And the biggest detour begins

Insert life. Now press play. This is how I began my latest adventure just 3 days ago. I packed up my life in St. Louis (a total of 150 lbs in 3 different bags) and headed across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe. My final destination is Barcelona, España, where I plan to teach English and establish residency in order to perfect my conversational Spanish for future career endeavors, whatever those may be. Dr. Carolina Acosta-Aluzur, a very wise professor whom I greatly admire, said something a few years ago that has resonated with me since. She wished that all her students “become conversant in a second language and culture. Diversity being it inside the U.S. or in the international arena, is a fact of life. Learning a foreign language and culture is a great way to realize these differences and embrace them. It helps us break damaging stereotypes that impede communication and understanding.” I attribute a large majority of my confidence and courage to take this big leap out of my comfort zone and move to another country to this wonderful woman. She helped me see outside the box and strive to be different.

As I figure out who I am, Matt (the boyfriend) is gracious enough to embark on that qwest with me.  We begin this journey flying into Frankfurt, Germany where we met my brother Fletcher and will stay with him in his student apartment in Tübingen (southern Germany) until we can figure out a place to live in Barcelona. This picture is one of many I took to document my last few views of United States soil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I must admit, I am not handling jet lag very well, and the all night techno dancing at the German discos are not helping establish a normal routine…thanks to my brother’s new lifestyle influence. As soon as we arrive in Tübingen (after 6 hours of train hopping) we shower, get on a bus and starting drinking on our way to Fletcher’s 21st birthday party his favorite bar in town was throwing him. No time to rest. 

After two nights of back to back playtime, I hope to get some rest and figure out what this city actually looks like in the daylight, as I have yet to be awake and venture out during normal hours.