Greetings and salutations!

My summer adventure:

I depart for Europe in just over a week....I fly from O'Hare to Heathrow on the 10th, actually arriving early the morning of the 11th.

Why?

Well, I've always wanted to travel there. And it's definitely been a lifelong dream to go to Ireland. Well, nearly lifelong - I seem to distinctly recall being five or six and already wanting to go! And now it's happening! This is actually my first time leaving North America, too.

So, what am I doing in Europe?

Officially, a study abroad program in Galway, Ireland, which runs from June 22 to July 24. I'll be taking "Irish History" and "Representing Ireland through Film & Literature." But those aren't the dates she says she's going! you say. Well, I was able to use my Northwest frequent flier miles to score myself a free ticket. The catch? An extra seventeen days. How tragic.... ; )

So, I am spending the first part of my trip in London - from Wednesday morning, when I arrive, until Monday. I then fly to Shannon (I love saying that) in Ireland, and hop a bus to the southern regions, where I'll be staying at a B&B run by my grandfather's cousins for nearly a week. Sunday, I head up to Galway, and begin my program, which will include running around other parts of Ireland. When it finishes, I'll catch a plane back to London that Thursday, and jump on the "Chunnel" to Paris. I'll return to London on Monday, ready to return to Chicago on Tuesday.

So, there it be. And this blog? Pretty much an outlet for me to list the places I see and things I do, and to post a few pictures for any family or friends who wish to check it out.

How I'm keeping in contact with people while I'm over there....there's this wonderful innovation called Skype. I have a world subscription, which means that I can call any landline or cell phone in 34 different countries through my computer, with average cell phone quality. Woo! So, if you are a Skype member, add me - comesailaway87. The same as this blog address, ja? How clever am I? : ) If you're not....that's okay, too! You don't have to be a Skyper for me to call - again, it works to call any real phone.

So, this was my introduction to what this is all about. Take care, and I'll be back on in a little over a week!