Paris

Just a few pictures from the almost 200 that I took over three days in Paris. The fall palate made taking photos like a tourist too hard to resist. I had so much fun despite the rain. Really felt like a birthday present to myself. And I have to say that it never occurred to me when I was younger that this kinda of trip might coincide with my 26th birthday. I used a day-by-day guide to the city and crammed my days with the sights I missed on my first visit to Paris... La Marais, Montmartra and Sacra Coeur, Musee d'Orsay, Notre Dame, Shakespeare and Company, and a boat tour down the Seine. I feel like I've now experienced the city in full... at least until the next time I find myself passing through. If anyone was wondering my high school French was barely passable. Could read some signs, but not speak a word. So apart from breakfast in the hostel, most of my day was spent in silence. [smile]

Just, Margaret

D-Day

Got on a plane early this morning bound for the United States. Sad to say goodbye to Bristol, but so excited to be going home. I'll give you an update in a few days when I've had a chance to recover from jet lag and celebrate a little.

Just, Margaret

Its here!

My backpack was the "large parcel" referred to in the previous post. And yes I totally just took several pictures of myself with the pack to post here because I was so excited. Ignore the crazy hair (I just took a shower) and the "farmer's tan" (a result of the dig). France here I come... or should I say "la France voici moi!"

**Pardon my French. Seriously that's the best I could come up with from my high school training and my hand-me-down phrase book. I probably should brush up on a few phrases. Or at least get very friendly with "Je parle tres peu le francais."**

Just, Margaret

Big purchase

I bought a backpack for my trip to France in October! I don't usually spend this much money on myself apart from travel arrangements... at least at one time. I have to say it feels a bit like Christmas and as I clicked "submit order" at REI.com I had this rush of all the exciting places I plan to go with my backpack over the next year... Taize and Paris, journey back to the UK in February for graduation, D.C. in the Spring, and I hope road trips to Tennessee, Nebraska, South Carolina, and definitely back to Louisiana to visit friends and family. Perhaps I could even convince my sisters to go camping with me somewhere, since we'll all be in the same state for a change. I can't wait for it to arrive. [smile]

Just, Margaret

[tear]

I was originally supposed to fly home tomorrow... that is when I booked my flight (roundtrip) last summer. I did book the flight with the thought that I might have to change it later. Still because of the screwed up policies of an airline that shall remain nameless today as I'm canceling my flight for tomorrow I can't help but feel slightly homesick and ready to go home. Really, it would be so nice to have a quick visit... I've got too much left to do to leave for good. Gotta keep telling myself that's not a possibility at least not yet. October 8th, my D-Day, will come and I can head home to my family, our sweet dog, my purple room and the porch in Broxton, and my WELCOME HOME PARTY (see flyer above)! If you might be able to attend, shoot me an email to let me know you're interested in more details. Should be fun, especially since I've not had a real birthday party in years. Until then its something to look forward too at least.

Just, Margaret

My day yesterday

21 hours of travel time

2 pieces of Two Guys and a Pie pizza

Bubble bath

Bed

*with several bazillion hugs in between.

 And my first day home...  I was up at reasonable time in this time zone 8AM.  Then homemade pancakes for breakfast and a nap... so far just one nap today, but I'm not making any promises.  Now relaxing on the couch with the dog and catching up on some US TV.  To be honest, I don't think I was missing much.  Did I seriously see an advert for a new reality show called "Momma's Boys"? [smile]

Anyway I am alive and well after my trip.  Just, Margaret

I'll be home for Christmas!

After a 3 hour 40 minute bus ride, waiting in the airport for 2ish hours, a 9 hour flight, hopefully just about 45 minutes through customs and baggage claim, then a 2 1/2 hour ride on Groom, I will officially be home.  

Just, Margaret

Packing

I've been packing all day and now I'm almost done... probably with way to much clothes and not enough of who knows what, but I am almost done.  Thank goodness.  I really hate packing.  It is just such a process and it seems like I always think it out way too much... thanks to my dad's genes I'm sure. [smile]  I've been trying to balance out the monotony with a Grey's Anatomy marathon.  It's the one show I decided to keep up with while abroad so I have like 9 episodes in my iTunes folder with which to indulge.  The one good thing about packing today is that it means I'll have all of tomorrow to enjoy a early afternoon party and a Salvation Army concert downtown.  Mostly it means no stress.  Well almost, I will admit that I'm always a little anxious about getting to the airport on time and remembering all my documents, although I have already checked my luggage several times for my visa/passport. [smile]  Best get back to work, I'm so close I might as well finish up.  

Just, Margaret

In the airport...

I wrote this post a week ahead of time because I figured that I would be way to emotional to even think about blogging today.  So I'm off on my trip, actually flying over the Atlantic as you read this.  Hopefully sleeping or getting sleepy.  I've planned to try the infamous "Jet Lag Diet" in hopes of an easier transition into my new time zone.  It works to shake up your body's internal clock by alternating between days of feasting and fasting.  And caffeine only during the hours of 3 to 5PM.  I'll let you know if it works.  

Anyway I did want to let any readers out there know that it could be a while before I post again.  When I get to Bristol, I'll have to figure out my Internet connection plus I'll be traveling a good bit during the first week and a half that I'm there.  First I'm off for a weekend in Birmingham (pronounced Ber-ming-um not BUR-ming-ham like the city in Alabama) to meet other Rotary scholars placed in the English Isles.  After that up the coast of Devon for a field excursion with my archaeological program.  I promise to take lots of photos and update the blog when I'm able.  

Just hoping for no turbulence, Margaret

Busy packing...

This is probably the last live post for a while (although I do have several scheduled post while I'm in the middle of traveling) and I totally apologize for it being really short.  I honestly still have so much to do and so little time.  On the agenda today packing, finishing my Rotary presentation, eating pancakes, more packing, and organizing paperwork.  So I feel like I should really get to work.  I told you this would be short.  

Before I sign off I do want to bring everyone's attention to my new sticker declaring me an ex-pat blogger.  I know I'm a few days early, but I'm ready to declare myself as an American abroad.  Woohoo!  If you'd like to read about transplants from everywhere living everywhere, check out www.expat-blogs.com.  So exciting!  

Just, Margaret 

Language barrier

Okay so I'm traveling to a country where I will not have to use a "second language"  so to speak, but I have been warned on numerous occasions that British English is going to be very different from American English.  Just a couple of nights ago I received yet another English to American dictionary.  To top it off this morning I misread the definition in my word a day email.  The word was lout and instead of reading an awkward brutish person, I read an awkward "British" person.  I think that I must have been thinking about being an awkward British person myself.  (SMILE) So you can say that this whole language barrier issue has been on my mind.  In an effort to prevent my total humiliation at not understanding anything that is spoken, I decided to spend some time with that new dictionary and thought I'd share with you a few of my favorite entries.  Hope they make you smile as much as I did.

rubber cement = cow gum (I'm not really sure that I want to know that word's origin.)

popsicle = iced lolly  

wash cloth = face flannel

to call (from sleep) = knock up (My personal fav because the English so doesn't mean the same thing in America.)

Just, Margaret

Do I really look like that?

Today I was driving over to my friend Jane Marie's house... you may have read her blog there's a link on my sidebar.  Anyway I was in the car and happened to glance in the rearview window a woman in her car singing with whatever song was on the radio.  She looked so silly singing to something no one around her could hear and as I began to laugh I thought "do I look like that to other people?"  I turn on the radio and have my own private karaoke session.  I must look like a nutcase.  [smile]  Here's to getting some perspective on oneself!

Just, Margaret 

Family Vacation

So I know that it appears that I've slipped off the face of the earth this past month.  And I hate to make excuses, but I do want to say that I have had my computer with me most of the time with the purpose of blogging, but have been out of wireless range.  Anyway last week my dad took a few days off and we all headed out of town for several days.  Our destinations were Americus to visit Mom and Pop, Broxton to visit Grammy and Granddaddy, and Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia.  Callaway Gardens is spot for international tourism and is basically what it sounds like a very large and beautiful garden resort.  Below are some of my photos. 

Mom and Dad in the Victory Garden.  (Sarah and Rachel, my sisters, went on the vacation too, but I don't seem to have any photos of

 them... I'll look in Mom and Dad's photos and try to post one later.)

We were all especially looking forward to the Butterfly House.  

I think I can speak for all of us in saying that we enjoyed having time to be alone together as a family... movies, Mancala, good food.  Just great.  

Just, Margaret

Sitting at home with the dog in my lap

I have finally made it home. Well I've actually been back in Georgia since Sunday evening, but this is the first time I've had to sit down and really reflect on the last week. It seems so strange that just a week ago I was finishing up my last day of active work as a US-2 missionary and now I'm home with our sweet little dog in my lap and thinking about all I have to do to get ready for my next adventure.

It occurs to me that I haven't really shared what's next for me on my blog yet. Mostly because I think most of you who read this already know, but if I happen to have some random readers who don't know me outside of the Internet world let me clue you in. (By the way, I'd love to know if any of you actually exist. I have an automatic stat counter on my blog, but it can only tell me so much about who is reading this.) So back to my new adventure... in September I'll be moving again- I can hear the audible sighs and the "can't this girl stay in one place for any significant length of time"- to the U.K., specifically Bristol. I'll begin a master's program in historical archaeology of the modern world at the University in October. My first real international adventure... I mean I have had my passport for about six years and been out of the country twice for about 10 days each, but I wouldn't really qualify that as an "adventure". They were just trips or visits. Now I'm applying for a visa and will be living in the U.K. for a full year. This is a real adventure.

In addition to being a student, I'll also be serving as an ambassador of the Rotary Foundation. Like my friend, Jane Marie, whose blog link is on the right, I've been awarded a scholarship by Rotary to help fund my studies. Which partly helps to explain where I've been since leaving Louisiana. Over the weekend I attended a orientation seminar for my scholarship. I met tons of other scholars mainly from Georgia, Florida, and Alabama, but with a few random states (and neighboring countries) thrown into the mix. The scholars I met will begin their programs around the same time I will, but in places all over the globe (Russia, Taiwan, Costa Rica, etc.). We are all commissioned by Rotary to be creating pockets of peace, which I've learned can take many forms so who knows what my year will hold. I have so much more to share about my weekend and lots of photos and at least one video to post, but I think I'll go unpack a little more of my life and get back to this later.

Just, Margaret

Sunday 5/11: All Day in the Airport

I've had lots of time to think and reflect today. With a layover in Memphis from 10AMish to 2:30PM-- I'm sure you can imagine what my day has been like. Needless to say I've done quite a bit of exploring. Airports are different from any other human space. Things can happen in airports that don't happen anywhere else. Interactions with people are just different. I can't quite put it in words. Maybe it has something to do with everyone being in transient. Airport terminals are common ground, a neutral zone, no one's home turf. They are definitely one of the best places to people watch. A couple of years ago while in the Athens' (Greece) airport I remember watching this couple say goodbye. So many emotions in such a short gesture.



Back to my day... I have to say that despite the "fun" of the airport my favorite times today have been while I've been in the air. There is something about being above it all -- in the air-- that clears my mind. During my flight from Lafayette for some odd reason I began to remember the story of Amelia Earhart, "a childhood hero." Disappearing in the clouds on the cusp of achieving her dream is so sad, but also really liberating. I'm not sure why Amelia Earhart was a hero. Perhaps it was the pure guts she exhibited with everything she did. Maybe I was just fascinated by her ability to break the barriers impressed upon her because of her gender. I know that the mystery surrounding her death/disappearance added to my desire to know all I could about her. Confession time: When I was in 5th grade I even dressed up like her for a report. Academic over achievement must be in my DNA. The weird thing was that I hadn't thought of Amelia Earhart until today in so long. Wonder what that association means?



This afternoon on a much larger plane to the City, I took in the last glimpses of Memphis as we flew away and experienced that familiar wonder of seeing how small humanity seems from this bird's eye view. I enjoy looking at farm lands best-- the patch work of all the different shades of green and brown. From above divisions seem to disappear and that moment when you are just about too high to see event the insect-sized cars there is a purity like nothing else. Then suddenly you're thrust above out of sight of land and you remember that there is so much more than the small areas where we live and work. The clouds are brilliantly white with shades of grey and blue. Beauty exemplified!



So I guess today taught me that profundity is not something that just is, but must sometimes be waited on. In the big scheme of things four extra hours in an airport really isn't too bad.



Just, Margaret

A week of posts in one day...

Last week I was in out of pocket in New York City. It was such a great time. Nice to be away from work for a while, but also great to see some friends. The whole event was centered around the close of my time in missionary service for the United Methodist Church. It was a graduation of sorts... ending where it all began. So those great people who I began the journey with were there to help think about where we all go from here. It was a really great time to begin the process of reflecting.

Throughout the week I tried to take time out to record what I was feeling, seeing, or doing. So I'll post those thoughts today. I'm sure this won't be the last that you hear of this trip. I'm still processing, but this should help to catch everyone up on what I've been doing over the last few days.

Just, Margaret