One Week Left... ?!?!!?

Hey everyone! Alrighty, so I've been slacking a tiny bit on writing posts again lately, but only because I've been suuuuper busy here. The last I updated you on was Avignon, so I still have to update about Nice and Poland. Then I was back in Lyon for a week, and then traveled AGAIN to Paris and Rome. I have so many experiences to share about all of those places, and I really feel like the last trips that I took were some of the best. Maybe I've picked up better travel tactics along the way, and that's why? Or maybe I was just in some of the best places, and with the greatest people. Who knows. Probably a mix of the two.

I'm going to work on getting caught up to date, but I may end up having to write some posts once I get back home. On that note, a week from today, I will be waking up in Cincinnati, Ohio. I leave Lyon on the 29th (and hence get back to Cincy on the 29th. I get to time travel backwards 6 hours, so that's cool, right?). So I'll be home next Wednesday! I honestly can't believe that I'm so close to being home. And, as expected, I have some very mixed feelings about being back. Before anyone starts jumping on me for it, let me say first and foremost that I am very, very, very excited to be able to see you all back home again!! It's been a long 5 months without you all around. And I've definitely gone through (more than a few) down points of being homesick and missing the states and friends and family, etc. I'll be so grateful to hug you all again!

That being said, though, I didn't quite anticipate the feelings I'd be having right now of not wanting to leave. It's starting to become real that I won't have this part of the world at my fingertips anymore. I have fallen in love with France, Lyon especially, and - dare I say it? - I think I've become assimilated to the French way of life. Woah! I have also met so. many. people along the way that have made my time here unforgettable. That includes people living here in Lyon with me, as well as people whom I've met throughout my travels. If any of you are reading this - thank you! I'm so grateful that you've all come into my life. I've even met new people within the past couple of weeks who have made my experience a different one than if I hadn't met them.

I'm gonna stop writing this soon, because I'm not ready to say goodbye to Lyon yet, and this feels too much like that's what I'm doing. This city is amazing, this continent is incredible, and I am in disbelief that my time here is coming to a close already. gah. Okay, stopping now, more to come on my overall experience later. For now, I'm doing all that I can to make the most of the time that I have left here! And, like I said, I'll have a few more travel posts coming at you soon!

Much love to you all, and I will see you SOON!