Engine Engine Number 9

Heyyy everybody!

I'm not sure how many of you will be blogging or checking supsup this holiday season, but I hope this post brings a smile to your beautiful faces wherever you are.
It is 1030am and I am on a train, traveling to London. I departed from Waverley Station in Edinburgh for the last time this morning, and despite the ridiculous holiday journey I have ahead of me, that departure was perhaps one of the most heartbreaking moments of my life. I have talked to many of you over the past few months, and I think I got all of one post in about two months ago, but this wasn't out of neglect. I check this shit every few days. I have just been so incredibly busy and happy and full of life that I could not find time to write anything until now. Edinburgh is the most wonderful city I have ever been in, and I am sure I am biased on account of the spoiled lifestyle I lived and the remarkable people I shared my time with, but still, I cannot help but envy children lucky enough to be born in Scotland's capital.
I believe I mentioned in my last blog my discontent with the fact that I found myself falling into place with a crew of Americans. I definitely completely withdraw that notion - the group that I was a part of, the bonds that we forged, and the experiences we had were among the most heartwarming and spectacular of my life. (in the words of my friend and flatmate Adam, "this semester was like kindergarten... but if you lived with your classmates, and could go out drinking every night...)
I also met a girl here, a wonderful, beautiful, brilliant and kind gal from Philly named Kate who goes to Brown. I don't want to rant and rave too much but she really was fantastic and, dare I say, close to perfect for me. Every moment I spent with her was remarkable, and while I am not sure if we have a future, on account of the distance, we are definitely keeping in touch, and I suppose we will just give it time and see what happens.
My friendships here have also been extraordinary, but also unusual for me. I have never really had a solid group of guy friends - that's not to say Timm and Chris and Tyguy aren't solid friends, I really just want to emphasize the group dynamic. Each crew I have been a part of has consisted of at least half girlies, and while I definitely LOVE all of you lady friends, I must say it was really great to have an awesome group of guys to hang out with. Unfortunately, of the friends I made in my programme, only two live on the West coast, and they both go to school in the East. I will miss them all greatly, but it is very exciting to be coming back to Salem (errr... well, maybe not Salem, but definitely Willamette!) and all/most of you in January.
weeellll, as I mentioned, I'm on a train to London. I only have the day there, so I hope I can make the most of it, but it sure is shitty out (seems to be a pretty common theme here in the UK). I am meeting my uncle tonight, and in the morning we are flying to Havana, where I will get to spend fouuurrr lovely days getting some solid R&R. Christmas day I fly to London for a holiday brunch with my uncle and his friends, then in the evening I am flying to Paris on my own to stay at my uncle's flat. I have a Interrail pass, which I am hoping to use excessively. I have a tentative plan to go through about 8 countries with a sort of culmination when I (hopefully) meet Sol in Amsterdam for NEW YEARS 2009!! I do not yet have a ticket back to the states, my uncle is (again, hopefully) hooking me up with a cheap flight to somewhere in the states and then I can find my way to PDX. I am hoping to pass through Philadelphia for a week or so to see Kate and some other kids from my program (somehow a good 30% of the students were from Philly or the surrounding area...) and then!!! SPRING SEMESTER 2009!!! yay.
I'm not sure where I'm living yet (hint hint... you know who you are) but even if I end up on campus again I will be content. Looking forward to so many things... BGB, settling Catan, B I G DUMPS, the bistro!! I will see you all so soon.

love
i town