falling in love with europe
shared by Colleen Kuusinen, high school friend
Anaal and I were lucky enough to study abroad in Europe 1999-2000. To say it was impactful on us is an understatement. In addition to our travels with new friends that year, I spent New Year's Eve in her home for the year in Scotland, along with Melissa Zabala, another high school friend studying in England. We rang in the new millennium at Hogmanay in Edinburgh and finally tried that deep fried Mars bar (verdict: delicious). Anaal came to visit me in Granada, Spain, and another high school friend, Jessica Fiorio, and Anaal's best bud in Edinburgh, James, joined us for a trip to Barcelona. The combination of outrageous and hilarious personalities on that trip meant that my belly ached nightly from all the laughter. I remember trying to nap in the hotel room after running all over town, but no one could sleep because we kept making each other laugh. We both traveled a lot in Europe in the years after; sadly, never together again.
