Sitting & Waiting

Tomorrow. Tomorrow at 5:30.

I was sitting in Champs tonight, watching the Penguins Canadians game with a huge American flag and Virginian flag on the wall when I realized that I was leaving. I am leaving the American culture, food, restaurants, malls, television, friends, roads, radio and people. (I am aware I sound dramatic) Driving home I felt strangely aware of the outside world; American ethnocentrism does seem to be my point of view most days. Trying to imagine other places, people and events seems so distant. It is strange to think that in 20 hours I will be in another country, trying to speak another language, and working to understand another culture.

I am toeing the edge between terrified and excited.

My adventure begins tomorrow and I am prepared with a camera, macbook and a Webster’s translator. I am ready for the culture shock, the language barrier, the society and the time difference.

I have been thinking and here are things I need to do while there:

• Hang in a cafe
• Salsa dance
• Stay up all night
• Find a nude beach
• Become fluent (or close to it)
• Club at 3am
• Touch the Mediterranean Sea
• Viva España

This is the beginning, the end will probably be nothing I could ever guess or expect.

Every man dies. Not every man really lives. William Wallace