My 23 year old, Tara, graduated this past June from the School of the Art Institute in Chicago, with two degrees, in 5 years. Restless, and so hungry for life–education–experience, she is also well grounded. She rested up for all of two months, while working in Chicago through July, then Folk Festival in Lowell, and has been home since. Vacationing. Cooking. Reading. Sewing. Golfing. Planning.
Planning what to do with the $1500.00 no-strings-attached travel-grant she was awarded upon graduation as a student leader.
August 30. She is currently getting on a train, traveling alone, to NYC, to spend the night with her ex-roomate in the Bronx. ($69) Sunday, she buses to Newark, for a plane to London, and on to Poland. ($400). Where, alone, she will visit a friend in Warsaw. (To see the finished re-built- from-scratch-pre-WWII Synogogue that she helped build 2 years ago, “without nails”, when she was last in Poland) Then, a $50 plane ride to Vienna. She heard it is beautiful. She will stay with a friend of a friend. Then, Budapest. (The “architecture and streudel is amazing” says the roommate) Then, another chesp, Ryan Air flight to Germany–Berlin, then maybe a train to Munich. And finally (thus far!) France–Paris briefly, to have dinner with a friend, do some baby sitting, pick up a few dollars. Before heading to Beaune, and an organic dairy farm, with WOOF. Where room and board is free, in exchange for working the farm. She felt this was the best way to complete her desire to speak French fluently. And enjoy farm-fresh cheese. Maybe, a Vineyard after, to pick grapes during harvest. Or an olive farm.
I try not to write about my children too often. But…
I look forward to the holidays now, more than ever…to have my children home, safe and sound.
Be careful Tara. Have an incredible trip! Call, if you want me to join you…I love cheese…
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