait to get back to. Moreover, I have had numerous experiences over here where my culture has been challenged, or insulted, or made fun of by Europeans. And actually, it really offends me. I don't think America is the Greatest Country in the World...but the fact of the matter is, I still am American, I have been all my life.

I agree that we can do some stupid stuff. But who doesn't? I try my hardest not to base judgments off of stereotypes when I interact with people from other cultures, and I guess I kind of expect the same courtesy back. It's one thing to discuss or joke about the shortcomings of my country with fellow Americans, but it's certainly another to hear that coming from someone outside.

I don't mean to get self-righteous and bitchy, and this wasn't sparked by any particular event. I guess it's just something I've been thinking about. I suppose being away has shown me that actually, I am proud to be an American; I do respect my country quite a bit - especially since this last presidential election. I've never been more proud of my country.

I just don't feel the need to write a crappy country song about it or anything.

Amsterdam.

Made it in once piece. I hate the first few hours in any new place, when everything is unfamiliar and unsettling. But I know by this evening everything will be fine.

The rest of this trip is going to fly by. I'll be home in less than a week. Part of me is ready and part of me doesn't want to go...

London Calling.

I've been in London for about 2 hours. 

Being here feels like being in a weird, warped version of Paris. I think it's the big city thing, the shops, the underground. So similar, except...not.

I'm happy to be here, with family, on to the next stage of my adventure. But my heart aches for La Ville-Lumière...

"In case I forget to tell you later, I had a really good time tonight."

I've been in Europe for a little over 7 weeks now.

I've done a LOT of stuff in my time here...seen a lot of sights. Ate a lot of food. Took a fair few pictures.

I feel I've been doing my best to make the most of my time here, or whatever it is you're supposed to do when you're traveling in a foreign land.

However, I'm going to be quite honest here:

Sometimes nothing beats spending the evening in a hotel room, laying in bed and watching Pretty Woman with my sister. Whether it be in Ireland, Arizona, California, or anywhere else in the universe.

Vacation, all I ever wanted.

My grades from Paris have been posted! I got an A and a B and I'm so excited!! I was kind of expecting Bs in both classes, but apparently my compte-rendus must have been worth something in cinema. Score!

I was so stressed about my flight to Dublin, mostly, I think, because of how stressful the flight from Orly to Berlin had turned out to be. But in the end, the flight was magnificently, almost magically easy. No problems or hassles whatsoever.

I met up with my sister at the airport and we went on a quest to find someplace to stay. We ended up in a super cute, remarkably nice hotel that costs about the same as some of the hostels we were looking at. Our room has a trouser press and the an amazing shower - clearly two things of the utmost importance when it comes to a hotel in Dublin. It also has internet, which I really appreciate.

Last night we went and found dinner in town and then walked around for a bit and stopped for dessert and coffee. I don't know if I've mentioned this yet, but I really love this European thing of waffles for dessert instead of breakfast. Paris of course is full of stands selling crêpes and gaufres. Anyway, in Dublin, we ended up in this place called Lemon, with the giant-est menu of crêpes and waffles I've ever seen.

And I didn't even get a crêpe with Nutella...whaaaaat??

Later we came back and watched TV, and then went to the tiniest pub ever (literally, the sign outside says, "Possibly the smallest pub in the world") to have a Guinness. Because, you know, that's what you do on your first night in Dublin.

Incidentally, it turns out that I like Guinness. This was not always the case. However, the last time I had one I was probably about 17, so that could have something to do with it. At any rate...it was delicious. And this afternoon I believe we're going to go tour the Storehouse, which should be fun, and tomorrow visiting the Jameson distillery. This is what seems to be happening: The first 7 weeks of my trip are spent studying and eating pastries, the last 2 are spent relaxing and drinking. I'm pretty okay with that.

As far as Dublin itself, I love it. It's so cute and quaint and the people are so friendly. And they speak English! I didn't realize how weird it would be to come back to a place where people speak my native tongue, albeit with an accent. I don't have to think twice about what to say when I bump into someone, and I don't have to feel like an idiot when I don't think and blurt out, "excuse me!" Ordering food is simple. Asking for directions is simple.

It almost seems too easy.

Anyway, what it all comes down to is that I am fully at the point where I feel like I'm on vacation, and I love it.