And then it rained...

I left San Francisco on Thursday evening after downing my last American food in a nearby parking lot (it consisted of a burrito from my favorite local Mexican restaurant - La Cumbre - in San Mateo... you should go there if you've never been!). I managed to sleep most of the flight, with the aid of ear plugs, an eye mask (provided by the airline!), a neck pillow, a sweatshirt, a blanket, and a few sleeping pills. I arrived in London Friday afternoon with exactly one hour between when my flight was due to land and when my connecting flight was to leave. I have no idea what time we actually landed or how long it took me to get off the plane, but the combination of that and the fact that I had to walk down a series of hallways that were probably a 1/2 mile long, take 3 escalators, go through customs, and go through security again... I missed my flight. I then had to wait upwards of 4 hours for another flight, which didn't get me to France until 10:30pm, which meant that Elise and I missed to last bus to Chambery where she lives, which then meant we had to sleep in the airport.

After a sleepless night on a cafe bench tied to my suitcase, we took a hour bus ride to Chambery where it was freezing and rainy. The next day we took a bus to Torino, Italy where we spend 2 1/2 days. Of course, the weather was terrible and we couldn't see the supposed gorgeous mountains surrounding the town. We had a nice time exploring and me taking pictures of everything and saw some cool buildings. We had lots of pizza, ate gelato, were given free drinks by a man named Jean Franco who offered to take us to the mountains, didn't pay for bus tickets, went to a market and talked to some sweet older women who tried to teach us Italian (which I am way better at than French), drank a whole bottle of wine in our hostel while being serenaded by the man in the shower next door, wandered around with only 4 euros looking for food, ate lunch at a restaurant that only took cash (oops!), saw lots of dogs in sweaters, and then went home on a train filled with children hacking up all sorts of germs.

Then, I tried to go to Paris but something happened in the midst of buying my train ticket and it was lost. So here I am, still in Chambery, eating my baguette.

Italy Pictures: click to see large

France Pictures: Also click to see large

What could be better than traveling 2,500 miles to have these sweet arms thrown around your neck and that little 2-year old voice saying, "I love you Jenny. I'm glad you came."

And this sweet little face leaving slobbery kisses all over you?

Moving on

Next week I will be packing up my car and my rabbit and I will be driving cross country, home to california. Part of me is glad to by out of Chicago and the city, but there are people and things here that I will miss. Like being able to ride my bike everywhere and walk down the street to school, to be able to drop in and visit the wise U-min staff, to be able to drive and hour and see my two favorite little girls. I will miss those things. But at home I will have a job and a free place to live and fanstic farmers markets and good friends and the ocean and the trees. And it will be good. And then off to France and Uganda!

This week I got to spend another two days with the girls... potty training (not too successful). I shall miss them terribly.

Me and my Lucy bug

I spent the last 2 days reveling in the hugs and kisses of 2 year old Langsea and the wet licks and huge smiles of little Lucy. How fantastic it is the spend time with children!

Beautiful Langsea Goose

Sweet Lucy Bug

A few days ago we had the most magnificant storm. It poured buckets and there was thunder and lightening and hail. After a lull in the storm it picked up again and as a ran through the house shutting all the windows I hit a puddle of water in the darkened living room in front of the porch door, slipped, flew up in the air, crashed into the screen door, and landed flat on my back. As I jumped up again I could see the sheets of water flying sideways onto the porch, where all of my delicate plants were precariously sitting on the ledge. I spent the next 15 minutes running in and out of the house dragging wet plants into the living room and the sheets of water pelted my body. I was soaked down to my underpants with in minutes. Quite a night!

Back to Africa?

My dear friend Andrea (who is from Australia but I met her in Africa) is maybe going back to Africa for November/December. I've been wanting to go back but things haven't fallen into place. Now, however, it looks like I might be able to go back with her.... and spend some time in Paris on the way there. This, however, means I will not be getting a real job until at least February. Wise? I don't know. Exciting? Yes!!

A few pictures from the past week:

Elise and David

Niagra Falls

Botanical Gardens

Just got back from 5 wonderful days in Colorado with my best friend. A great way to start life as a "real" adult. :)

I got a new lense for my camera and so we took over 700 pictures...


Including some "Save the Date" pictures...


We tried on some bridesmaid's dresses and wedding dresses (sorry... can't show you the wedding dress)...


And then took a million more pictures of everything we saw...

I am officially a graduate of North Park University. All classes passed, all exams completed. WooHoo! And now the studying for the NCLEX begins.

Here are a few pictures from the big day...



Me and my lovely honored guest at the pinning ceremony...

I am officially done with nursing school! I passed my comprehensive exam (and it told me I have a 97% chance of passing boards). I somehow managed to pass all my classes... not sure how that happened. I don't have to be harrassed by these guys anymore...



And I'm staying here... and that makes me happy. I get to enjoy a Chicago summer and spend time with friends who are staying here and I don't have to say good-bye to my friends who are still in school. And I can enjoy life before I have to get a real job and work real hours.

And I get to visit Elise in Colorado and go to NY for Eric and Alanna's wedding and go to Wisconsin to stay with Judy.

And I can finally take a deep breath and relax!

One more nursing exam to go before graduation... and it's a big one. One I have to pass to graduate. I'm only a little freaked out. :{ Today was one of the last times I will be with my whole nursing class. And so I had some fun taking pictures of everyone as we celebrated the end.