The Big Day

And, I'm off!  I'm currently sitting in Au Bon Pain (a poor substitute for a French cafe) in Philadelphia International Airport, sipping some cheap burnt coffee and taking advantage of free wifi.  My trip has begun, and though this seems an unexceptional start, I'm just glad to report that my bags have been accepted despite their bulging at the seams.

My last week at home was everything I'd hoped it might be.  The weekend at Villanova was a successful one, despite uncomfortable time spent sleeping on the hard floor while my friends reclined in their fabulously decorated bedrooms.  To their credit, I was offered their beds each morning as the Orientation Zombies formerly known as my friends headed off to enthuse the freshmen.  When all is said and done, however, I'm positively green with envy now that I've seen my their apartments... I will add it to my list of things to look forward to in January.  Thanks to Skype, Villanova will never feel too far away.  Even my close friend Elka, who is spending the next four months in Ghana, is now bringing her laptop and will be only a phone call away.  There are times when globalization really rules.

Among the other small pleasures of my week was receiving a thoughtful and fabulously decorated card in the mail from my older sister.  During her time spent in South Africa, she's picked up card creation as a new hobby, and I have to admit she is pretty good, don't you agree?

I'll see what I can do about acquiring a red beret...

My Dad and I attempted to make gnocchi at home on Tuesday night.  For a first attempt, it was not as bad as it might have been.  If we had only followed the recipe rather than assuming that we knew everything there is to know about gnocchi making, I'm certain it would have turned out better.  That is the price one pays for being ridiculously stubborn... and for having a ridiculously stubborn Dad.  Mum and Megan were good sports, however, and after we smothered the failed gnocchi in cheese and baked it in the oven, it was really pretty tasty.  I look forward to sampling the perfected version in December.  (Hint hint, Dad)

As far as I'm concerned, anything baked with cheese can't really be so bad.

Thursday night Megan and I spent some quality sister time together, watching the silly tearjerker Dear John and the last four episodes of Sex and the City.  Dear John was really cheesy but managed to coax many tears form us both nonetheless, and Sex and the City only convinced me that I will never act as foolishly as Carrie Bradshaw does upon arriving in Paris.  I mean, the woman wore a flouncy skirt and high heels on the plane.   ... Really?  I can assure you that I don't resemble Carrie Bradshaw in the least right now, as I've opted for a baggy t shirt and leggings.  How terribly chic.


My last dinner at home was delicious.  Mum asked if I had special requests, and of course I did.  Luckily for her, I wanted something simple and tasty-- Trader Joe's Israeli cous cous and roasted veggies.  It was so delicious, and my evening was sweetened by a last trip to the Yardley Ice House with Meg.  Add Small Mint Chocolate Chip Water Ice to the Things I Will Miss Most list.

Why would I order anything else, when this is done so well?

Breakfast this morning: a homemade cappuccino and a luminous Bagel Train breakfast sandwich.

This little babe came running to me today, ready to say her goodbyes.
She either knew I was leaving, or she just thought I was going to feed her...

Teary goodbyes have been said at the security line, and I am now officially on my way.  I feel a little nauseous but very excited to see what the next four months will hold for me.  Before that reveals itself, however, I have to successfully find my connecting plane at Montreal Airport (thank you, AirMiles, for always being so convenient...), kill five hours in Canada, and then figure out how to cart a huge sixty-something pound suitcase from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Place de la République.  If I can manage that, the next few months will be un morceau de gâteau.  Stay tuned!