Departing Home

The past few days, Tovin and I have been at my childhood home, just north of Chicago, with my parents. We've gotten the chance to do quite a lot, with some highlights of visiting my elementary, middle, and high school, walking around my neighborhood, taking Tovin into Chicago to explore the city, and just spending some time with family. As fun as the extended weekend has been, the bittersweet moment of leaving loved ones to embark on an exciting new adventure slowly has kept creeping forward.

After a final day of relaxation and spending time with Tovin and my parents, my mom brought us to the Chicago O'Hare airport where Tovin and I both went in through Terminal 1 security, despite him being in Terminal 5 for his flight back to Minneapolis. We found my gate, said goodbye to each other, and then I boarded my flight to Paris, excited for what the next 3 months will bring.

Here is what I'm bringing with me - the total weight for my pack is 17.1 pounds: