We're so lucky

How many people, in the prime of their life, get to say they traveled abroad with their best friend? Since we met each other as freshman Spanish students in Mabel's Español 294 class (the best teacher EVER) Monj and I knew that we wanted to study abroad together. We spent hours talking to the international studies office, visiting academic counselors and searching our calendars for the best times and programs. We filled out paperwork and applications and finally made it into a summer 2013 Barcelona program! Now, as we stand several days away, we are scrambling to get our light, summer clothes packed and to square away final details. It feels like a dream come true.

We cannot WAIT to meet our homestay host, Florentina. We've read that she's a fantastic cook, lives in a beautiful neighborhood in central Barce and loves having international students all the time. The pictures we have seen of her open, well-lit flat seem inviting and cozy. A lot of the other students on our program are staying in homestays, too and we can see from our forms that they're from universities all over the country!

So it appears that everything is under control. In fact, everything is better than under control. Monj and I (or "la pareja" as Mabel calls us) are so blessed and lucky to be embarking on this journey together. We meet in NYC's JFK airport in a few short days! Not a lot or people can say that they traveled with their best friend to Spain for a summer when they were 20. Now HERE'S an adventure waiting to unfold...