Hello. Dia dhuit. Hola. Ello. Ciao. Hallo. Morgen.

It all started two years ago when we were seniors in college and living in the same house. Somewhere between eating brownies, grading work samples, and watching Sister Wives, we decided that in two years, if we all had jobs and weren't married, we were going to go to Europe together. 

Well, here we are, two years later, all of us teaching and very not married*... and getting ready to board a plane in exactly one week!

WE? Who are we, you ask??
Drumroll please...

Olivia is a 24 year old Salem resident who loves singing loudly, quoting Dumb and Dumber, and is fairly spontaneous (a word here which means "not organized").

Amanda is a 24 year old who also resides in Salem and who loves running, photography, and is the calm, level-headed one.

Twyla is a 24 year old living in Corvallis who loves line dancing, Friends, and is going to be crossing the ocean for the first time!

Jill is a 24 year old (surprise surprise) Blaine, WA resident who loves Crossfit, going on walks with her dog Zoe, and is the clever one who thinks ahead. 

Some places we are going and what we expect: 

Ireland
This is our first stop, and sadly, Jill will not be with us in the Land of Leprechauns. Our expectations? Oh nothing too far-fetched...Just green fields of four leaf clovers as far as the eye can see, lots of rainbows, little red haired people, hot men with accents, pots of gold... you know, the usual. 

England
We are SO grateful to get to stay with Jill's parents, who are living near London at this time. Jill will be joining us here. Expectations: double-decker busses, probably getting roped into trying crossfit, running into Kate Middleton and getting invited to tea with the royal family. Pictures with baby what's-his-name to follow.

Spain
Here we will be staying with one of Amanda's relative's relatives. Madrid. Barcelona. Apparently they have good sandwiches. Cathedrals, tapas, bullfighting, siesta, flamenco dancing with Spaniards. Olivia and Jill will get to practice some Espanol... si! 

Italia
Thiiiiiissss is the Niiiiigght!!!! Pasta. Gondolas. Gelato. (Food is a common theme). We will finally learn how to pronounce "Cinque Terre". Swimming in the Mediterranean. Pasta.

Switzerland
Amanda used to be a nanny here, so we will thankfully be staying with the family that she worked with. We are thinking lots of hikes, sailing, Alps, Amanda practicing German, and relaxing after lots of traveling. 

Finally, Amanda, Jill and Olivia will head back to England for a bit and Twyla will head back to the USA for a family camping trip. 

This is our complete, unabridged itinerary for the trip. 
We are going to keep our minds and options open along the way, and we are excited to share our adventures with everyone! Please keep us in your prayers as we head out this summer! :) 

This. Is. Our. Europe. Blog. 


*For the record: One of our housemates, the lovely Sarah, was engaged at the time and is now married and living in Colorado. We love and miss you Sarah!!!