This is a preemptive PS... you know when you're awake for a long time and your mind gets all squiggly? That's what's happening to me right now. I can't really see straight, I'm having trouble with basic grammar and I legitimately spelled "made" "maid." So please excuse my writing.

The day I moved out of my first apartment, my roommate Stephanie gave me a friendship bracelet. It had been a long, hard year with lots of ups and even more downs and when she tied it around my wrist it really meant a lot... it symbolized that we were still best friends, that everything was ok and all could be forgiven. I have never been much of a jewelry wearer, but I love that bracelet and look at it and think of her every day. In some strange way it really ties up last year for me and at the time sent me home on a good note, optimistic about our friendship and the future.

The past few months at school have been amazing. I've worked so hard to become a better friend and roommate and the positive changes I've made have offered clear results in many areas of my life. I would say that 99% of my friendships are stronger than ever and I could not be in a better place to embark on Study Abroad.

Just as I sat here a moment ago, finally completing my first blog entry, my bracelet fell off. I think someone told me once that when a friendship bracelet falls you get to make a wish. It doesn't really matter because I don't believe in wishes but I'm going to make one anyway. I'm going to keep my wish to myself, but on a related note (can you guess my wish?)... what I want more than anything in the world is for this trip to prove me wrong. I want everything I know and everything I believe to change. Lately I've been sitting pretty damn high up and I need to be kicked straight to the ground. Please, world. Prove me wrong. Show me what there is. Make me believe in something, anything, because I've felt so empty lately. It's so much easier when you believe.

Ps. Stephanie, seriously, I love that bracelet so much. I may actually change my wish, and wish for it to be magically molded back on to my hand forever.