28 hours and counting.

Wow. What a weird first day. I have never ever ever walked that much, and my head and my left pinky toe are mad at me for not breaking in my shoes better. Sigh but where to start?

Yesterday morning was emotional enough. I was upset, nervous, anxious, flipping excited, and crazy sad to be leaving. I was stressed that my ticket wasn't in an obvious spot, that my bag was going to be over weight, and that I was going to forget one thing. Just one tiny thing that would ultimately for-ruin the entire trip for me (ex. no iPod on the Winter Tour last January). But I made it to the airport with everything packed right and just one emotional break down in the car ride there. I saw my friends and instantly I was fully excited. Then one prayer and a glance at all the mothers and I was an emotional basket case again. Was I really doing this? Going over seas for three whole months without the ones I love the most in the world? Why? What would ever possess me to do this?

But then I remembered that every single person I had talked to previously told me that this was one of the most favorite things they had ever done. And others had said it was the one thing that they missed out on in college. So I talked myself up and got onto a plane. Charlotte was fine, I got to know the Swanns a bit better. To Munich not so much. I swear I think I saw every kind of European stereotype on that plane.

There was the big hairy man with the thick black unibrow, the cute old man in his fedora and suit from Romania, the loud fat German ladies (who fortunately sat behind me, so every time they got up they pulled me back for leverage), and the well dressed and well oiled Italian men. I even had a little ray of sunshine sitting beside me who threw a fit because she didn't want to sit beside me, and she couldn't understand why her Nana and Mom were making her do so. Oh she also threw some punches in her sleep. And to top it off since my last name so awesomely starts with a "W" I get to sit in the back, with no one from our group around me. Mmmm planes.

To Vienna wasn't much better. Squished by the window and a large German man (who smelled pretty good) named Margarita Maqua (doesn't sound German does it?) and was told I couldn't eat the cookie because it had coconut in it. So then I tried to give it away to old Maggie, but he just wouldn't take it. Oh well, the seat got a treat.

But we got here. And it's beautiful. And not what I was expecting. And I love our room. And the weather. And the streets. And I'm ready to go to sleep, but I know we have to cram one more meal in before I get to. Sigh. Dang jet lag.

:)