Follow Me

The countdown: 7 days or 420 hours or 25200 minutes until I arrive in Glasgow, Scotland. I have been waiting a long time to be able to say that, and now that it is finally so close I am excited and nervous and happy and sad- but more than all of that, I know that this is the right thing to do.

I have had a busy summer. I stayed in Chapel Hill (my first summer away from home) and took a few summer classes, interned at a doctors office, and worked at Ann Taylor Loft. I loved all of my jobs, but I was busy all of the time, not getting much of a summer vacation. But I knew it would all be worth it it because after this busy summer, I would get to spend a semester in Scotland. My last weekend in Chapel Hill was amazing. I stayed an extra weekend so I could spend some time with everyone before classes started. Saying good-bye to my friends at school was really difficult. I stayed for Sunset Serenade (my favorite week of welcome event), sang the Alma Mater with my closest friends, and then said good-bye. As I was driving away from Chapel Hill, I heard these lyrics: "I can't see nothin' in front of me, Can't see nothin' comin' up behind." Bruce's lyrics to "The Rising" rang true to what I was feeling: I don't know what is ahead of me in the coming months, but it is all part of the adventure.

So why Scotland? I knew I wanted to study abroad sometime while I was at UNC, but there are so many options- how to choose? My decision was an easy one. In 2005 I participated in an exchange program between my high school and Oban, Scotland, a small town on the west coast. I spent 2 weeks in Scotland, exploring the Highlands and creating some lasting friendships. Since I left as a junior in high school, I have always known that I would go back. Glasgow just seemed like the perfect choice for me. I would get to spend 4 months in a country I already love. I have friends at the University from my exchange program. It will be a different experience than what I had in 2005: I will be studying at a Scottish University with Scottish professors and students and I will be living on my own instead of with a host family. I think my mom said it best when she told someone that I left my heart in Scotland 4 years ago.

I am going to blog my many adventures while I am abroad. I will try to keep the entries as interesting as possible because I don't want to be boring, and I don't want you to be bored while reading it. This summer, a song from my TWB playlist seemed appropriate for why I want to blog:

You see I'd like to share my life with you
and show you things I've seen.
Places that I'm going to, places where Ive been.
To have you there beside me and never be alone,
And all the time that you're with me
We will be at home.
Follow me where I go, what I do, and who I know
Make it a part of you to be a part of me.
Follow me up and down and all the way
Take my hand and say you will follow me.
(John Denver)

I will always be available by email, skype (rachelhughes794) and facebook. So please keep in touch and don't be a stranger. When I know my address for the semester, I will send that out too.
I will miss you all to Scotland and back!
Until my next adventure,
Love
Rach :)