Maybe a cupcake will make it all better...

I have always loved the excitement of traveling. As a child, we were constantly going on family trips; camping, hiking and generally making our way through all the 4 corners of the US and in between so I was destined to continue on as an adult with travels to always find someplace new, a different perspective on how others live their lives. I never imagined myself trapesing all over the world though, from country to country making a home for myself but it has been a wonderful experience, if not a bit challenging and exhausting at times to be away from everything I know, I like, I can relate to... Many people will never understand how difficult it is to not have the familiar things nearby though, to constantly adjust your mindset to the metric system, to try to figure out how to go about substituting your favorites for the not so greats, having to completely relearn where to find the best deals at the best times and never being on the same page as all your friends and family because you are hours out of the way, out of sight, out of mind. Though some of these things may be petty, the culmination of it all is enough to push the most relaxed person over the edge.
Well, we are definitely moving to the UK at the end of our New York/Schenectady rotation and while I always knew it was a strong possibility, I always held out a little hope for 6 more months in the US, 6 more months of knowing my way around, of being able to fly off easily and cheaply to destinations I am familiar with, more time with my family and the time to talk to friends in the same time zone, more time to go to the grocery store and know exactly what they will carry and what I can make with it. More time in general before we permanently move out of the United States. I never realized I would be this sad. I thought we would have more time and I would be able to establish friendships with people who speak the same language as myself (we will move to Turkey 6 months after we arrive in the UK), who don't think its weird when I say "ya'll" or who are always up for finding great Mexican food.
Traveling is a truly wonderful opportunity and I try to soak in as much as I possibly can from everywhere I go and I will never forget the memories I made in each place (with almost 6,700 pictures over the past 3 years I better not!). If it weren't for my best friend and the most wonderful boyfriend (he wanted to surprise me with crepes this morning for breakfast..unfortunately I was already awake but he made them anyway!) holding my hand every step of the way I do not think I could give up all the luxuries I enjoy by being in the familiar. So, everyone get excited! We are moving to the UK, an hour away from London! It will be fun, it will be excitement, it will be a walking city (Hello! New shoes and smaller clothes!). It will be an experience of a lifetime (tons of cheap flights through EasyJet and RyanAir to great European destinations!) and it will be one I am both saddened and happy to take.

Now, time to indulge my emotions and devour the last cupcake.

Moving back to a place with Cake Frosting

Moving, it is always a hassle and not in the oh no I have to pack up these boxes type way but the oh my gosh if I don't figure out how to fit this gigantic pot into this teeny tiny box then it will be sitting here in France while I am trying to whip up a loving meal in New York sans necessary equipment! The real news right now though is this french version of Craigslist.org... Leboncoin.fr! It is great and surprisingly they have gone beyond the selling scope of Craigslist to include every single region in France so whether you live in a small town of 400 or an enormous town of 2 million, you can get your "stuff" out there and in front of those who are willing to buy it. Those items that are just junk to me are, as I read somewhere one time, someone else's treasure! So someone else somewhere in this vast country (even though its smaller than Texas) is out there waiting to buy my vacuum cleaner, my dishwasher AND my microwave along with my ipod speakers, my floor length mirror, my bathroom scale and my multi-plug plugs! Can we say "amazing!"! Leboncoin.fr is making my life so much simpler as we speak. I am not having to worry over leaving my poor ipod speakers sitting in the corner of an empty apartment collecting dust while I make my trek back to the great US because someone already agreed to purchase at my asking price. I am instead getting to enjoy my week, plan what souvenirs I need to grab before heading back and bake lots and lots of cupcakes (with frosting I brought back from the US!) to travel with us to Nice for Easter weekend.