Road Trip Y'all

Kind of been talking about going to South Carolina for spring break for a while now, but I didn't really think I was going to do it because plane tickets were so expensive because it's spring break. So I drove. I first thought I was going to drive 13 hours there, with a night in Louisville. But, my grandma came. I dropped her off in Pineville, Kentucky were we have some relatives, that was about an eight and a half hour drive. Got an ATV ride around our relative's land once I got there. Stayed a night there and headed to to Johnson City (Elizabethon), Tennessee to meet my pen pal, Alicia (two and half hours). I think we started writing 9th grade and stopped two or three years after because I think we got lazy and thought Facebook was way easier. But when I met her, we decided to try it again because who doesn't love getting letters in the mail? But when I got to Tennessee, I sat in that damn Shell gas station for over three hours so she could get off of work. In the mean time, my car decided to die. I freaking left my car lights on. I put my hood up and five minutes later a guy was jump starting my car. Southern people are really nice. After visiting with Alicia, I drove three and a half hours down to Columbia, South Carolina to my friend Melissa's apartment. I met her in England when we studied abroad last spring semester.

Once I got to Melissa's place, I slept. It was past midnight, long day. The first day I slept in, after Melissa made pancakes and left for class. Then got some bomb salad at Jason's Deli with her because she skipped a class. Walked around five points, its an area in town with lots of shops and bars. Really this week was sleeping and going out with her and her friends. Then we also went to Charleston for a day in Isle of Palms and down town. Saturday we went to St. Paddy's festival where it was on Five Points and a bunch of streets were blocked for the stages and bands. Everyone dressed in green. We went to a party before too, it was like a scene in a college movie. People doing beer pong from the second floor and beer pong on the front lawn. It was crazy. Also I think USC is just sororities and fraternities. The first day I realized that because all the girls are in over sized t-shirts and gym shorts. All of them, it's a thing. And obviously the common frat boy shorts and shirts, the occasional hats. Like, you would know. In Charleston, we saw Rainbow Row, went shopping in this outdoor area and bought some things, the beach, found a sand dollar. Oh, before we got there I had Waffle House. A popular southern breakfast place (like a George Webb's). I had grits, they're alright. I also tried boiled peanuts, it's a thing there. Don't try those because they are disgusting and look like cat poop. Had a boberry at Bojangles (another southern fast food restaurant). Also pollen everywhere! I woke up the next day and my car went from blue to a powder yellow.

Slept two hours Saturday and started driving back to Kentucky at 3am was beautiful. By the time I got to the Appalachian mountains, the sun was rising. It was number three on my beautiful views (first was San Marino Castle, second was on top of Montparnasse looking at the Eiffel Tower). Then slept two hours in Kentucky at the relatives before heading back home in Wisconsin. By the time we got to downtown Chicago, the sun was setting. Gorgeous. It was perfect.

I've been accidentally saying y'all for the last three days.. if I hang out with people who talk differently, I pick up on it. Should have heard me when I was in England.

Also, might be heading to Florida on the last week of April with Michaela, Gloria, and Johnny. Not for sure, just talking about it, Gloria has family down there on the gulf.