Three Days

So here I am, on the cusp of my adventure.  It feels like I will never be completely packed (how did I EVER manage to fit all this stuff in my suitcases when I went to England?!?!?). 

These last couple of weeks have been a whirlwind of packing and visiting friends...and the fact that I decided to make a dress the week before leaving.  Well, now the dress is finished, the friends are visited, and the packing... let's just say that I'm still working on that situation.

Things I will miss most about America:

My Family :)
Some of the food (like Polish food, Chic-Fil-A, Potbelly's, and Red Mango...)
My friends, those I got to visit and say goodbye to, and those I didn't
coffee (I really hope the French make good coffee, because otherwise this little lady is done for)
The English Language (let's face it, it's pretty awesome)
Spending the holidays at home


Things I am looking forward to in France:

Improving my French (c'est une belle langue!)
Making French friends
Traveling
EVERYTHING about French culture (ok, maybe not everything...)
the FOOD, (French food makes American food look like dirt)
Going to Mass in French :) :)

Things I am nervous about:

Speaking to French people (to combat this, I have decided to talk to random strangers about the weather and such...the goal is to speak as much as I can without breaking down.  Asking people if they speak English is a cop-out)
Getting my luggage through Paris (eep! Once I do that, I will be capable of conquering the world)
Going to confession in French (which will no doubt be a mortifying, yet powerful and useful experience)
French school kids...

Now I'm off!  The next you will hear from me will probably be from some café in Paris.

À bientôt,
--Mary