Sunday, April 13, 2008
Co-Blogging On the Way
After talking with Madeline and Revie, they've both agreed to do co-blogging here. I'm super excited! Once we work out the whole Blogger deal, they should be posting regularly.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Who We Are
All right. Who are these frivolous girls who are going to contribute to carbon emissions and waste hard-earned money on indulgent travel? We're pretty crazy, I'll tell ya.
The three of us, Madeline, Revie and Gabrielle (me) have been friends since seventh grade. We're juniors now, so that's a long time. We met in church, like all good Christians should (sike!) and none of us fit with the youth group. I was friends with Revie and I was friends with Madeline but the three of us were never a real trio until freshman year.
We took a Christian-Ed class at church and were all in the same small group. We kind of discovered that we all... get along. It's not like we're the same people, we're insanely different. We believe different things, we wear different clothes (although we all love fashion), we like different kinds of movies (but we watch the other peeps' movies too), we all have our issues but we are incredibly close.
And in that famous freshman year, Madeline, a not-in-the-closet Anglophile, told me about her dream of going to Europe after high school. I told her to stick with me; I have connections. Thus began The Plan, a wispy dream of two young teenagers.
As the Years Passed, the Plan became a little less wispy and a little more concrete. Revie joined on board (we suspect only to check out European boys-- and cathedrals-- but that's okay) and we set a date: June after graduation.
This Christmas, we made our first real plan, outlining places we want to go and how long we want to go for. In March (15 months away) we decided it was more practical to just hit England and Paris, for three weeks. Our strategies for saving money, the places we want to go, what we want to bring back, how much Chanel we'll be stealing: all to be revealed later.
The Plan has become a sort-of pact. I guess some teens make suicide pacts, we make travel pacts. If we don't do this, it will be one of the greatest disappointments and I-wish-I-couldas ever. So we're going. In June 2009, we can celebrate five full years of friendship for three fabulous weeks, before departing to separate colleges and the inevitable part of growing up.
The three of us, Madeline, Revie and Gabrielle (me) have been friends since seventh grade. We're juniors now, so that's a long time. We met in church, like all good Christians should (sike!) and none of us fit with the youth group. I was friends with Revie and I was friends with Madeline but the three of us were never a real trio until freshman year.
We took a Christian-Ed class at church and were all in the same small group. We kind of discovered that we all... get along. It's not like we're the same people, we're insanely different. We believe different things, we wear different clothes (although we all love fashion), we like different kinds of movies (but we watch the other peeps' movies too), we all have our issues but we are incredibly close.
And in that famous freshman year, Madeline, a not-in-the-closet Anglophile, told me about her dream of going to Europe after high school. I told her to stick with me; I have connections. Thus began The Plan, a wispy dream of two young teenagers.
As the Years Passed, the Plan became a little less wispy and a little more concrete. Revie joined on board (we suspect only to check out European boys-- and cathedrals-- but that's okay) and we set a date: June after graduation.
This Christmas, we made our first real plan, outlining places we want to go and how long we want to go for. In March (15 months away) we decided it was more practical to just hit England and Paris, for three weeks. Our strategies for saving money, the places we want to go, what we want to bring back, how much Chanel we'll be stealing: all to be revealed later.
The Plan has become a sort-of pact. I guess some teens make suicide pacts, we make travel pacts. If we don't do this, it will be one of the greatest disappointments and I-wish-I-couldas ever. So we're going. In June 2009, we can celebrate five full years of friendship for three fabulous weeks, before departing to separate colleges and the inevitable part of growing up.
Destination: The Tower of London
I've been there before, when I was eight. It's where the Crown Jewels live, and I definitely want to go in 2009. Revie should want to go only to see where Elizabeth stayed in Elizabeth with Cate Blanchett. Madeline should want to go just because of the gaudy jewelry :D.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Back in the Running
So I haven't posted for like five months but I've been working! And the Friends and I are beginning to narrow down and think ahead. Our BIG TRIP is about 15 months away.
After long discussions, I am no longer going to Italy and no longer going to spend a semester in England. Sad, but I'll just have to make up for it in my junior year abroad. Until then, the Revster, Madelegna and I have been working on our plans.
We estimate our trip will cost about $3000 each, with approximately three weeks abroad. It looks as if we might just be hitting the UK and Paris this time, with a sentimental goal of doing Italy after college graduations. I love working on logistics for this, it's so inspiring.
So, little known facts:
Some of the COOLEST stuff in London is free (Westminster Abbey, British Museum-- Rosetta Stone!!!)
You can buy a Carte Orange pass in Paris and get unlimited train rides for a week
Stonehenge is only like 9 miles from Salisbury Cathedral
Oxford University offers a HARRY POTTER tour, as well as a J.R.R. Tolkien/C.S. Lewis tour. We'll have to pick one.
More updates, slow and erratic, but updates, are sure to come.
After long discussions, I am no longer going to Italy and no longer going to spend a semester in England. Sad, but I'll just have to make up for it in my junior year abroad. Until then, the Revster, Madelegna and I have been working on our plans.
We estimate our trip will cost about $3000 each, with approximately three weeks abroad. It looks as if we might just be hitting the UK and Paris this time, with a sentimental goal of doing Italy after college graduations. I love working on logistics for this, it's so inspiring.
So, little known facts:
Some of the COOLEST stuff in London is free (Westminster Abbey, British Museum-- Rosetta Stone!!!)
You can buy a Carte Orange pass in Paris and get unlimited train rides for a week
Stonehenge is only like 9 miles from Salisbury Cathedral
Oxford University offers a HARRY POTTER tour, as well as a J.R.R. Tolkien/C.S. Lewis tour. We'll have to pick one.
More updates, slow and erratic, but updates, are sure to come.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Money, Money, Money
I love that ABBA song, ever since I first heard it on Mamma Mia!.
Through great grace and miracles, I landed my first job, working at a cooking school. This is going to the primary fundraiser for the European trips, even if it is rather small wage. I earn more than 10x as much per hour as a harpist, but harp gigs are sporadic and unpredictable. And it's a lot more work.
The way I figure it, Italy is going to be the *most interesting* to save for because I'd like to go with a group that will have a deadline for the cash. It's also sooner. After Italy, I'll have six or seven months where I can work almost full time. I'm planning on getting another job then, too.
To clear up misconceptions, I have been to England many times before. That's the result of having a British father and loads of fun cousins and amazing grandparents. But I have never lived there, and I have never been to continental Europe.
Through great grace and miracles, I landed my first job, working at a cooking school. This is going to the primary fundraiser for the European trips, even if it is rather small wage. I earn more than 10x as much per hour as a harpist, but harp gigs are sporadic and unpredictable. And it's a lot more work.
The way I figure it, Italy is going to be the *most interesting* to save for because I'd like to go with a group that will have a deadline for the cash. It's also sooner. After Italy, I'll have six or seven months where I can work almost full time. I'm planning on getting another job then, too.
To clear up misconceptions, I have been to England many times before. That's the result of having a British father and loads of fun cousins and amazing grandparents. But I have never lived there, and I have never been to continental Europe.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Welcome to Girl Meets Europe
Hey.
My name is Gabrielle, I live in America and I want to go to Europe. There are more facts about me, but these are the most relevant.
This blog is going to chronicle where I want to go, how I'm going to earn the money to do it, how I get there, and of course, all the fabulous times I do have when I arrive. There will be probably be lots of faux pas in Paris, but stil.
The goals are a two-week trip to Italy and then a semester in England by myself with family (i.e., I have loads of extended family members there who are too kind to refuse to let the Yank cousin come and stay) with a triumphant three-week Grand Tour (OK, England and France and perhaps a bit of Spain or Italy) with my two best friends.
How can I afford this without finishing school/getting a Wall Street banker? I've been a geek in school and seriously, I have a semester to blow off and do whatever. As far as money, I just got a job last week and so minimum wage, prepare to meet TRAVEL AGENT.
My name is Gabrielle, I live in America and I want to go to Europe. There are more facts about me, but these are the most relevant.
This blog is going to chronicle where I want to go, how I'm going to earn the money to do it, how I get there, and of course, all the fabulous times I do have when I arrive. There will be probably be lots of faux pas in Paris, but stil.
The goals are a two-week trip to Italy and then a semester in England by myself with family (i.e., I have loads of extended family members there who are too kind to refuse to let the Yank cousin come and stay) with a triumphant three-week Grand Tour (OK, England and France and perhaps a bit of Spain or Italy) with my two best friends.
How can I afford this without finishing school/getting a Wall Street banker? I've been a geek in school and seriously, I have a semester to blow off and do whatever. As far as money, I just got a job last week and so minimum wage, prepare to meet TRAVEL AGENT.
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