europe trip

so i've finally confirmed my plans. a solo trip to europe . . a little freaky i admit, but incredibly exciting too. . .
i'm feeling nostalgic for thailand, a whole rush of memories overwhelm me as i take out my thailand backpack. . .well, i shouldn't exaggerate, i didn't exactly invest myself in any way in the country. . . but in some sublime way the experience was utterly unique and removed from anything i had ever known before. . to be among a foreign breed of strangers, kind, well-meaning, often wide-eyed, thailand natives. . . not to say we didn't yell with delight whenever we happened on a fellow westerner, american, or jew. .
i suppose europe will be quite different. . .it's odd that i've never been, but it'll likely make this experience that much more meaningful, because i come now with more experience and insight than i might have, had i made this trip a year or two back. . .
i will not write up my expectations of this trip, but im hoping it'll serve as a springboard for real inspiration. . and that throughout the trip and when i come back i'm able to write, write, write. . .

parting is such sweet sorrow.
even though i'll be back at school in just a few short months, until then i know i'll miss the place. ..
writing a 10 page paper in 2 hours in one of butler's reading rooms. . .one wonders whether it isn't something in the air at butler that can focus a drifting mind. . . .i'll miss the early days at lerner hall, before i tired of meeting mice at every corner. . . .and those expensive kosher boxed lunches available exclusively at butler's cafe. . . .or the smarter, cheaper option, tuna at hartley's kosher deli. . . .a caramel flavored coffee at starbucks, on the way to hillel . . . tanning on college walk during those incredible four hour breaks. . . .i'll even miss todd's ridiculous humor, really truly bad, but so perfect for 9 a.m. music hum. . . .and the bunch of us half asleep, eating breakfast, and nodding along at todd's exposition on bach or schoenberg. . . .prof goehr's absurd british arrogance and the guys ogling her. . . .dames' brilliant lectures --a rich tapestry of social sciences, philosophy, language and art. . . .until next fall