Leavin' On A Jet Plane!!

As some of you may know, I'm leaving on a jet plane! I applied to and have been accepted to the Institute of American Universities College in Aix-en-Provence, France! I'm planning on being away for a year, but as we all know, sometimes our plans don't always work out. So, yeah! I left this morning (January 15) at 6am and will be in Marseille by 12:30 in the afternoon tomorrow!! It's so crazy! There's a chance, this is probably one of the ways y'all can keep up with me.

The doors that have opened up for me have been AMAZING! My eyes have been opened to so many things, and I couldn't be happier. People are always saying these are the best years of my life! Homework aside, I couldn't agree more! The friends I've made, the people I meet, the teachers who've inspired, and the family who's still there loving me, even at my worst (which honestly, have you seen me?!). Seriously, though, it's amazing that I'm in college. There was always this part of me that wanted to go to college, but there was apart of me that knew I didn't necessarily "need" to go. There are plenty of successful people who never went to college! So I applied to and got accepted to several schools. As graduation rapidly approached, I decided to "go" to the college that was as far away from my family as possible, Cairn University in Langhorne, PA (a bit outside of Philly). I thought that I would be ok being that far way from my family and that I needed a break form them anyway. At the time I was comfortable in my choice. Sure, it was a private Uni, and mega expensive, but I had a scholarship, no big. So, senior year ended and I graduated third in my class (of 25)... haha. The day after graduation I was on a 6 am flight to Germany to witness my brothers nuptials. (Germany was awesome and the wedding was beautiful!) Side note: I had been taking French classes since 7th grade and Cairn didn't have any sort of foreign language classes. Ok, so when I'm in Germany, I end up using my French a whole lot more than I ever thought I would. So I had this grand scheme to just not go to school at all and just do a work study thing throughout Europe or nanny! It was great, until I let my parents know. They weren't as cool about it. So after letting them stew in it for quite a few weeks, I finally told them that I would not be attending Cairn because I wanted to continue my French and there was just no possible way for me to do that there. So all my parents said to that was, "fine, but you're going to go somewhere else for at least one year." So, fine, I decided to make them happy, and just go somewhere for a year. Because of my oh so timely manner, I didn't apply to MSU until 2 weeks before classes started. I had, however, been accepted at UM already, so I decided to proceed there, just not holding my breath about the MSU app or really honestly anything at UM working out. It did, obviously. Things moved forward at both schools. I obviously ended up in Bozeman. At the time it was because there was a possibility of no room in the dorms, and I have immediate family here I could live with. I do believe God definitely has a greater plan for why I am in Bozeman and I may or may not be figuring it out! Also, I just love Bozeman and the area so so much! (Camp is uber close!!) So, that's how I ended up here! There were so many people praying for me and I just couldn't be more blessed.

Needless to say, my parents were right (cringe noise) I ended up liking college and am halfway through my sophomore year (halfway done, with halfway being done). My declared major is French Education/Teaching, which means I am planning on becoming one of those crazy foreign language teachers! (Thank you Madame!) Since I am going to be teaching French, it's wise to be as knowledgable as possible. My French advisor informed me that I would "have to" spend at least a year in France to get the "complete" experience (or something like that), I was just like "yeah! sign me up!!"

That brings us to now! About a month ago, my dad and I went to San Fransisco so I could apply for my visa! Like I said, I've started my trip, and am now enduring an 8 hour layover in Minneapolis. (I suppose it could be worse) I know this will be a wonderful experience and I will learn so so much, I do have some restraints though. 1. leaving my family for this long. I don't just mean my parents, whatever, I mean my nieces and nephews. Those little bundles of joy are my world and I cannot even begin to express how much I am going to miss them! 2. Friends: there's so many things we have yet to do, but so little time! I know that we'll meet up again, and whatever, but it's just the over thinker inside me that says "what if something happens" or "but I never told them this/that" here it is: I love you all! Seriously, you all play such an important role in my life, that literally only you could fill! 3. I'll miss my dogs. Seriously, my lab knew I was leaving and was so noticeably sad when i was saying good bye to him (honestly, that was the only goodbye I got teary over)Who wouldn't miss their k-9s? 4. Templed Hills. Just, do I need to say more? 5. Again, the "over thinker" all the "what-ifs" "what if I just would have called..." "what if I just would have told him how I feel" "what if I wait one more semester to study abroad" 6. getting over the fact that life still goes on. My family will still have events that I just won't be apart of. I am going to have to get over it. 7. The fact that I want life to start. Like a husband, family, career. but it's not happening, yet. All in God's timing.

Any who, so that's a little background of me! I know this one was a bit lengthy, but hey. Hopefully y'all will stay tuned and read about my adventures! I'm so thrilled to have this experience, and I know it will be such an amazing learning experience!

I LOVE you ALL!! And seriously Miss you all already!
Until next time,
<3 Linnea