My two best friends and I have great plans for the future.
Backstory: two years ago, HK and I first went to Ireland with our dance group. Then last year, we both went again with Katie. This year, Katie and I are going back but HK isn't. But that doesn't mean she doesn't want to go back...
So we were sitting at Ihop the other night (free pancake day!) and talking about Ireland and France and stuff, and HK suddenly said, "Let's make a promise that in five years, we'll all go back to Ireland."
Katie and I, naturally, were all for it. Pact made. But we didn't stop there... "And then we'll stop by France again and visit the Tauntons." "Hey, why don't we just go through all of Europe?" "Oh, we should go to Scotland!" Etcetera, etcetera...
So we came up with this plan. The summer after we graduate from college, the summer of 2017, we are going to go to Europe and travel. We'll spend the next four years saving up and then go, no matter how much money we've got. We'll start in Ireland and stay with our friends from previous mission trips, and then go over and spend some time in Scotland. From there, we'll go to London, and then on to France, where we'll stay with some friends who have a villa there (rich people...). Then on to Greece, and a quick stop in Venice... Up to Austria, over to Germany, and then we'll fly back to the states and spend a day in New York before going our separate ways.
Yes, this is happening. We all wrote down the list, signed our names, decided how much money we'd need, and figured out what languages we need to learn. We have four years to each come up with $5000-$6000 and learn French, Italian, and German.
I cannot tell you how excited I am. This kind of adventure is something I've always half-dreamed out, but never entertained serious thoughts about because when do these kinds of things actually happen to poor people like me? In the summer of 2017, that's when.
I should have a video camera by then, so boy will I get tons of footage. Diaries will be a must. Aaaaaah it's still four years away and already we've made all these plans!
--Dexter
