Live , Love, Laugh, LUX :)

THE. END.

This is very sad- Its finally THE END. REALLY. I leave the house in less than an hour now even and so I’m squeezing in just one more very last post before I leave Gaby and Lux and Europe for good, after 4 successful months! And as much as writing this post makes me so sad and on the verge of crying :( I thought I’d just write one very last anyway! 

I cant believe I’m leaving. I’ve made so many unforgettable memories. As cliche as that sounds, I truly did :’) I got to know so many more people, and experienced surprises as well as disappointments. However, overall, I would not have traded this experience I had the past 4 months for anything else. It was so worth it - yes I know I didnt even want to come when I arrived here, but now looking back, I’ve learnt so much, and I’ve grown in so many ways I never thought possible. I really feel like a whole new changed person (well, sort of). 

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Hmm, so. Packing. The packing process was more painful than I thought. Yes in theory my bags should have been lighter since mum took home some stuff, but hey, why are my suitcases so full and heavy? >< Always the case heading home, oh well. I have concluded that even after so many trips, I am just not the efficient packer, oops! Maybe I need to take more trips so I can practice? Haha! Here’s hoping that when I go to the airport later, my bags will make it through..

After dropping my bags in school, Gaby invited me for a drink with her and Arthur ^^ It was so lovely just sitting in a typical Lux bistro/cafe one more time, meeting the locals, and talking over a drink int he evening time. I’m sure going to miss these cafes!! So european and I absolutely love it =) It was so nice getting to see Arthur for one last time too, we talked about my travels these past months, about going home to the US, my future, etc etc. Needless to say, we sat there for quite a while, but it was lovely! 

Then when I came home, Gaby surprised me and cooked me dinner - how sweet of her!! I’m definitely going to miss her, she is such a nice host mum. Even sweet simple gestures like this really made me smile, for one last time that I’m here! She cooked a “chinese-style” dish with macaroni noodles (how chinese I know..) but with sauteed green beans and duck pieces…it was so delicious though! She even set out chopsticks specially for this occasion. It was all too sweet and at that moment, I was even more sad that I only had a few more hours left in Lux! She has been so wonderful and we chatted about everything from previous host students to her family. She showed me tons of photos of her family ^^ I am going to miss this, and I took pictures to commemorate and remember this precious time we spent together :))

Now, I’m terribly sad as I watch the minutes on the clock counting down to 11 when I officially leave this house for good…back to the chateau to load the bus for the Brussels airport. Here to a super looooonggg morning/night/day ahead…no sleep tonight! But hey, at least I will be on my way to the US real soon… and reunited with my family in Cleveland! Brussels —> JFK —> Cleveland = lets go! As much as its very sad seeing my room and place that I’ve lived for the past few months, I will treasure all the memories here and will you can bet I will be returning soon soon …;) <3 Till my next post back in the USA ahh! 

The (very) Last Hurrah!

Hey everyone, for those of you who have been keeping up and reading my Lux blog for the past 4 months, thank you so much!! I hope its been a wonderful journey and you’ve been able to live through my stories and pictures, perhaps? :) Just wanted to say that because I am officially coming to the end of my 4 month European experience…therefore The Last Hurrah! Just like we know how all good things have to come to an end, so just as well does my MUDEC Spring 2012 semester! Its definitely been a great adventure here in Europe for the past few months, but I am surely more than ready to go back to the states and reunite with Mum, Dad, and Jon - how I miss them so dearly <3 Sad that I only appreciate them more when I’m away here..however, I’ve learnt my lesson and I cant wait to see them in just 4 days now; its getting close yet time doesnt seem to be moving fast enough still >< Well, since my next post would most likely be once I’m back in the US, I thought I’d just write this post as a sort of wrapping-up of the last few days of the semester and Lux; bye Lux, hello America oh so soon!!

Friday was supposed to be our grand night as it was the annual end of semester banquet that night. Well in actuality, the festivities were supposed to begin in the afternoon with a buffet lunch provided by the school. However, sad to say, it turned out to be a huge disappointment :( More like a huge salad bar with some plates of extra cold cuts and cheeses laid out.. hmm really why tell us it was a buffet then? Anyway, with our stomachs still left hungry, I went with our group of girls to grab some nutella crepes at the Gondola Gelato place; ooh this was delicious! I’ll miss it ;) I went home afterwards to get ready for the evening. Our dinner and awards banquet was held at La Gioia, a cute little Italian restaurant nestled in the surrounding woods of Differdange. Alright, I guess good job MUDEC for actually providing us with a bit of glam and fancy to go out with a bang for our final celebration - the place was not the nicest, but it was definitely decent and charming, so it was quite lovely for a banquet ^^ The food was better than I expected, so couldnt really complain. However, what was most important that night was to just soak up the atmosphere with friends; one of the last few times to do so! During that night’s banquet, I just enjoyed being in the company of good friends, reminiscing about the semester, and overall just enjoying a great time :’) I realized I’ve made some new good friends, and felt so blessed to know all these wonderful girls over the course of the last few months! Awards were given out too; but I shall not comment too much on this since there were some people I honestly didnt think truly deserved the award. Oh well. And the entertainment provided by SFC wasnt the best at all - silly superlatives and a roast for Annie? Hmm I think I’d pass. But overall, it was a nice way to end of the last of the semester before finals started… ! 

On Saturday, Shelby had organized a last girls dinner out at an Italian restaurant at Belval Plaza :)) It was so much fun and unforgettable <3 I loved that evening…perhaps one of the best I ever had. Even the weather was nice that day - I think I made the right decision to come out that day! It was so worth it. The food was amazing (I had too huge a portion of Spaghetti Aglio Olio) but once again, it was the company of the people I was with that was the highlight and made the evening. You know after all, yes it was the last time in Lux, but I’m sure it won’t be the last time that we girls would meet up again…reunions were in the talks and planning stages already once we get back to the states and Oxford; you can be sure of that! 

Crazy how my time in Lux and Europe has come to an end now… but in my heart, they will never fade; they will last a lifetime :) For now, as always, as much as it hurts me to say it…but is it time to say goodbyes? Its sure bittersweet, but I’m so excited to go home as well!! Here’s cheers to a wonderful semester I had! My final words: ” Just hold on tight and never ever let go~” <3 

(Now back to reality, and time to ace through these last 3 finals this coming week; starting tomorrow. Wish me luck!) 

Random Inklings;

So… this is my second last Friday sitting downstairs in the Cave of the Chateau. Yes, thats right… this also means its my second last weekend in Luxembourg! My 4 months European Experience is officially coming to an end, soon enough…in 13 days I will be heading home to the US! YAY :) 

Anyway, yes I’m spending this weekend here in Lux again. Fact is this traveler is truly tired - honestly, I can say I’ve been really satisfied with all the traveling that I’ve done this semester (went to most of my dream places…even though I didnt travel as much as I imagined or as much as other people) and I’m just tired out. Bet you wouldn’t imagine plenty of traveling in 4 months would do this to you but it really does suck the energy out of you (you only feel it at the end of the semester though)! So I’m just going to be spending some down time in good old Lux this weekend. After this, I’m going off to an impromptu lunch with Kari and Kathleen, and tomorrow, I’m headed to the city to do some last minute shopping (as it maybe my last time in the city too) and grab some chocolate spoons to bring back home as well! Yes, I’m going to be such the tourist; coming back home with all this chocolate, they better not stop me at the airport ><! 

The only exception with this weekend is that I actually have to study this time around… and I’m serious, I actually have to study…or well, force myself to study at least. Did I mention that we have finals week coming up? FINALS! Why do we have to take finals here? Oh man, :/ But ok, I mean even if we have finals, they are only made way worse here because this means we have finals right up to the very day itself that we are supposed to be leaving here! (no joke) I have 4 finals but next week is going to be just absolutely crazy with so much work; my daily to-do list is overflowing already!! I have a french oral exam, a french passe compose quiz, a sociology presentation, and a marketing final next week. All this on top of having to study for my 3 finals the week after and having to pack and prepare for my return home the next week. WOW. Everything’s coming, and it’s coming FAST. Can I just say I’m not a fan of my whole grade depending on these last few crazy weeks with major projects and finals (esp when its starting to get hard to focus now and yea you get the point…)

Alright I apologize for this really crazy, unorganized post. I really dont know what was the main point of writing this post; I just thought I’d update on my blog before even more craziness ensues! My fellow dear friends are going crazy as well, and I am no exception sadly (esp now I’m waiting for my laundry to get done…um how many hours has it been already…I wish I didnt know..)! Lets just say the only thing keeping me sane right now is that I’m looking forward to going home in 13 DAYS. I cant wait!!! <3 <3 

Once again, pardon my messy post - its random writings after all. Here’s to me trying to get some serious studying done this weekend! See ya soon, everybody! :)