This is Real: Frankfurt, Germany

Just got internet connection! I wrote this earlier today :)

 I’m sitting in the Frankfurt, Germany airport and this whole thing finally seems real. It’s colder than I thought it would be which adds to how blatantly I stand out here — in my summer dress. I think the only other thing with even a speckle of pink on it in this entire airport is actually the T-Mobile phone posts, which I happen to be sitting by. Everyone is wearing heavy coats, as I sit here in my sweater—at least its cream; I have honestly never seen as many neutral tones in my life. Note to self: next time I travel, only wear black, gray, tan or white. My gosh, life is a whirlwind! Last Friday I graduated from BYU and am now in Germany where I get to stay for 6 days before traveling to France for 2, and then spending the remainder of my summer in Italy—just 45 minutes north of Rome in a town called Bracciano. Audrey and Rachel, bless their hearts, woke up at 4:30am to drive me to the airport—which is impressive considering Rachel’s state of delirium at 1:30 this morning when we finally decided to go to sleep.

My brother Tanner at I at BYU Graduation

My wonderful friends after dinner, my last night in Provo!
Rachel, Rachel, Audrey, Craig, Me, Westin

Now—after having to stuff a blow dryer, straightener, curling iron and one wedge heel into my carry-on bag to reduce its weight for check in, and flying on three different planes (with NO layovers, I legit got off each plane, booked it to a different gate and immediately boarded my next one)—I’m just trying to get oriented. There was a moment where I seriously thought the customs guy wasn’t going to let me through, but he did and my passport now has its first stamp of the trip! On another happy note, I think I successfully beat jet lag —thanks to the under-crowded plane ride to Germany—I was able to lay down across three seats and sleep like a baby. It’s funny to be starting my day in Germany when I would be ending it in Provo; I feel like my Utah bubble has been successfully shattered. I couldn’t even eavesdrop here if I wanted to because most conversations I hear aren’t in English. At least a lot of the signs are though, and all the workers here speak English—which was extremely helpful as I was trying to get from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 to meet up with my travel buddies, Shawn and Hayden, (who should be here shortly). A middle aged airport worker, who had already given me directions once, saw me while he was taking his smoking break and, probably assuming I was inept, actually walked me to the correct shuttle! In my defense, I was going the direction he recommended until another worker gave me contradictory directions...I swear! My goal for the return flight (in 3 months) is not to look or act so much like a foreigner. Anyway, now I am sitting at a “Meeting Point” and considering digging into my luggage and finding something more appropriate to wear, while watching a German news show and looking at an ad board with a picture and write up (in German) about Mitt Romney.

All the airport signs in the Frankfurt, Germany airport were in German and English!

An add in the airport, Google Translation: Romney opens the Campaigns
The US Republican Mitt Romney continued to celebrate victories and opens up the Presidential campaign against incumbent Barack Obama. Romney declared himself the unofficial challenger for the democrats in the election on November 6th.

And in case you don’t know why I’m here, this is the lowdown: I’ve wanted to go to Italy for as long as I can remember, so when I saw a poster for a field study through BYU, I decided that this was my chance to fulfill my dream of traveling and conducting a research project (on the gender roles of young adults in Italy. I just graduated with a degree in psychology and will start my Master’s program in Marriage and Family Therapy in the fall!). The field study program is organized through my college and, while I would conduct the research project on my own, I liked the idea of going through the school so that I could travel with a small group and have convenient connections for things like housing and contacts; it felt like a great plan. And it would have been, if everyone hadn’t dropped out of my group (I’m trying not to read into that too much). This left me as an “individual field study student” which basically means that I am responsible for figuring out everything on my own—housing, flights, making contacts and connections with people in my town, and all those little details you would never consider when traveling as a part of a group. It also meant that I would be moving to a foreign country for 3 months by myself. I don’t think that sank in very quickly—I’m still not even sure it has now. But for those of you thinking, like so many before you, “Really!? Wow, that’s so cool... {awkward pause} have you seen Taken?” Yes. I have. And I promise not to share a taxi with any attractive foreigners, so rest easy. 

And although practically nothing about this trip has gone according to my original “plan,” most things have turned out better than I could have ever imagined. I couldn’t purchase my plane tickets the day I was planning, but that VERY night, I randomly decided to study in the library, (a place I try to avoid past 6pm) ran into a friend, (and by friend I guess I mean acquaintance whose name I couldn’t actually remember...yes, I have seen Taken) and now get to spend a week and a half in France and Germany before arriving in Italy! I didn’t have my housing finalized in Italy until yesterday morning (the day before I left), but now I get to stay with this fabulous (say Ugo Perego, time will tell) family right near a beautiful lake in Italy. Two months ago, I would have never been okay with this ambiguity. Last night, a good friend of mine, Brandon Beck, commented that my life was a mess; well, if it is—it’s a beautiful mess. And amid it all, I’ve realized that ambiguity is okay—things typically work out and if they don’t, something else will—usually something that is better than what we had originally planned. Stressing about it is useless; stress is only good to the point that it acts as a motivator, but pointless if it makes us anxious. I will take precautions, be safe, and be as prepared as possible, then, I will go with the flow. Life is just too short to worry. Go with your gut, challenge yourself, and do things that bring you joy—that’s my plan. I could try to pretend that I know what to expect in the next 3 months of my life, but honestly, I don’t. And I couldn’t be more okay with, and excited about that fact. 

My current view

My view in a couple of hours!