"When good Americans die, they go to Paris." - Oscar Wilde

Friday, January 28, 2011

A Cure-All Remedy for Homesickness?

I leave in three days and my anxiety has transformed into excitement. I only dread the initial homesickness. I've never been away for this long. The only comparison is when I left for college, but even then I had the opportunity to come home if I felt too overwhelmed. In France this is not an option. So I've devised a plan to fend off my homesickness.


David Sedaris. My cousin introduced him to me, so he reminds me of Christmases spent with my Italian family in Philadelphia, where we ate creamed potatoes and homemade cheesecake until we cringed.
My boyfriend's hoodie. So I never have to sleep alone. It smells like the French cologne he wears and reminds me of one of our first dates, where I pressed my nose to his neck and inhaled the intoxicating scent.
Music. I'll depend on the mellow guitar riffs of John Mayer to soothe me to sleep on restless nights abroad.
Photos. There are several pictures I'll snag from the walls of my bedroom, leaving empty spaces in their wake. They'll bring me comfort in an unfamiliar place.


I wish I could fast forward through the goodbyes and set my feet on French soil.