Allô!
EIGHT DAYS. Wait. Has it already been six days since my last
post? Time is flying! Which is both great and unfortunate. It’s pretty obvious
why it’s great…I am about to embark on the most exciting and self-realizing
trip of my life to date. I am so, so excited to learn about myself, even though
I’ve heard that these breakthroughs typically come after tough times and doubt.
But I’m ready. My excitement beats out the fear. So, why unfortunate? Well…let’s
just say my procrastination with the submission of my visa application has me a
little (and by a little, I mean REALLY) anxious. I still haven’t received
confirmation of its approval. And when I get that, I still have to send my
passport into the Swiss consulate in LA. If I don’t get the confirmation by
Wednesday before 4:30 (or shall I say 16:30), this girl is traveling from LA to
Lausanne all by herself! Which I’m prepared for. But I’m still praying. And
nothing is impossible for God. So whether I get my visa in time or not, I will
have learned a great lesson, and maybe, just maybe my procrastination will be
cured! If it doesn’t get approved in time, I’ll get the added bonus of complete
independence, making me much more confident to take on the continent of Europe
by myself!
With that said, it’s time for me to be extremely proud of
myself! My phone (and now computer) clock is set to 24-hour time, and I’m
getting used to saying 15:45 instead of 3:45 (I still have to do addition –
fifteen minus twelve is…3! Also, this 24-hour time is making me go to bed much
earlier in the evening); my clothes are all set aside, albeit not all folded
and packed, and Mom still has laundry to do (hehe thank you Mommy!); my two
suitcases are at 74 pounds combined (can I get a whoop whoop?!), even though I
still have a few more things to pack; my French is…on its way, but still needs
some serious practicing; and my books are ordered – except for one, which I
need to get to work on, whoops!
So, really, all I need are washed clothes, one
more textbook, 24-hour time on my alarm clock (and, ideally, all of the clocks
in the house), some new music for the plane ride over, my visa (important!!!!),
and twenty seconds of courage.
I watched “We Bought a Zoo” with my family this weekend, and
my mom keeps reminding me about the importance of those twenty seconds of
courage – I’ll need it when traveling alone; when talking to the Swiss and
French; and in many, many other situations. Like talking to strangers on the
plane if I don’t get to go on the group flight. If I want this experience to be
as groundbreaking as I’m hoping it will be, I can’t be afraid of making mistakes
or getting lost – those are the moments that become the most memorable. So,
Leigh, forget your reservations and break out of that box!
While I am so extremely psyched for this upcoming trip, my
mind keeps wandering to several pitfalls: homesickness, familysickness, and
friendsickness (yes, I know the latter two aren’t words, but they really ought
to be! Why say, “I will miss my family” when you can fit it into one word?!
Isn’t that what the Germans do? Only I’m not even completely sure, so…don’t quote
me on that. Like I said, German is not very…how do I put this gently? Agreeable…for
me, at least). Everyone keeps telling me that going abroad will be no different
than going to California. With Facebook, I’ll still be able to keep in contact
with my family and friends. My family is coming to Europe for three weeks over
Christmas break. I only came home once last year for Christmas, so it’s almost
exactly the same. Ahem. (This is where I prove them wrong! Even if it’s just a
weak attempt…) I will be anywhere from 7-9 hours ahead of the people I love,
depending on their time zone; my parents can’t just buy a ticket to see me if
I’m super duper sick (of course my sister had to question the validity of my
argument, since I most likely won’t be in much danger of getting sick in
Lausanne, but I could break a leg on the slippery streets!!); though I will be
surrounded by 67 other students, I am going to feel so alone and far away from
everyone I am the closest with – I can’t text my girls from home or family, asking
for advice or help or prayers or a phone call to help me feel better on a bad
day; and let’s be honest, I am going to miss Pepperdine and Malibu with all of
my heart – it’s already broken because I can’t visit my friends and freshman roommate,
and everyone on campus is posting gorgeous pictures of the beach and the Malibu
sunsets and campus. These all have me concerned, and already sad, admittedly.
Hold on a minute. There’s gotta be a bright side, though…right?
Well, of course! Like I said earlier: I. Will. Be. Independent. Which I desperately
need. This trip will break me out of my let’s-call-mommy-and-daddy-because-I-have-no-idea-what-the-heck-I-am-doing
and I’m-just-too-darn-scared-to-try-by-myself comfortable boxes. I will get to
know 67 amazing Pepperdine students insanely well and probably become lifelong
friends with some of them. I will have adventures I’ve never even dreamed of
having, because they were way too amazing to even get my hopes up. I will be able to take so many gorgeous pictures that I’ll have to
print 500 of them and switch them out of my frames for the rest of my life!!!!!
(Extremely excited for that!) I will be fluent in French by the time I arrive
back in the U.S. Most importantly, my relationship with God is going to grow so
much, and I know He will shape me to be a stronger Christian and person.
Whoa. That’s a lot of emotion. Another item on the
checklist: prepare for mental breakdowns this week. The last Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in good ol’ Albuquerque coming
up next! In the next 3 hours, to be exact. Let us close here, before any tears
erupt, any ice cream is consumed, any sad chick flicks are watched, marking the
beginning of breakdown no. 1.
Until next time,
Leigh
P.S. Cross your fingers that my visa is approved soon!
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