Welcome!

Welcome to my first post!

The first is very important, it sets the mood for all the following posts right? 

So I'm just going to get this out of the way:

I am leaving Monday (this Monday!!) for the Netherlands to begin a trip I have been planning for the past year. I am traveling with my awesome uncles for the first week in Amsterdam, and then starting off on my own. Following what I know will be a great trip galavanting around Northern Europe I will move on to the first farm I am interning with through WWOOF. It's a great organization that matches farms that are willing to host, teach, and need extra help from people that like that kind of stuff. I interned with a few farms when I was at JMU which is what turned me onto WWOOFing. This farm is southeast of Amsterdam, it's owned by two women that also run a B&B. From there I am stopping in Barcelona and Paris before heading over the Channel to visit family.

This trip has taken a long time to plan, and I have been very lucky to have supportive family and friends. My uncle W was the first one to suggest I go for it and has set me up with some awesome (and sometimes famous) people to crash with along the way. My cousin Jett has been giving me great advice throughout this year, and initially inspired me to travel on my own after college. Of course my parents have been more supportive than anyone. Letting me live the year after graduation at home was the only way I could have done this. My dad spent countless hours researching financial options for me, and mom found a ton of traveling necessities I will no doubt absolutely need when I get over there. And I have to give a shoutout to my best traveling companion, who will be joining me in Dublin for 10 days. We have gone through a lot together, mostly mishaps involving keeping our rowing team from going belly up. The boyfriend of course has kept me from freaking out for the past three years and this has been no different. When I told him I wanted to do this, he did not hesitate in telling me I absolutely should. 

So basically, even though I will be by myself for most of my time abroad I won't be alone. Corny right? But really, FaceTime is about to get a lot of use.