“First time out of the country? Really? Not even Canada?”
I nod, a little embarrassed, while the bank teller counts out euros. They look like Monopoly money.
“Well, I’ve got to warn you, you’re going to catch the travel bug.”
It takes me a few moments to realize he doesn’t mean food poisoning, but I’ve been hearing this from all sides: travel as much as you can! Relatives in Scotland, friends in London, and surely Dublin isn’t that far from Oslo…
It’s good advice, but I have to keep reminding everyone that I will be in school, and right now the idea of living in Ireland is too exciting for me to even think about going anywhere else. In less than 36 hours, I will step out into 45 degree air, balmy compared to subzero Minneapolis. I will find out if I really packed as wisely as I think I did (raincoat, boots, lots of sweaters).
I will also know a tad more about international travel. Today I asked my mom how I would find customs. She somehow managed to hold back a guffaw while explaining not to worry, I would not accidentally wander past security out of the airport.
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Beatrice Gantzer
<p><span style="color: rgb(29, 29, 29); font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; background-color: rgb(237, 237, 237);">My name is Bea Gantzer, and I am a junior English major at Washington University in St. Louis. I'm a distance runner, baker, and Minnesotan. This will be my first time out of the United States, and I look forward to experiencing a new culture, soaking up Dublin's rich history, and getting little-kid excited over seeing buildings older than the U.S. itself.</span></p>
