Don't blame me mom...

I have an addiction. All of my excess money (okay, there isn't a lot), I find, goes towards feeding one passion I have... It is not shopping sprees like most females my age, but a need for travel. I find that whenever I dig myself out of a financial hole that I can't help but book a trip with any excess money I have.

I decided that this need to learn about new cultures and take in entirely new experiences was enough for me to need to apply to work abroad after I graduated. I couldn't explain it to my friends or family why I thought it was a natural, and needed, step to leave everything I knew in anticipation of experiencing an unknown. My family, in particular, had a really hard time with it.

The best I came up with was, "Don't blame me mom, you know you did this to me." You see, my parents are both teachers, and their love for adventure took us on multiple long- term family road trips when I was younger. They showed me that there was so much more out there than just my experience living in Wisconsin. They opened my eyes to educational experiences that went beyond the Rocky Mountains, Niagra Falls, The White House, or the Everglades. Instead, they taught me the educational value in talking to a complete stranger, eating unknown foods, taking the road less traveled, and keeping my mind wide open to new opportunities and possibilities. I was addicted. 

So... I set out... London, England's eclectic lifestyle became my new home... and Europe, my playground.  

With my parents, sister Hailey, and best friend Julia at the Chicago Airport.

My first view of Tower Bridge from THE London Bridge!