Oh Normal Day,: May 2012

Edinburgh, Scotland

(Susan Murphy-Olmsted 2011 Munich, Jen Hensarling-Olmsted 2011 Brussels, Megan Hallinan-Olmsted 2010 Dakar, Carrie Flammia-Olmsted 2012 Florence, DeDe Musa- Olmsted 2011 Rabat, Jill Graham-Olmsted 2011 Krakow, Meaghan Gallagher-Olmsted 2010 Paris, not pictured: Karin Frketic-Olmsted 2010 Bologna)

After almost one year abroad, I had the luxury of packing one small bag of my own! The annual Olmsted ladies' trip was in Scotland this year, and it was a true breath of fresh air. Don't get me wrong, tears streamed down my checks multiple times at the Casablanca airport at the thought of leaving my babies for the first time. I'm sure plenty of people pitied the poor girl who looked like she was flying to a funeral. However, sitting down for a leisurely lunch at the airport with a book for my company was a treat I treasured.

Finding tickets from Morocco to Scotland proved to be somewhat complicated but made for quite an exciting adventure. Not only were my layovers in amazing cities, but they were overnight layovers with our Olmsted Christmas friends!!! Jamil and I had previously visited both cities while we were dating and as newlyweds, so I didn't feel rushed to see all the sights. It was nice to return for a relaxing yet quick trip to see our friends in their own element.

My first stop... Paris! I stayed at the Gallagher's (Olmsted 2010) amazing apartment in the middle of the city for one night. Walking the streets of Paris on my own was a beautiful way to kick off the week ahead. Spring was definitely in the air as I strolled through a chic neighborhood with precious boutiques and made my way to Notre Dame. Meaghan Gallagher and I were able to fly to Edinburgh together where we opened a nice and honest conversation about being an Olmsted wife and a woman in general. These honest and, quite frankly, therapeutic conversations continued as we quickly bonded and socialized with the other ladies in Scotland.

Throughout our interactions abroad, Jamil reminds me that what unites us is far greater than what divides us. I found that to ring true as well with these beautiful women who are scattered across Europe and Africa. Although Edinburgh has much to offer, including the Edinburgh Castle, Palace of Holyroodhouse, great views from Arthur's Seat, tons of whiskey, yumminess known as sticky toffee pudding, surprisingly tasty haggis, cheesy ghost tours in Mary King's Close, and a Rock and Roll Marathon (which Jen and Megan ran...wearing plaid leg warmers!), my absolute favorite part of the trip was sitting in our apartment and sharing our oh so familiar joys and struggles. I encourage any wife and female scholar to join us next year and in the years to come. My mom is right, we could probably write an amazing book! ;) It's also important that I mention our dear ladies in Asia and South American and the "local" ladies who couldn't make it this year. We miss you girls and sure do wish there was an easy and affordable way to get us all together!

Above, Jen and I bought some awesome hammered, copper, beer mugs from an antique store on Cockburn Street. The locals get a kick out of us mispronouncing the name, considering it's pronounced Co-burn! ;) Below, we enjoyed a whiskey tour and tasting. We cheers to the ladies and giggled as we downed some strong whiskey!

Jill Graham (Olmsted 2011 Krakow) and I shared a room and reminisced about our time together in DC. We empathized and congratulated each other as we had both left our nearly 2 year old boys for the first time. I was so excited to reconnect with someone who was there with me at the beginning of this Olmsted adventure. Jill is a treasure, and I found comfort in not only picking up where we left off but in deepening our friendship.

My return flight was full of great conversation as I sat next to the oh so witty and kind Megan Hallinan (Olmsted 2010 Dakar). She only had a short layover in Brussels, but fortunately for me, there were no flights to Morocco for 2 days! Therefore, I wrapped up an amazing trip in Belgiun where I stayed with Jen and Brian Hensarling (Olmsted 2011 Brussels, Belgium) in their gorgeous, ornate apartment in the middle of Brussels. Karin (Olmsted 2010 Bologna, Italy) and her dear friend Rebecca also passed through Brussels on their way home. We had a blast together and managed to squeeze in a city tour, a Ben Howard concert, amazing food and deep conversation, and a train ride to Bruges for a rainy day adventure. Let me tell you, if you're planning on touring a city by foot and small boat in what feels like a hurricane, these are the girls you want by your side! Of course, the rain started while we were on our boat tour. We eventually found ourselves running through the city, ditching our inside-out and broken umbrellas, and finding shelter in a bar. It was meant to be! We had a great time, and I'm sure the oh so yummy Belgian beer, chocolate, waffles, and fries helped keep our spirits high. Thank you, Belgium, for giving us so many yummy things (and of course for all of your history and beautiful architecture)!

Now, I am on my own again on a flight back to Casablanca. After contemplating all of the possible things I should try to do (sleep? read? journal?) before I am bombarded by my "normal" life, I decided to journal what is fresh in my mind. I feel just that, refreshed and so thankful! I desire for these feelings to help lead me into our second year abroad.

Thank you, ladies, for your honesty. You inspired me to take full advantage of this experience (both the picture perfect and the lonely, ugly moments), to balance being both humble and proud, and both content and thirsting for more while being true and honest to myself, my family, and to my friends. Thank you, Susan (Olmsted 2011 Munich, Germany), for devoting so much time in planning and organizing this trip. Carrie (Olmsted 2012 Florence, Italy), thank you for so many of these wonderful photos. Thank you to my husband for working and being super dad to two amazing little boys. Thank you, sweet boys, for being sans mommy through the transition of sharing a bed and sharing pink eye while I gallivanted around Europe. Finally, thank you once again, Olmsted!