filling in blanks, maybe...

I will be leaving in around 12 hours to travel in Europe for three weeks. I confess I am nervous. I know very few specifics about European areas, so few real details that I'm sure I would surprise you. Moreover, having experienced the language barrier here, I can't help but wish I had spent more time learning languages growing up--sometimes I really wonder what I did with all of my time home schooling?

I know I will be going to England, France, Italy and Greece, though I'm not sure if those are the only countries I will go to or ,whats more, exactly where I will go in them. When I have told people the approach that I am taking to this trip, a sort of solo, unplanned, play-it-by-ear way of travel, I have almost entirely (with the exception of mothers) had it expressed to me that I am doing it "the best way to do it", with a sort of envy voiced or otherwise somewhere fit in. At the time I would simply smile and agree, that is after all why I planned it this way. But then, I hadn't been out of the country yet at that point; now I'm not so sure about it to be perfectly honest. I like the idea, but I still wish I knew more about the countries. It is much harder to act like you know what your doing in other countries than I think most people imagine. Still, I have great expectations for these next few weeks, not the least of which being to meet people in hostels and any context I happen upon. On the one hand I am fascinated in travelers, particularly when I am traveling and particularly in places that I am already very interested in--to that effect, I am probably equally as fascinated in people in places as I am with the place itself.

I'm sorry it has been so long since I have said anything. When I get back to the United States I will try to catch you up a little on additional thoughts I have been mulling over in this remaining gap of time I have been in Africa and offer some pictures.

I will say that while I have done a few things worth while, this leg of my trip as been over for at least a week I think, while I have continued simply to wait I think; wait for something to strike me, wait to feel Africa again, wait for Europe? To put my attitude and activities into words, I think it is best said as "uh-huh".