no. 45

Ciao ciao, blogspot! Summer is finally here! It's crazy to think that on Monday, it's June. Holy crap. Where has time gone? Spring never really was here, it kind of went straight from winter to summer... that may have something to do with it.
Everything here is great. Since the last post, I've been to Rome twice and loved it both times. I was also in Milano, and made a trip up to Freiburg, Germany as well! It's so nice being able to get to Italy so quickly. It is definitely one of my most favorite places in the world, no matter where I am in that country. Someday I'd like to learn a bit of the language, but I have to work on my French first!
Anyway, I don't have a whole lot to say here... so I'll make what I do have to say short and sweet.
I found an apartment to rent in Paris! It's a really cute little (and I mean little) studio in the 11th arrondissement (district) and it's literally a three-minute walk away from my school. I move in on September 1st and I couldn't be more excited! I can't wait until that day comes.
I leave to go back to the states on July 13th... which is a little sad. I mean, I'm going to love being back where everything is relatively familiar, with my family and friends and bike, in a place where Mexican food exists as well as huge bookstores full of English books... but I'm really going to miss my little niche in Switzerland. It's such an interesting and dynamic country (not to mention absolutely beautiful) and I'm going to be sad to say goodbye. But, so it goes.
Recently the Migros has started selling peaches, nectarines, and apricots from Spain and Italy and I'm real happy about that. They are so delicious. I love this time of year! So many fruits and veggies, it's fantastic!
That's about all I have to say... stay classy, internet. Until next time!

no. 44

Again, long time no post! Hello blogspot!
Life has been pretty intense. There has been some drama involving boys (huh, surprise surprise... Hah.) but mostly everything has been pretty laid back and fun! Season is coming to an end and it's rather depressing... but so exciting at the same time. I loved the few summer months that I spent here last year so I can't wait until I can experience it all again, PLUS spring!
I am really excited because in about 9 days, Michaela is coming to visit me! I am really pumped to see one of my friends from back home for the first time in who knows how many months. We're going to take the night train to Rome on that Sunday the 12th and arrive in Rome that Monday at around 9:30 am. We'll spend three nights in Rome and then head our way up to Milan for two nights, where we'll shop shop shop and party!

But really, the big news is... I am going to be attended the Speos School of Photography in Paris, France in the fall! I am extremely excited about this opportunity. I hope to be majoring in the studio photography section of the school. I just can't wait to get a career started in something that I love.

Um, that's about it for now... time to go take care of screaming children! :)

no. 43

So, life has really made a few turns since the last time I posted. That does include a new year is here, as well as the Chinese new year. (Uh, with that being said... belated happy new years!)
I have reached my halfway mark with being here in good ol' Switzerland! It's crazy to think that it has been over six months since I arrived here. It's all gone pretty fast, but it also almost seems like I've been here forever. Since the ski season has started in December, there have been a lot more things to do here. Things really came alive over New Years Eve. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw how many people were here for that week! Holy crap, seriously, it was insane. This small little resort town of 4000 residents (about) grew to about 50,000 people for that week. SERIOUSLY. But it was a lot of fun! Linsey and Dan came up to visit from Geneva / the States (Dan is here for a bit to visit. He, like Linsey, is from California.) It was a lot of ridiculous fun, even though I could barely speak. It was a great way to ring in the new year.
Since then, I've done a shit ton of snowboarding and hanging out and raging in the mountains. Kelly and Tara will come up sometimes on the weekends and we've had a lot of fun! The pistes here are AMAZING. I feel really fortunate that I am able to walk to the gondola station and just do a few runs in the afternoon while Antoine is at school. I've also made friends with the guys who work at the rental shop/boutique in Aminona, Eric and Luis. They're really nice and a lot of fun as well!
As I have said in previous entries on this here blog, I am moving to Paris! Wahoo! But things are really starting to get close. I mean, in about 5 months I will be moving there. Holy. CRAP. I need to do a lot of organization and finishing-up for my application to Speos. I also need to set a timetable for everything essential to life in Paris... ie: when to get a phone, when to set up appointments to see apartments, when to look for jobs, when to buy my French half-fare, when to buy my Metro pass... the list is never ending. I am really, really, excited about this opportunity. I just hope that I can really make the transition run smoothly.
Uh... I think that just about covers it.
I haven't been taking many pictures lately due to being busy all the time and what not, but don't forget to look at my Flickr every now and again! :) Click here to take a look!

no. 42

Christmas in Sheffield was a lot of fun and was very interesting (you know, with rabbit heads and brain eating cats and burning swings and 2nd degree burns...). I loved attempting to play the uke with all the accordions and fiddles and what not. I'm going to have to do some mad downloading of English folk tunes and try to figure out a way to play along because those tune seshes are sweet! And of course the beer is fantastic, and the tea... and the extremely fattening breakfast... yum. I must have gained 9028 pounds while I was there. Anyway, I believe it's safe to say that I can't wait to go back and spend more time there.
Now it's back to work for me.
It's odd to think that in a few days, this year will be over. So much has happened and changed since this time last year. So far, this is probably the best year yet. I've gone from a college drop out, to working and living in Switzerland organizing a move to Paris. I'm pretty amped about it all. I can't wait to see where the future takes me!
I've been getting pretty bored at nights here so I'm going to start making blankets. I'm a firm believer in that no one person can have enough blankets. They are all that is good. That's KABLAMO!

no. 41

So, I'm moving to Paris in August/September. I don't know if I'm going to that school yet, but I'm moving there no matter what. Kelly is moving with me! We're going to share a one bedroom and put framed pictures of Old Greg up on the walls. I am seriously so excited about this even though I know I will be dead broke and fucking busy as hell. But I figure my school work will be fun stuff... I will have to go around Paris exploring and taking pictures and developing them and editing them in the lab. I don't mind that at all. I also don't mind if I have to work night shifts every night or babysit on the weekends. I am excited! Paris, man! PARIS! It's going to happen!

no. 40

First off, this is post number 40. Sweet!
Now to the real point of this sucker...
I've decided that I'm going to apply to a 32 week photography school/program in Paris, France starting September 21st, 2009 lasting until May 2010. I am really excited about this but also extremely nervous. I know I have some decent pictures, but I don't know if they'll cut it and get me in. I really hope that I'm able to do this. It would be good for me... I'd get in and out of school in a year, I'd live in Paris, and I'd make a lot of friends and contacts in the area. I hope to get everything done and sent in by the end of this week... wish me luck! Ahh!
(Oh, and about 9 days until Sheffield!)

no. 39

I finally feel better... thankfully. I only have this lingering cough but it isn't anything serious at all. There are 13 days (12, kind of) until I go to Sheffield for Christmas. Holy crap. This year has gone by fast and I have done more than I ever thought I could in one year. I've dropped out of college, moved back home, spent yet another Christmas in Kentucky, worked full time and was successful at what I did, made some amazing friends, rekindled friendship with others, I took my first trip to Kentucky by myself (will not be the last, no matter where I end up), I came up with an idea and followed through, and now I'm here in Switzerland. I'm learning French, I'm making some of the best friends of my life (I love you girls) and I'm doing so much that I thought would always remain a dream. I am happy with how I'm growing up, I'm happy with who I'm shaping myself to be. There are a lot of choices for me to make in the next few months, but I have the confidence in myself that I will make a good decision. Who knows where I'll end up! But really, I could have just posted this...
"What is that feeling when you're driving away from people and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing? -- it's the too-huge world vaulting us, and it's good-by. But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies." - Jack Kerouac, from On The Road