Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Recently discovered! Old video from Paris by mom!
http://drop.io/6wn3l2l/asset/mov00233-avi?ref=yahoo
Monday, September 20, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Final thoughts on Europe Trip
So, I have my apartment in Prague, orientation for teaching starts soon; my summer vacation has come to an end. I spent 8 weeks traveling: 5 weeks by myself through Germany, France, England and Scotland; 3 wonderful weeks with mom seeing Paris, Spain, the French Rivera, Italy, and my city Prague. You know that feeling you get when something is finished and it feels like it lasted a long time, but at the same time, it was over so quickly? That's kind of how I feel about this summer. I feel like I just left Prague, and now I'm already back. But traveling Germany seems so long ago!
I did have a lot of time to grow and reflect on things as I traveled. I thought about the things I was seeing as well as friends and family I missed back home. Homesickness came and went. I got used to traveling on my own. For the whole, I wasn't bothered by anyone, never threatened in any way. I was blessed to be safe. Something I know to be true is that my travels aren't over; once you've traveled for so long like I have multiple times, it is only natural to continue because it is apart of how you are. So, while I'm in Prague, there will be side trips when I have the time.
I had no great revelations while traveling, expect ideas for the future after Prague. Granted, I haven't even started working here. Anything can happen. But I do see myself returning home after this year. South Carolina is my home. I see that as my final stop one day. So, to conclude my adventures, I've created a little "sum-up" survey for myself:
-Best food: Spain (although France was great, I loved Paella in Spain!)
-Best breakfast: English (soooo good! I can deal with black pudding.)
-Best drink: its a tie between cider from UK and sangria in Spain (red wine with punch and fruit, yum!)
-Best country: Scotland (kind of a surprise actually, but I'm heading back one day, and England)
-Best language: Czech (I mean, I'll be learning it, duh!)
-Best sight: Tie: Cathedral in Barcelona and Colosseum in Rome
-Best day: Meeting mom in Paris
-Best Mom quote: *we are on a train to Milan, looking over our hotel details. there was a type-o in the letter that read: 'early morning boo' mom looks at me and says, "what do you think that stands for?" I say, "early morning booty call?" a few moments of laughter, and then she looks at me seriously, "what's a booty call?"
-Best moment with mom: every moment, even when we were really hungry and frustrated with each other. I love you!
-Best find: all those pashminas in Florence for cheap, I love mine!
-What I missed most from home: friends and family, what else? even if I don't communicate with yall, if you're reading this, I have been thinking about you and am glad you are so interested in reading this stupid blog! It means the world to me!
-Best thing about coming back to Prague: my new friends. I already have a great base to build upon. And they tell me I'll love teaching.
**shout outs for today: Ms. Peebles, I love you and know I'm thinking and praying for you! Adam and Liz, I know yall are going to have a crazy year, take it one step at a time! And my second pair of moms: MA and Cheryl. Take care of my mom. And finally, Jocassee and Tater, take it easy on mom too.
*now, back to the Prague blog!
I did have a lot of time to grow and reflect on things as I traveled. I thought about the things I was seeing as well as friends and family I missed back home. Homesickness came and went. I got used to traveling on my own. For the whole, I wasn't bothered by anyone, never threatened in any way. I was blessed to be safe. Something I know to be true is that my travels aren't over; once you've traveled for so long like I have multiple times, it is only natural to continue because it is apart of how you are. So, while I'm in Prague, there will be side trips when I have the time.
I had no great revelations while traveling, expect ideas for the future after Prague. Granted, I haven't even started working here. Anything can happen. But I do see myself returning home after this year. South Carolina is my home. I see that as my final stop one day. So, to conclude my adventures, I've created a little "sum-up" survey for myself:
-Best food: Spain (although France was great, I loved Paella in Spain!)
-Best breakfast: English (soooo good! I can deal with black pudding.)
-Best drink: its a tie between cider from UK and sangria in Spain (red wine with punch and fruit, yum!)
-Best country: Scotland (kind of a surprise actually, but I'm heading back one day, and England)
-Best language: Czech (I mean, I'll be learning it, duh!)
-Best sight: Tie: Cathedral in Barcelona and Colosseum in Rome
-Best day: Meeting mom in Paris
-Best Mom quote: *we are on a train to Milan, looking over our hotel details. there was a type-o in the letter that read: 'early morning boo' mom looks at me and says, "what do you think that stands for?" I say, "early morning booty call?" a few moments of laughter, and then she looks at me seriously, "what's a booty call?"
-Best moment with mom: every moment, even when we were really hungry and frustrated with each other. I love you!
-Best find: all those pashminas in Florence for cheap, I love mine!
-What I missed most from home: friends and family, what else? even if I don't communicate with yall, if you're reading this, I have been thinking about you and am glad you are so interested in reading this stupid blog! It means the world to me!
-Best thing about coming back to Prague: my new friends. I already have a great base to build upon. And they tell me I'll love teaching.
**shout outs for today: Ms. Peebles, I love you and know I'm thinking and praying for you! Adam and Liz, I know yall are going to have a crazy year, take it one step at a time! And my second pair of moms: MA and Cheryl. Take care of my mom. And finally, Jocassee and Tater, take it easy on mom too.
*now, back to the Prague blog!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Why post when you're in Italy?
yeah...the internet cafe we're at is the first place ive encountered in my travels that won't allow me to update pics or videos, how weird is that? in Rome? well, i guess a short message to my readers will have to do. Italy has been wonderful; we spent 3 days in Florence which is a beautiful city in the valley of Tuscany. We saw the David statue, the Birth of Venus, and many other famous pieces of art. we also got to go along the Corridor bridge (a private passage from the government buildings to the royals' palace; our tour was the only one going through this corridor). there were many famous paintings alone the corridor, many were self-portraits .
***this is betsy signing in as rachel and i changed computers since i could not figure out some things on the one i was using. if you are wondering why we do not capatilize or use other forms of proper english, it is because the keyboards are all different. who ever thought of the qwerty keyboard should have made a pretty penny.****
thanks for that mom. anyways, the food has been great, and the people like us much better than they did in France, which is nice. we came in by train to Rome yesterday, got to our hotel, had lunch, saw the Colosseum, and then crashed that evening. this morning, we went by to see the Pope; but unfortunately couldn't get a glimpse. However, we toured the Vatican city and saw the Sistine Chapel which only took Michaelanglo four years to complete! and, he did it standing up; he didn't lie on his back like I thought.
well, we are off to see the Spanish Steps and have gelato for dinner since we felt we've been eating too many meals lately (and gelato isn't considered a meal). we are flying out to Prague tomorrow afternoon. ill be showing mom around my city before i say goodbye to her on monday (then its four months without family or friends from the US) and hello to teaching in Prague. I am actually very excited! love yall and shout out to rachel miller and caroline mcgill (yall rock and i havent shouted out to you yet, so hi!)
***this is betsy signing in as rachel and i changed computers since i could not figure out some things on the one i was using. if you are wondering why we do not capatilize or use other forms of proper english, it is because the keyboards are all different. who ever thought of the qwerty keyboard should have made a pretty penny.****
thanks for that mom. anyways, the food has been great, and the people like us much better than they did in France, which is nice. we came in by train to Rome yesterday, got to our hotel, had lunch, saw the Colosseum, and then crashed that evening. this morning, we went by to see the Pope; but unfortunately couldn't get a glimpse. However, we toured the Vatican city and saw the Sistine Chapel which only took Michaelanglo four years to complete! and, he did it standing up; he didn't lie on his back like I thought.
well, we are off to see the Spanish Steps and have gelato for dinner since we felt we've been eating too many meals lately (and gelato isn't considered a meal). we are flying out to Prague tomorrow afternoon. ill be showing mom around my city before i say goodbye to her on monday (then its four months without family or friends from the US) and hello to teaching in Prague. I am actually very excited! love yall and shout out to rachel miller and caroline mcgill (yall rock and i havent shouted out to you yet, so hi!)
Monday, August 16, 2010
Sorry for the delay...Barcelona video on 31st anniversery!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrtO4bEOnuo
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Its August already!!
well, the trip is starting to come to a close. in about 9 days i have to say goodbye to good ol' mom and hello to a steady teaching position in prague. fortunately for me, i still have 1 more country to look forward to: Italy! I never thought I'd get there, but tomorrow my mom and I will be taking a train into Florence (we have a wine tour booked in Tuscany) and then onto our last stop (before Prague) Rome! im sad my traveling is coming to a close, especially with mom making sure we get hotel rooms with AC and breakfast is always included (europeans dont eat a big breakfast, whereas this girl is a firm believer it is the most important meal of the day!) so life is pretty good. its been neat to have both sides of the traveling experience: traveling alone and living as cheap as one possibly can; then there is having the blessing of a companion as well as fine dining almost every evening. so, both experiences are well worth it for very different reasons; i fully recommend both.
anyways, we are taking a train to Milan just for the night before getting into Florence tomorrow, so it'll be a long day. shout out to Dad, mom and i love you and enjoyed celebrating yalls anniversary. michelle, your puppies video is hilarious i cannot wait to meet them! and last but not least, Adam, big brother, i am fully aware you are in Las Vegas this weekend celebrating your bachelor party.....i have no words to begin to describe how i feel about it. but all I ask is to never tell me, mom, or Liz about the weekend; because im sure it WONT be memorable (the hangover 2 i assume). thanks again everyone for tuning in; ill write again soon!
anyways, we are taking a train to Milan just for the night before getting into Florence tomorrow, so it'll be a long day. shout out to Dad, mom and i love you and enjoyed celebrating yalls anniversary. michelle, your puppies video is hilarious i cannot wait to meet them! and last but not least, Adam, big brother, i am fully aware you are in Las Vegas this weekend celebrating your bachelor party.....i have no words to begin to describe how i feel about it. but all I ask is to never tell me, mom, or Liz about the weekend; because im sure it WONT be memorable (the hangover 2 i assume). thanks again everyone for tuning in; ill write again soon!
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