I am the worst procrastinator

For years, I would go on vacation and forget to bring the nail clippers. Normally not a problem, unless the vacation lasted around two weeks and then suddenly you are searching for that little device to get your nails back to a manageable size. Whenever that happens in the middle of my travels, it is always an indicator saying, "wow, Rachel, you've been gone for a while." It's one of those things that I associate more with real life than with that travelling in between life we can have. The first time that I cut my nails in Lille, France, it was a big deal for me. It made an impression, telling me that I really WAS in France and that I was actually LIVING there. A similar thing happens when I realize on a train that I need to trim those suckers because I have been gone from 'home' for that long.

The other morning, the fingernail cutting ritual took place at 8:30 am, Central standard time in Lafayette, Louisiana, next to two adorable dogs named Misère and Mable. Once again, it became my own odd way of marking the passage of time. That's it, folks, I am no longer a resident of that suburb of Lille, good old Mons-en-Baroeul. My facebook 'current address' now reflects my stateside living and I have changed my computer keyboard back into English mode. For the most part.

So. I am horrendously terrible at a number of things. Keeping my room clean. Phone calls. Replying to emails in a timely fashion. Aaaannnnddd updating this.

Since this Ireland trip I have been rather bogged down with finals and then traveling and then closing out my life in Lille and, you know, the hard life of the student abroad.

I would like to offer very sincere apologies for the lack of blogging, I am a slacker. But, to sum things up for you:

My April/ May was kind of insane. Most grades in France all come at the end, one exam, one paper, one presentation all at the same time. During this crunch time, your head is in a constant count down, keeping track of just how much time you have left there. So, in combination with super crazy studying, you have this 'I can't waste any time' feeling that hangs over everything you do. Don't let anything pass you by. And I didn't. Sorry Charlie, but hanging out with those friends whom I might not see again for who knows how long (shiver) was slightly higher on my priority list than monologuing to people on the internet.

Then came an around Europe tour: Berlin, Leipzig, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Ljubljana, Rome, Florence, Venice, most of Belgium, and the corners of France. Holey Moley and Hooray railpasses!!! That right there took up another 3 weeks or so. Then came my last week in Lille, filled with trying to get my academia in line, closing bank accounts, making sure that my deposit will be credited to my bank account back home, a music festival, last minute cd exchanges a sleepless night or two, some tearful goodbyes, a couple of train rides, a couple of plane flights, more tears, customs (where I cried again--it's a wonder I wasn't dehydrated) one car ride and BAM! Hello Lafayette, Louisiana, US of A.

That was around June 25th. So why the delay? Well, after 4 or 5 days at my parents house, I got on another plane (three more, actually) and headed to Québec for my Odyssey project. It was an amazing experience that I will never forget. My project morphed the second I got there and I suddenly found myself rubbing elbows with elected officials from the French speaking governments around the world. And by rubbing elbows I mean eating lunch with Senators from the Congo and eating dinner smushed between a group from Andorra and a couple from Bulgaria. And a week of speeches and debates and fanciness with so many important people around the world. INCREDIBLE. For anyone who ever gave me crap about studying French instead of Spanish, there were over 40 nations represented and some more territories, like la Louisiane! As I was the only person from Louisiana during the majority of the event, I assumed some sort of official status, even though I am not an elected official in any way, shape or form. I am sure that I will be writing more on this later. So no worries.

After ten days of hanging around the world of Francophonie in a French speaking city, I find myself back in Lafayette. For the moment, I am unemployed, but as I have a week or two before I get back to Hendrix and need to visit more family members than I can count, it'll probably be a good break. And by break, what I really mean is a good time to get my life together. I am going to be a senior, you know, meaning a year from now I will have no Hendrix on the other side of my summer. In fact, I have no idea what is on the other side of my summer. I might not even really have summer. The fact that this could be the last summer vacation is a sad thought. Or exhilarating. Take your pick. Either way, this month is hereby dedicated to figuring out just what I need to do to make sure that I graduate and that life keeps going after graduation. So I am looking at grad schools, scholarships, work opportunities, volunteer opportunities, a potential Fulbright, a possible Watson, and a plane ticket to France where I can just grab a job as waitress teaching black market English on the side if nothing works out. We'll see. I'd say I have time, but I don't think that's really the case anymore. That being said, feel free to give me your suggestions.

In the very likely case that I haven't responded to emails or cards or comments, I just wanted to let all of you know (especially granny, uncle gaty and aunt cheryl) that I really appreciate all of it. There is nothing like a tiny slice of Louisiana (or displaced Louisiana) lovin'. So thanks.

In the next few entries, I am going to try to go through things that I have done with some pictures and stories and hopefully not too much time between. Keep an eye out.