Scotland, Here I come...

Lena Gryaznova University of Edinburgh, Scotland

Date

August 25, 2014
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I have never enjoyed packing for big trips. The majority of this disdain comes from me always over-packing and therefore never being able to fit things compactly into an appropriate-sized piece of luggage. However, packing also makes the impending departure feel tangible. It floods me with nerves and makes me giggle with excitement. It makes things real.

As I am exactly one week away from leaving the United States for the next four months, I am filled with too many emotions to describe. I am excited, nervous, scared, giddy, and honestly, just plain overwhelmed. It is that feeling of your stomach being in your throat just as you are about to go down a roller coaster. The moment you peek off a mountain as you prepare to cliff-dive. The feeling of dread before the leap of faith.

This weekend, a friend asked me what I was looking forward to most in Scotland. After some thought, I realized it was having a moment where I was at peace with the world and at peace with myself. A moment where I wasn’t feeling worried that I was going to get lost on the way to class or feeling like I was an outsider. A moment where I could look around and feel calm, collected, and peaceful. As I am flooded with emotions attempting to pack for this next adventure, I keep reminding myself that at some point, this moment of peace will soon occur, as well as a gamut of other exciting, fascinating, and wonderful moments that will turn into memories. I am about to embark on an amazing journey and as scared as I may be, I am also looking forward to everything that is about to come!

Here goes nothing!

Cheers!

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