pre-departure.

aaaaaah, back in the ATL. Breathe out. That's how this week has felt. It's been so good to have this little week and a half of transition between finals/being home, and then being in Europe. It centers me. And gets me REALLY excited, because it is HAPPENING.

So far, its been a whirlwind of a week. Essentially, what we're doing is taking a semester of class and fitting most of it into 7 days of class. At least that's what it feels like. When we depart, we will have about 60% of our grades finished for both European Composers and Art & Architecture II, the two classes we will be taking on the road. Translated, it means that the third day of class we had a 10 page paper due and a test in the music class. We have another music test on tuesday, along with our first art test. Whew. Its also hard having two hour classes, since all of mine have always been 1 hour. It doesn't seem like that big of deal, but about the time you get bored and are sure the class is over, you look at your watch and find out its only half done!

We've gotten lots more info on what we will be doing when we get to the cities- lots of concerts, art museums, and general debauchery, it seems. Every time a teacher or a leader talks about us going out on our own they mention "getting wasted and hooking up." Seems to be a frequent event. ;) I can also already tell there are going to be some problem children. One boy yesterday at our group meeting asked our leader about 17 different questions, all based around the same theme: can we get the bus driver to be our dd? can he go out drinking with us? if we paid him, do you think he could pick us up? FIRST of all, why would you want to go out with the bus driver?? Leave him alone! He probably is old and has a family and has no place getting drunk with college kids. And TWO, of course georgia tech is not going to hire a bus driver to be your dd! And THREE, you got a "no" with the first question, stop asking. It makes everyone really uncomfortable and you look stupid. I should have known he would be a problem, he was wearing a Yankees cap. ;)

Getting sooooo excited though. I absolutely can't wait. Yesterday, we looked up our flight and it seems that we're going to have our own personal movie screen things! So pumped! They had some great movies too: 27 dresses, the bucket list, juno, devil wears prada... Better load up on 'em since I know I won't be getting a wink of sleep!

Alright, au revoir for now!!!

PS...this is our Paris hotel.....WOW!