So fellow rookies

[clevercraig]

I leave the 26th of may for my trip throughout London, Denamrk, The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Czech. I could not be more excited and am dealing fine with the stress of preporation. Every so often however I find myself awaking in the middle of the night saying to myself "what the fuck are you thinking craig?" I't usually spurred on by the fact that I am terrified of flying (yet I am making myself of course) and the fact that between purchasing a new car and this trip I will be spending my life savings. Thoughts of terrorism, language barriers, and crime come to mind too. However I refuse to give into such doubt and concern. I believe this trip will be the experiance of a lifetime, and no fear is going to stop me. I just wondered that if every now and then you had brief concerns that you had to ashe out like this. Perhaps this is where the addiction that many of the vets speak of first comes into play. Conquering such doubts. Or perhaps the moments of doubt are here just because the reality that tickets are bought, May 26th is not far off, and I am about to jump into the unknown. Regardless, it is exciting....i feel so alive.

[space virgin]

not so much angst as just plain excitement. But I think that's normal!! I leave in... 13 days almost exactly. The only things that concern me a little bit are larger issues like the bombing in Madrid today... drat, I am going there and now my family is going to be worried about me. Not that it would stop me, but I just don't want them to worry. Last year I was in Paris when the war started, and my poor granny was very concerned.

So I guess a lot of the time I'm just worried that people are worried about me, as strange as that sounds. I have no idea if that answered your question though!! lol

[Fedfe]

haha, space virgin, i can totally relate. my parents are such worryworts. i know they care for me, and are just looking out for me, but it stresses ME out...! oh well, they are just going to have to realize that i can take care of myself, and just DEAL WITH IT! haha, because i am going and there is no turning back!

i agree though, not so much angst but pure excitement. i was supposed to go last summer, but didn't end up going, so i told myself that i absolutely HAD to go this summer. i'm really kinda glad that i didn't go last summer, because i feel so much more ready for it. between reading all the posts on here, on just talking to people and doing research on my own, i think i have acquired some useful knowledge!
last year i probably would have been too scared to go by myself, but now, i'm not worried about that. i'm looking forward to it. I almost don't want to go with anyone i know, because i want to do whatever i want! well i did decide to go solo, but now my special lady friend is meeting me in paris. Hoorah! that is going to be good, we are going to travel together...then i'll go solo, after she leaves from Rome.

I'm really glad i took that extra year (not really by choice!), but i feel like i have learned a lot!

Craig, i do have some moments when i get a little nervous, but most of all, excited. i did have a miniature freakout after i bought my airplane ticket and insurnace and all that, and i realized i only had 500 bucks in my bank account...but then i got some more money, and things balanced out. but now its all coming together, and all i can think of is that departure date. I can't wait, and can't imagine what its going to feel like taking off in that plane, knowing that i won't be back for at least three months, and am going to have the time of my life! DOING WHAT I WANT!!! WHOA!!!!