Weekend Plans.

Querido lectores,

This weekend I have a lot of fun plans :) Tomorrow morning I am boarding a double decker coach bus and driving down to Madison, Wisconsin. My best friend Mia goes to school there so I am spending the weekend there through Tuesday morning. Then I am driving down to Chicago to pick up my VISA for Chile and then taking the bus back to Minneapolis.

I am really looking forward to some quality time Mia :) We always have so much fun together.



Hope you have a great weekend as well!

Much Love,

Vanessa.

Goodbyes.

So even though my program starts SO incredibly late (February 15th), it is still difficult when talking about goodbyes to people. I am going to be gone for about 5.5 months.. which is longer than I have ever been away from my family.


On friday I said my last goodbye to Ryan before he embarks on his study abroad adventures to Pamplona, Spain. Even though Ryan and I have been doing the long distance thing for about a year and a half now, we have been fortunate enough to see each other every 2 -3 months. Our abroad experience is double that and with limited contact.

Don't get me wrong, I am INCREDIBLY excited for my experience and for his experience. I just can't help but be emotional about being separated for so long. We have a accumulated a lot of "tricks" if you will about finding ways to feel together even when we are apart... and I am sure we will develop even more. I think this actually strengthens our relationship, and I am sure that being apart will only help us to grow closer. But it is still scary.



Well, if you ever think of me, kneel down and kiss the earth :)

Hope you all are having lovely Sundays!

Sending love,

Vanessa.

Quote of Today

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all art and science." - Albert Einstein

New Look!

I decided that my blog needed a new look so I cooked up this puppy.. whadya think?

Today is January 15th, meaning that I leave in exactly a month for my adventure. Today I was thinking about the title of my blog and I decided that it is quite perfect, even for my abroad experience. Though I originally made it with the intent of having a place where I can always express my feelings or be perfectly me, it also could mean that I will always a have a room or a home to feel safe in, regardless of where I am. I like that.


I got this in the mail today! A belated christmas gift from Mary Grace ( a friend from Dickinson) I LOVED IT! THank you so much mary grace! I will for sure take it with me to Chile! You're the greatest!.


Also, this is a little late. But after my travels to aspen with Ryan, I took an extra day on my layover in Denver to visit my dear friend Ramsay. Ramsay is actually my "little" in my sorority but has turned out to be one of the greatest friends. I stayed with her family just for one night, but it was so nice to meet all of them. If you read this... Hi Phil, Sarah, Ramsay, Zack (even though i didn't meet you), Amos and Gus! Here are some snapshots of their quaint and loving home.




(my favorite addition to the kitchen!)

Well thats all for now,

sending peace your way!

*nessa*

Monday Monday..

Hello Bloggers,

Today I went out shopping with my best friend Mia. We went out to the Mall of America even though it was in the middle of a snowstorm! We had a lot of fun together because we always have fun together, but also because we scored some great deals.

It is so hard to know exactly what I will want while I am in Chile. It is impossible to really gage the type of clothing that is "fashionable" to wear there, but also practical. I don't want to bring like three huge suitcases full of stuff I will never use so I am trying to be smart. Today i got two beautiful skirts from urban outfitters and then a couple of tops form J.Crew (def. my favorite store) Shopping made me really excited about my trip, instead of thinking of it as so far off I know see it right on the horizon. Oh boy.

Last night I went to my friend Pat's house for a little goodbye celebration for his trip to South Africa. Two of his cousins were there and they were so wise and helpful about studying abroad. They both studied during their college experiences in spain, and then afterward they have both had adventures throughout the world. Their number one piece of advice was to get out there and do things. His cousin said that his biggest regret in studying abroad was that he didn't say "yes" to enough things. He said even if you just want to be comfortable and feel safe in your own bed, you should do what you are offered. I thought that was good advice.

Anyway, tonight I am hanging in and just reading and relaxing. In the middle of a book called "God on a Harley" I will write more once I finish the book. (Thanks for the book, Sherry)

Sending love,

Vanessa.

Traveling Abroad

Many of my friends have already left for their trips abroad!



I am envious that they already get to start their adventures, yet at the same time I am thankful for a couple more weeks of comfort. I can't believe how many people I know will be all around the world.

List

Morgan - Cameroon, Africa
Kaitlin - Cameroon, Africa
Anna - Morocco, Africa
Patrick - South Africa
Juan - Barcelona, Spain
Ryan - Pamplona, Spain
Molly - Toulouse, France
Mary - Australia
Ben - back to England

.. those are just to name a few!! What a worldly bunch!

if you are interested in reading any other blogs, Molly and Kaitlin have both started blogspots and so I put a link to their profile under "blogs I like" check out "molly's blog" http://mollyenfrance.blogspot.com/ or kaitlin's blog!!

Well, I am off to enjoy a day in a country i am used to, gotta soak up these days cause they won't last for long!

Sending love,

vanessa.

New Year Resolutions for 2009

*"What do you got, if you ain't got love?" Show love to all people, speak words of kindness, open your heart to all those who bless your presence.

* There is no ONE WAY that things should be done. Imagine new options and CHOOSE the best thing for you.

* Make new friendships with everyone you meet, search in souls and don't let judgement stand in the way

* TRY almost everything you are offered. Doing, eating, saying the same things you've always done, ate, said will only lead to the same old results.

* Use drive to keep exercising regularly and eating healthy. Your body is a gift, be kind.

* Use time abroad to gain dependence on yourself and nobody else. This may be the hardest transition you'll ever have to make, but also the greatest life- long skill.

* GO OUT! Do things that scare and challenge you.

* Learn to be the master of your emotions - use meditation, breathing and exercising as forms of escape.

* Negativity turns blood cold - clear all thoughts of darkness, judgement, anger or jealousy. Be a warm-blooded being.

* Keep relationships strong with parents. Go out of the way to keep in contact and stay as close as we have become.

* Learn to be more comfortable in your own skin, before others can accept you you must first accept yourself - for ALL that you are.

* Improve the world through involvement in important things: use your capable hands for the impaired, use your voice for the silenced.

* Remember that the world is just one big playground - climb the monkeybars, play tag, build a sandcastle. LIVE YOUR LIFE!

Happy New Year!!

WoW! I can't believe it is 2009... never thought I'd see the day!

I am still in Aspen, Colorado with Ryan and his family. I have been having a really great time here. It hasn't been too cold, like it was in Minnesota at least, so I haven't quite felt the winter bliss. But today, right now in fact, I am sitting in bed looking out of the window and the snow is coming down so hard, piling up on the evergreen trees and the snowy pure white ground.

Here is a one of my winter wonderland creations, hehe.. Ryan, his sister Laura and I all worked on this cute little guy.





Other than that, we celebrated Ryan's 21st Birthday yesterday!! We went ice skating (will post pictures later) and spent a couple of hours walking through art galleries in town. We had a great lunch at Boogies which has great burgers and milkshakes and then went out for a really nice dinner with his parents. After that, we took Ryan out to the bars. We only went to a couple of them, but it was a lot of fun.

We only have a couple more days here, until Tuesday I believe. Then I am stopping in Denver for a quick visit with my dear friend Ramsay from school, and then flying on back to the land of the ice and snow. Oh goodie! I am actually looking forward to being home with my friends.

May you find peace in your heart in 2009!

Sending Love,

Vanessa.