Biting the Bullet

I really don't know where that expression comes from, but at any rate, I'm biting the bullet and finally starting a blog. I've gone back and forth on whether I would do this or not, mostly because it strikes me as incredibly narcissistic to assume that other people want to read about my everyday life. Accordingly, for your sake and for mine, I will be striving to lead a "life less ordinary", hence the blog title. Apart from reflecting my current life philosophy, that phrase is also the title of an excellent song.

I've already been doing my best to live a life less ordinary, and I think I've done fairly well on that score this summer. I spent ten weeks of my summer living on a ranch in Montana interning for a non-profit political research organization called Project Vote Smart. Many of you expressed considerable surprise that I, of all people, would choose to live in such a remote, outdoorsy location. I must admit, I too had major reservations going into the experience, but most (if not all) of those proved to be unfounded. The work I did from 8-5 every day was definitely less than ordinary, but everything else about the experience was absolutely extraordinary. The scenery, the adventures, and especially the people I met were all unforgettable. I climbed mountains, saw bears, jumped in freezing cold lakes, played euchre and volleyball for hours on end, painted docks, bridges, and buildings, and talked for hours to some of the most interesting people I’ve ever met. So ask me about Montana the next time you see me (which for most of you won’t be for quite awhile), but be prepared to stop me or I’ll ramble on forever.

Here are some of the most scenic views from my expeditions in Montana:

But my days in Montana are over, and now I’m on to my next big adventure: PARIS. In a little over 48 hours, I will leave Phoenix on a plane for Chicago. In Chicago, I’ll meet two other Notre Dame students, and together we will fly to Paris, retrieve our luggage (with any luck – don’t worry Steph, I knocked on wood just for you), and navigate our way to the campus that will be our home for the next 9 months.

I’ll be staying in a dorm at the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris. I’ve struggled to adequately explain this living situation to many of you, so if you click the link, you can explore the Cité’s website (don’t worry, I gave you the English version) to try to find out a little more if you like. Basically, the Cité is a site that houses about 6.000 students and adult researchers of all nationalities. There are 38 different dorms or houses organized roughly according to nationality. I say roughly because although there is a “United States Foundation” I will actually be staying in Biermans-Lapôtre, which is primarily for natives of Belgium and Luxembourg.

This is all I can muster for now, but stayed tuned, I’ll give more background information before I depart – I’ll need some breaks from packing!