Peace Corps Nomination!

I received my Peace Corps nomination on Friday, June 3rd 2011.

My nomination is to teach secondary school as a math teacher in AFRICA. Language to learn: French. Date of departure: June 2012.

My reaction:

Colour me overwhelmed and excited.

Life Since Europe

Yep, life does go on. And it's been a pretty good 5 months since Europe, aside from the overwhelming amount of homework and research. But that passed, just like everything does.

Graduated from college with Honors. Final GPA: 3.78 !!

Received numerous job offers, whew.

22 years young, no real commitments ...the world is my oyster.

Biological clock, please don't start ticking anytime soon. I'm loving my lifestyle :)

Home Stretch

I'm going CRAZZZY from all the research and homework.

Almost done with undergrad.

11 days till graduation from GCSU.

Letter to Life

Dear Life,

I've been with you for 22 years now (maybe more in another life, I don't know) and I'm loving every moment. Granted, some days (and months) have been much much better than others, but overall, I've taken everything that you've given me and gotten a lot stronger from it. I couldn't be more excited about the vague, general direction my life is going. I know we've worked hard to relieve a lot of stress that I'm sure my parents had my junior and senior year of high school, and I like knowing that they don't have to stress (much) anymore.

Life, I won't lie to you, mostly 'cause it's pointless, but it's been really difficult recently thanks to reverse culture shock and the insane amount of work that my classes require from me. It's tough to sit down every weekend at my desk and muster up the motivation to do endless amounts of homework and research, especially when I think about all the traveling and exploring that I did not even 90 days ago. It's really tough. But I know this is a make-it-or-break-it kind of finale, and I'm determined to shine. Graduation is only 2 months away and I'm going to cross that (1st) finish line in style.

Senior year has been going on for over a year and a half now, and I know a lot of people are shaking their heads and thinking "When is this girl going to finally graduate?!" but thanks for continuously opening up new opportunities for me that I'm able to take advantage of while I'm young and in college. Who else can say that they've counselled crack addicts at the age of 21 and volunteered over 600 hours in just three months? You offer a lot of exciting things for me to do, via mission trips to Haiti, a semester exchange in Europe, undergraduate publications and an internship, and I'd be stupid and full of regret if I didn't take them.

As far as the future goes, let's work on that together, but I've got some pretty awesome ideas for me, and I'm going to make sure they get accomplished. Life, I'm not really interested in any guys at the moment, but if you find a guy who can put up with my traveling ways and my irrational logic when drunk, well shoot, that might be my future husband.

Keep me guessing, 'cause you know I'll do the same for you.

Love always,

Lisa

And this reverse culture shock? I kinda hope I never get over it because I always want to be infected with the traveling bug.

All I can really say is that I do a damn good job of hiding how much I miss Europe.

I have returned to the United States.

Upon returning I got a severe kidney infection that I thought was appendicitis. My parents and I went off to the emergency room on January 3rd. (I am doing much better now- still constantly exhausted though). I finally moved into a house in Milledgeville. I turned 22 in the most boring way possible. Classes were cancelled for the first two days of school because of bad weather and oh my god, I miss Europe so much.

This is reverse culture shock.

This is my final semester, so I really need to get my rear in gear and finish up strong.

On that note, I'm off to bed for some sleep.
The photo is of me in the emergency room at 1:00 am with a severe kidney infection. Woohooo!

Leaving Europe tomorrow

Click on the location for a photo recap.

1) Lake Balaton, Hungary.

2) Dubrovnik & Split, Croatia

3) Holloko & Eger, Hungary. (small villages)

4) Transylvania, Romania

5) Budapest, Hungary with parents.

6) Salzburg, Austria with John Blayne

7) Prague, Czech Republic

8) Bratislava, Slovakia

9) Venice, Italy

10) Paris, France

11) Munich, Germany

12) Vienna, Austria

13) Dresden, Germany

14) Berlin, Germany

Flight details:

Leave Berlin at 7:30 am on December 29th

Arrive in Madrid at 10:35 am.

(layover for 3 hours)

Leave Madrid at 1:10 pm.

Arrive in Texas at 5:25 pm.

(layover for 3 hours)

Leave Texas at 7:10 pm.

Arrive in Atlanta at 10:10 pm on December 30th.

I am sad that such a wonderful adventure is ending, but I do have a lot waiting for me in the United States.