countdown: 25

To anyone who’s asked me what I’m doing this summer, here’s the plan:

  • Berlin + Prague + Vienna + Strasbourg + London + Oxford + Paris + Rome
  • 2 months (7 weeks of classes: 12 credit hours / 2 weeks of traveling with friends)

I fly out of Chicago on May 22 (25 days from now).

IS THAT CRAZY, OR WHAT?

This could not have come together more perfectly – timing, finances/scholarships, friends traveling Europe at the same time, classes that count toward my degrees – and I am so thankful for this opportunity. So many blessings happening all at the same time. Like I said before, it’s a little crazy. But definitely the good kind.

I bought a travel backpack and suitcase (first luggage of my own!). Flights are booked. Classed enrolled. AND THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO DO. My to-do/to-buy/to-pack before leaving list is several pages long. I like lists though, so having one actually makes me feel better about the fact that we’re leaving so soon. There is something exciting and hopeful in preparing for travel. “Adventure is out there.” And I can’t wait to find it.

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If anyone is interested in ‘keeping up’ – in addition to my sketchbook and journal, I do plan to update my blog regularly. Hopefully many photos and sketches will be included as well! To see all posts tagged “study abroad”, you can bookmark this page: https://lynnettetherese.com/category/travel/study-abroad/ (or, follow my blog through your WordPress account/email subscription to receive a notification about every post).

libero: for Alison

libero: for Alison, ink on paper, 2013
libero: for Alison, ink on paper, 2013

 

Tattoo design for a dear friend of mine. (By the way: the tattoo artist did a phenomenal job and the final piece looks wonderful!)

Libero means “freedom” in Latin, and the elephant is a national animal of some southeast Asian countries as well as a symbol for strength, honor, and patience. Trips to several countries in this region of the world were an introduction to her passion for fighting human trafficking, and she sees these traits as valuable in that pursuit.

I M P R E S S I O N S

I M P R E S S I O N S | Lynnette Therese

I love the active brushwork and sensitivity to color that happened in the impressionist and post-impressionist periods of art history. Impressionism was all about capturing light, color, and movement in a way that was true to the human experience of sight, turning away from painting tradition in an attempt to create images that more accurately reflected the brevity, energy, and complexity of everyday moments. Life is that way, and I think that’s why impressionist art is compelling to so many people.

A few of my favorite moments from the Impressionism Gallery at the Art Institute of Chicago. Courtesy of Renoir, Monet, Morisot, Cross, Manet, Van Gogh, and Monticelli:

I M P R E S S I O N S | Lynnette Therese Continue reading “I M P R E S S I O N S”

country + city

Although I stayed home for most of spring break this year, I was able to take two day trips. It was quite nice to get out of town for awhile, see friends, take in athletics and arts, and enjoy a bit of that ‘road trip’ feel for a couple of days.

Early in the week, my sister and I headed east to Cedarville, Ohio to watch a friend and high school teammate of mine play softball. The car-ride views of rural Indiana and Ohio were peaceful and quiet. The breeze was chilly, but the skies were sunny and blue – the perfect afternoon for a doubleheader.

country + city | Lynnette Therese

Continue reading “country + city”

Thoughts on Habits (Part Three)

Thoughts on Habits (Part Three) | Lynnette Therese

How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.

Annie Dillard

This sentence by Annie Dillard makes me squirm every time I read it. This life is all we have. It’s made up of days and I want to use every one of them the best way that I can, doing things that are worthwhile, putting together a string of days that make up a live worth living. Since much of my day is habit-filled, it then follows that I should care about what I habitually do. And be ready to make non-routine decisions of life – well, with intention, and without fear – as they come. Continue reading “Thoughts on Habits (Part Three)”