In Transit

     I'm on my way! After leaving my house around 9:15 Thursday morning, I had an uneventful (short) flight to Chicago, and an uneventful (long) flight to London, which is where I am right now, waiting for my plane to Vienna. It's 8:15am here, but in my head it's 2:15, so forgive any nonsense I may put down, I'm a little out of it.
     My last few weeks in Minneapolis were wonderful. Knowing where I was going next definitely made a difference in my mood. I don't like being in limbo, but I'm learning how to deal. I'm ready for things to happen though. I am nervous about this job; I don't know how to be a teacher, and just because I'm an English major with a pretty solid writing background, doesn't mean I'll be able to effectively impart that to eager (or not-so-eager) young minds. But being scared is better than being bored. That's been my mantra, and it's gotten me through some moments of pretty strong doubt. Something my grandfather said really stuck with me as well. When he was 19, newly graduated from college and heading out to an assignment with the Navy, he was nervous about not being able to do what they needed him to do. But then he thought, "Someone gave me a diploma. Someone hired me to do this job. They wouldn't have done that if they didn't think I was capable enough to handle it. So if they're confident in me, I should be too." (Those may not have been his exact thoughts. But you get the idea.)
     The school hired me to do this job, knowing my background, knowing that I'm going to be learning just as much- or more- as I'll be teaching. They know that, and they want me anyway. So, yes, I am nervous. But that's not going to stop me.
     The only real hiccup in the whole process came right at the 11th hour. After zipping my gigantic suitcase shut, full of clothes, and other necessary items, I thought I had forgotten my glasses in the purse I had tucked into the bag (I was wrong, in fact. They were already in my carry on purse.), and needed to open it up to get them out. Only, the zipper wouldn't unzip! I tugged, and Sonja tugged, my mom tugged, and my dad got some tools from the workroom to try and force the thing open. Nothing doing. So Daddy cut it open while Mom and I went to Target, and bought a new suitcase 12 hours before leaving. It was such a stupid problem that it completely took my mind off my nerves. I don't know what I would have done if I got to Bratislava and realized my suitcase wouldn't open. I doesn't even bear thinking about.
     I'm running out of free Wifi, so I should wrap this up. 5 hours from now, I should be in Vienna, maybe even on my way to Bratislava. It's absolutely insane, but completely amazing that this is happening to me. I feel so incredibly lucky. I have some thoughts about what this kind of lifestyle means for people my age, but that's going to have to wait.
     Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers; I would never have gotten here without your love and support.