The Dream Begins

October 8, 2010

This blog has been revamped with the intention that it will be used as a travel log so that my children, family, and friends can follow me on my adventures throughout Ireland, England, and France. The journey doesn't begin until this coming May, but there are many things to accomplish before the traveling and exploration can begin.

There have been a few steps that have led to this point where I am anxiously awaiting the opportunity of my lifetime to finally travel and explore the sites that up until now I've only dreamed about and studied through books.

About two weeks ago, I came across an advertisement that was circulating on the university's website where I attend. It appealed to my inner Brit. Lit. junkie and also the yearning I've felt since I first began to dream of the far off lands of my ancestors and beloved authors that have taken up residence in some part of my soul.

Now, this was not the first time I'd become aware of a travel abroad program available through the university, but my circumstances were never conducive enough to allow me to even dare think that I might be able to attempt such an adventure.

Yet, when again I was presented with a possibility to see and discover a new land from which many of my dreams have sprung, I began to wonder; "what if"?

I have to say that this adventure would never have gotten its feet off the ground if not for my husband's decision to let me pursue my dreams. After the blessing from my husband to apply, the most appreciated willingness from my parents to help my husband, and the "see where things go" step was surmounted, came the overwhelming and humbling interview with the tour head whose approval I would need to be admitted to the program.

For some reason, and I'm sure I could come up with a list of whys for how I responded to my initial anxiety about the interview, I got the impression that I was not going to be given the same consideration as most of the other applicants. I believed that I was being judged because I would be leaving my husband and four children behind in order to jump halfway around the world on my own. I'm fairly sure this belief stemmed from my own sense of guilt for even thinking of applying and leaving.

Why would I want to leave my family? Don't I know that my place is in the home and that an education or dream or any other desire aside from staying in the home should not even be considered. Well, the answer is that I don't want to leave my family, and I do think that my talents are best used in the home, but I also want to grow as a person and be able to broaden and teach my family the things in which I've learned.

I digress...as I was interviewing with lead professor, I felt a sense of right, that I was supposed to be doing this, not only for me, but for my family. The interview couldn't have gone more differently than I'd imagined, and for that I am grateful. I was proven wrong in my assumption of being judged, and I was definitely proven wrong that I was wrong to even try.

Now, I await the next phase of the study aboard tour. I'll apply for the credits I'll be taking on the tour in January, and then begin to study on my own along with the additional credits I'll be taking in the interim. It will be a long and very arduous process, but to me it will be worth it. I'll be able to knock off another semester from the long line before graduation, AND I'll be able to finally do the traveling I've always dreamed of doing.

As this process progresses, I'll continue to post updates about what I'm up to in preparation, and then I'll be posting photos and blurts about the sites, places, events and other general awesome things that occur on the trip for everyone so that you might follow along with me on my adventure and be able to hopefully experience these things with me as well.