Thursday, July 26, 2012

A Tennessee Summer Night

I have really missed the sound of crickets.

Thankfully they've lulled me to sleep most nights, right after I've caught a glimpse or two of the glowing lightning bugs peeping near my window. This summer has not turned out the way I've planned, but then again most things don't. That's the beauty of life.

I've loved the miserably humid heat here, especially when my hair has curled up without a care in the world. It's been amazing to just dip down into the cold water of the lake, without trying to think about what creepy things are lurking along the bottom, and just enjoying the sun basking onto my pale skin. Church services on Sunday mornings make my heart flutter. Catching up with my friends over many glasses of moscato and unbelievable tales have shown traces of new laughter lines around my smiling lips, I'm almost sure of it. The Mexican food, biscuits and gravy, Tennessee barbq, and other bad-for-you-Southern things have tasted better than I remember. I suppose absense does indeed make the heart grow fonder. With that being said...

I only have a week and a half left until I move to Berlin for a whole year! I'm so extremely excited and I can't really find the words to express myself at this moment (perhaps I've had too much iced coffee today so I'm not really thinking straight). All I know is that I'm ready for my next big adventure and I'm beyond thankful that I am already so in love with this wonderful country, even though I've never set eyes on Berlin before--but of course, that's not stopping me.

I'm really looking forward to what this year will bring. Hopefully an amazing internship, some sort of attachment to the German language, wonderful times with my crazy friends and a certain German boy, and incredible travel opportunities (thank goodness for Ryan Air, and other ridiculously cheap airlines...and TRAINS--one of my most favorite ways to travel).

Actually there are so many things I'm looking forward to or semi-planning to do:
  • Dressing how I want to dress without being stared at like a piece of kofta.
  • Drinking massive amounts of wine, amongst other things, in public.
  • Breathing in FRESH air and admiring the energy mills, and solar panels.
  • Oktoberfest. :) (I can't wait to have my very own dirndl!)
  • Christmas makets and the gorgeous holiday season in a --hopefully--snowy Germany.
  • St. Patrick's Day in Dublin, Ireland. Don't worry, I shall restrain myself so I won't go searching for pots of gold to buy ungodly amounts of shoes with.
  • Actually being challenged in school and being able to express my more liberal thoughts, and opinions, without worrying so much who I might offend.
  • Spatzle und apfelshorle.
  • Hopefully visiting my most favorite place in the world--Barcelona, Spain.
  • Get in touch with my roots. Scotland, be prepared.
  • RUNNING OUTSIDE. I was not able to do this in Cairo.
  • Lovely picnics outside.
  • Bike riding through the most glorious parts of Germany.
  • Basically anything outside.
  • Work more extensively on my graduate thesis (make major connections with German organization so they will "sponsor" my research).
  • Learn how to drink beer. And LIKE it.
  • Refrain from eating an entire loaf of German bread each week.
  • Visit at least one enticing restaurant each week with my dear friend, Thomas.
  • Make my darling little abode in Berlin feel just like home! (This shouldn't be too difficult since I already have an excellent roommate, from England in fact).
And the list goes on.

Also, there are still some small things that I want to do in Tennessee before leaving this summer. Particularly visiting Cades Cove and going to DollyWood, of course. Any takers? :)

I am however so blessed that I've been able to see so many friends, church members, and long lost family this summer. I'm the happiest I've been in such a long time--thanks to the wonderful people in my life, and the experiences I've had since taking a break from Cairo. This time in Tennessee has brought some new light to my spirit and I'm almost ready for August 5th, when I'll be leaving home again.

Until then, I'll let the little crickets sing me to sleep.