7 Days, 9 Hours

And I choose to begin logging today.

            

Ask anyone what they think of when Ireland is mentioned and without a doubt magic, fairies, music, and folklore will be mentioned; a land filled with a majestic mystery. I think of Ireland and I think of lush green land, beautiful writing, lively music, pubs, castles, and cobblestone; a completely stereotypical image of Ireland I’m sure. The fact is that because I don’t know what Ireland will have in store for me, I hold on to this image romantically, secretly hoping that I will encounter this magic and mystery at every corner I turn.

            

Because I cannot begin to imagine what this next year will actually hold, be it new friends, a new outlook, new taste in music and food, or possibly no change what-so-ever, whatever it may be, I will write and share life with everyone at home. Perhaps, through my logging, I will create the image of Ireland and my life within that my friends, family, and I can look upon as the year that held my “adventure of a lifetime.”

Starting next Monday I will step onto an airplane and into a year full of new experience, new people, new food, new culture, new customs, new music, and possibly even a new part of me. Starting next Monday I depart on the adventure I hope will become “the adventure of a lifetime.”

            

Before I can begin this adventure though, there is one mini-adventure I am to embark on beginning tomorrow: a week filled with good friends and to-be-made memories that I will take with me…

            

The week prior to my departure, which I am happy to say will not begin complete alone (you know who you are dear), will leave me little time to think too much about what I am about to step into. This next week will be filled with many laughs, hugs, late nights, food, farewells, and ultimately: many tears. Though I can’t say I am not excited for what the next year will bring, the thought of leaving everything I know behind scares me. Over the past few years I have built a foundation of friends and family that have given me love and strength; I can only hope that this love and this strength will follow me throughout the next year.

            

This is for all those whom I love.

            

And perhaps, it is because of everyone I love that I have really begun this blog.

            

Though it will mostly be filled with everyday happenings, pictures, art, music, and quirky facts, I cannot deny that the sentimental, sometimes dramatic, side of me will appear throughout my logging-I choose to say logging, because I am viewing this as a part of a log of my life away from home: from family and friends; from familiarity.

            

And although I cannot promise to log in on a daily, or even weekly, basis, I will post as often as I can.

            

So, with a week to go, my emerald adventure begins!