Down the Rabbit Hole

I think the reason I have always felt some admiration for Alice, from Alice in Wonderland, is that she readily accepted her call to adventure and never hesitated to consider consequence or preparation. It would never have been my first instinct upon crossing a white rabbit wearing a waistcoat to follow it and especially not down a rabbit hole; I would have been far too cautious and skeptical. Of course, you could say that it was naïve curiosity, not bravery, that lead Alice to follow the rabbit, but either way she ended up in Wonderland whereas I would have stayed above ground.

My own white rabbit has appeared to me in a far more ordinary manifestation of a study abroad opportunity through my university. For the next four months I will be living on another continent, studying, traveling, and hopefully learning something about myself. Although I have been fortunate enough to have travelled quite extensively before this excursion, I have never lived in another country nor made the voyage to one entirely by myself. Unlike Alice's spontaneous trip, I have spent the last few days feeling a mixture of excitement and sheer terror at the prospect of leaving my country, family, and friends. I have also spent the last few months meticulously planning, saving for, and dreaming about this trip. Though my French is something to be desired having never studied it in a classroom setting, I think my preparation and travel experience will help me deal with the initial culture shock as I take on this new adventure.

As I write this post, I have already begun to take the fall. It is before dawn in Strasbourg, France and I'm awake because the jetlag woke me up a few hours ago and I can't fall back asleep. It's a great time now to start this blog because I am already past the point of no return, but I have still not really seen my new city or met any new friends. I'm quite a goal-oriented person, so I think it is important to set some physical and personal goals in my first post.

Physical Goals

1. Pass all of my classes at EM Strasbourg (Try not to forget why I am here!).
2. Visit at least 4 countries I have never visited before.
3. Ski in the Alps.
4. Be disappointed by the size of the Mona Lisa in person.
5. Go to a professional soccer match.

Personal Goals

1. Learn enough French to be able to understand my favorite French movie with no subtitles.
2. Become a better writer by updating this blog as often as I can.
3. Remain optimistic even when I am sad or struggling and always remember who I am.
4. Stay in regular contact with my family and friends back home.
5. Make a new life-long friend.

I am hoping to use this blog as a way to document everything I have done on this trip, record all of the lessons I have learned, reflect on events I experience, and frankly I think it will be cathartic for me to write how I am feeling. In the coming months I hope to achieve all of my goals and have the best time of my life before I awake from my curious dream.