Blogs from Grayslake, Illinois, United States, North America

HI, this is Kevin. We are going to leave on vacation at 5 in the morning tomorrow. I cannot wait because we are going to Purdue first. It is going to be the best day of my life. We each get $20 for vacation and we get to spend it all and when we run out we run out and we can't buy anything else. I have $40 to spend because of the Super Summer Challenge. I'm going to see Mark, Luke and Ava. It is going to be the best. Hi, my name is Brandon. We are going to go on vacation tomorrow, when it is in the morning. We are leaving at 5 in the morning. The first place is Purdue and it is going to be a fun day. Hello, my name is ... read more

Well, here it is. I'm packed except for my computer. I've got my boarding pass and travel documents. Everything's charged and I've called Bank of America so they don't hold my accounts. I'm surprisingly unstressed. But I am a little hungry. See you kids on the other side!... read more

Well, I got my Euros yesterday (thanks BoA), I got my Italian cell phone (thanks Eliza!), my passport is in order and I have a sweet hat, so I guess this is actually happening. I have to finalize my enrollment in the classes offered at the dig, you know... by paying... but other than that, I just have to get my butt to the airport on time. I'm realizing more and more that I'm probably a little bit screwed. Maybe that's the fear talking, but I don't speak the language, I won't know anyone on the continent and I have limited financial resources. Fun times. I got the list of excavation participants the other day, and the only other students staying for 6 weeks are boys, so I'm hoping I get my own room. And that ... read more

Well I got my visa. It was surprisingly easy. I decided that consulates are very good representations of countries. The Chinese consulate in New York was large and had marble and granite as the main construction material. The French consulate in Chicago was naturally smaller than New York, but it also had a whole different feel to it. Still bureaucratic, but with more opportunities to interact with the officials. And the decorations were more plush, modern and vibrant than the Chinese consulate. And there was almost nobody there. I was very surprised. Overall it was a good day. Mom and I got there at 9am and were out by 9:30am. Then we walked over to Marshall Field's to pay our last respects, and were lucky enough to eat breakfast at the Walnut Room, without much wait. ... read more