Ok let me lead into the thing that made my DAY today with a little anecdote about ma life.

Listen up kids.

In the beginning of October, I was assigned to write a paper with the prompt "Why do we travel?"--The most vague topic but with so much potential to be creative and awesome. I couldn't decide how to write what I felt and ended up writing the whole thing in a moment of inspiration on the TGV back from the south of France the day before the paper was due.
I wrote about how traveling is a brave thing to do--it takes you out of your comfort zone and turns you into a vulnerable little thing in a big ol' foreign country...So why do we do it? I wrote about the type of person who travels because their "pays maternelle" isn't the ideal place for them...More importantly, I wrote about the type of person who I am lucky enough to be. I wrote that the other type of traveler can leave their comfort zone and everything that is familiar because they have great friends and family that make them confident enough to leave, who are caring enough to keep in touch while they're away and make them look forward to coming back home.
Ever since I've been here, I've really appreciated all the cards packages and postcards I've received. When I got a package from Brie, Kate and Kayla this afternoon, I remembered how lucky I am to be able to travel to Paris and make some great friends, and still have amazing friends back at home--so thank you.

So Brie, Kate and Kayla--thank you so much for the package. Even before I had opened it, I read the contents on the customs form and I re.joiced. 1 Large Birthday Card, 1 DVD.
The three of you made my day--your card was wonderful and I'm watching Pretty Woman as I type, so THANK YOU : )

I'll be home in 10 days...which is scary and I'm getting a bit emotional about leaving. I'm doing a good job of distracting myself by continuing to enjoy the city and just keep a YOLO mentality.

Love,

Erica