"On my way to the airport in Marsailles I began having extreme pains and to make a long story short and painless-I am in the hospital in Marsailles still. I don't have internet other than my phone(email, facebook). This post is coming to you via my sister back in the states. I just hope she doesn't add much. I never intended this blog to become the kind that was personal in nature, so obviously until i get out of the hospital in France all other talk will be less. I'm attaching a picture to this email that is of the view from the hospital. I think it has a lot to say about this-frace's second largest city-founded by the Roman's-that remains one of the world's busiest ports. Also, Monday was my 21st birthday, it was slow, and very quiet.not what i would have expected.My condition is improving, but it still might be a few days before i'm well enough to fly. Enjoy the picture, and thanks for your thoughts and prayers.". -Via text message.

I'm alive-a few reflections.

I’m back in Province. It has been an amazing ride. I’ll never be able to relay how much this experience has meant to me and taught me. It’s been a once in a lifetime chance with both its peaks and valleys, which has given me a new perspective. You really have time for reflection and thought when you’re in a hospital for sixteen days with limited communication and limited entertainment.

I don’t think most of what I learned I can begin to write, but It’s changed me.

The Director of SCAD Lacoste, who stayed with me over my two weeks of sickness was amazing. She is a phenomenal person, and has an outlook on life that I want to have..Her many life experiences and great attitude has given me a new opinion on how I view things. I don't think I'll ever truly be able to thank her sufficiently for being there for me. From the rude awakening at 3 in the morning to the daily visits she was amazing. She went above and beyond to make a dismal situation better for me.I also need to mention a professor who was there the night of Chaos to talk to the hospital staff, who spoke very little English, and two very good friends who got me to the Hospital. I don't think these people understand how much I'm in debt to them.

As for where to go from here- Tomorrow I'll be taking a plane to Paris from Marsaille and then on from Paris to Pittsburgh. It has been a great ride, and won't be my last in Europe. I'm going to take the next few weeks to build my strength, and get ready for my spring semester back at SCAD Savannah.

I've also worked hard on my CV in the last few weeks, and I think that if I don't end up dedicating my summer to classes then I'll look into a few internships I've had my eye on, but for now it looks like recovery is number 1., and of course saying farewell to all of my cohorts here in Lacoste.

-With a smile-more soon.

While communication isn't up to par yet, this will be my last post until I make it out of the hospital sometime next week. I've decided to as advised stay in Spain for some additional testing, and am at one of the best hospitals for Crohn's in all of Europe(what a coincidence-perhaps not). And though i am still adjusting my plans of what's next, I can only be satisfied by what I have done. This last month has been sooooo educational, so enlightening, and I have made life long friends, who will no doubt serve as my partners in crime when I get back to Savannah. I have had more fun, seen more, and learned more in the last month than can be expressed. So remember to, "ALWAYS SUCK THE LEMONS UNTIL THEY'RE SWEET." okay perhaps this makes no since but today has been better in simple fact that it came.
I was also put on a new diet-some sort of substance called 'Elemental 028' the only English or French thing i can read on the side of juice box like container is:Food for special medical purposes. Use under medical supervision. Manufactured in the UK. You might google this if you have time.It tastes like chalky airfreshner and has the consistency of well....breastmilk.
I'm here -and I can't wait to update when something actually happens. Slow and steady wins the race. Be well.

It's raining heavy here today from what I can see from my Hospital window. I received a bit of a blow as far as information goes. The doctors here want to hold me at least until next Tuesday. This means that I will be removed from my academic program, and inevitably exported back to the states. I feel a bit numb, and unsure what to think, and haven't been on the up and up all day. My Hospital chic didn't do it for me today, nor did my regular scallion broth, not even The Simpsons(in Spanish) I want to cry and curl up into a ball, but in the name of national image, I'll hold it together. I feel like this has been a defeat. No Paris. No grades. No more Europe, it might have been my only chance in life, and it was amazing--no regrets--now I am worried more about my graduation, and just getting caught up. It's enough to give one abdominal pain. My next life motto may have to be, "WEAR THE CLOTHES YOU HAVE WELL, SAVOR THE FOOD YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN, THE MORE OBSTACLES THE SWEETER THE GOAL, PACK A RAIN COAT." I will try to blog again soon, but friend who is letting me use his computer is going back to the States tomorrow or Saturday.

This is why you make your kids watch Dora the Explorer.

Some of you may have noticed the longest gap in blogging since November and wondered what was up, well I am still in Spain.
On Sunday night while my friends were going out I decided that I wasn't feeling well. The pain in my abdomen continued to persist and even got to the point that I couldn't move, so doubled over I made my way to the elevator to get a professor. We went immediately to the Hospital and eventually ended up having the worst morning of my life. The most severe pain, at one point my professor yelled for the nurse to get me more morphine, when the nurse told him that I already had enough to put a horse to sleep. While that was perhaps a low light, and after a minor surgery. The doctors are still unsure about how exactly to treat me. This scares me in the fact that if I don't get back to class by next week I'm going to be sent home, [set behind for graduation,grad school and so on.]and that right now they are unsure how long I'll still be in the hospital. I want to send two thank-yous out to the American teacher in the next room who is having medical issues as well, and my roommate(and newest facebook friend) that also has similar issues as me. My only regret is that I never learned Spanish as a child, and perhaps wonder if this were a french hospital the possibilities. SCAD has been amazing in this situation more so than I thought even. The vice President even called my parents. Right now I am doing 400% better than on Sunday. Have a smile, and am trying to addopt a new philosophy of "IF YOU CAN'T CONTROL IT YOU CAN'T WORRY ABOUT IT" As for know I will happily be sitting here as the world goes on around me learning more spanish than I've ever imagined, and thinking of all of you back in places other than the Barcelonian Hospital. Oh and on a side note a Spanish soldier died in Afganhistan yesterday, and most of you who know me know that I wouldn't mention this, but the national outcry over this one induvidual really puts things in perspective for me. Until I can talk about some of the more exciting points. I shall leave you all with that.