Europe Bucket List

I am very happy and excited to share the good news with you my fellow reader. I have been selected to participate in the 2013-2014 Teaching Assistant Program in France! I will be teaching in the North Eastern part of the country not too far from Paris. This program allows me to wet my feet in the realm of teaching in a non-invasive way. I will be working a total of 12 hours a week (not too shabby :]) at one or more elementary schools in the region. I am hoping to get a second job which will allow me more flexibility and add to my travel fund seeing as there is a great deal of vacation time... gotta love the French for that!

To prepare for all this free time I've started a Bucket List of places and things I want to see and experience. Here it goes:


1. La Tomatina in Spain

http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/la%20tomatina

 First and foremost I really really want to go to La Tomatina, the wild tomato frenzy in Spain. You know, the one where everyone throws ripe juicy tomatoes at each other? Doesn't that sound like so much fun? It's like the ultimate cafeteria food fight that you (well... I) were too afraid to start in school; except for this time you don't have to fret going to the principals office! This festival takes place on the last Wednesday in August and would be a great start to my European Escapade


2. Hogmanay in Edinburgh

After doing a little research I found out that THE place to be for New Years is Scotland! Apparently they know how to party. And well... I might need to do some investigating to confirm this statement. I'd say this would be a good way to ring in the new year :)

http://ehornsinedinburgh.wordpress.com/2011/12/31/edinburghs-hogmanay-torches-ceremony/

3. Wwoof in Italy

http://prgh.wordpress.com/2008/11/04/olive-picking-time/

To wwof (World Wide Opportunity on Organic Farms) is another must-do for me. This organization connects you with farms all over the world and lets you organize a trip to whichever one you choose from their database. Then, you go and help harvest or do other kinds labor and learn about organic farming. In exchange the farmers provide housing and food. Just imagine going to the south of Italy (maybe even as far as Sicily) and staying at an olive farm. Spend the day shaking all the trees to get the ripe olives like that scene from Under the Tuscan Sun. And after a day of hard work going in for a fresh authentic Italian meal. Yumm! Maybe I can even get a little cooking lesson :) Of course this would also be a great opportunity to bring back my rapidly dissipating Italian!



4. For the Spring I have one ULTIMATE destination, GREECE. Keeping my fingers-crossed, there won't be another meltdown and their economy will be back on its feet so that I can truly enjoy all it has to offer like the historic monuments, the beautiful beaches and lovely little coastal cities. This would be a dream come true! 

http://www.charterworld.com/index.html?sub=greece-yacht-charter

http://www.playersclubtours.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/shipwreck-beach-zakynthos-greece-wallpaper-1600x1200.jpg

http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/time-zone/europe/european-union/greece/athens/

Well that's all for now! Leave me a comment with your suggestions to add to my bucket list or if you have an experience you want to share.

Happy Sunday!