Age: 24

Hometown: Erie, Pennsylvania

Occupation: As an employee of Wendy’s International, if I’m not silently cursing (sometimes verbally) customers, I remind myself of August 2008—graduate assistant at John Carroll University. While earning my Masters of Arts in English, I’ll work at the university’s writing lab & teach English Composition.

Places traveled previously: As this is my first experience abroad, the following cities are naturally all found within the US—Recently: Niagara, DC, St. Louis, Orlando, Philadelphia, Providence, Boston & New York. What can I say? St. Louis (cue: “Meet me in…”) & Orlando aside, I’m an east-coast guy.

Looking forward to most in Europe: Daunting question (rather, profile subheading)! Currently on my mind? A performance at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, €4 standing-room tickets at the Staatsoper (Vienna’s Opera House), Neuschwanstein Castle, Ludwig Maximilian-Universität München (LMU), Champs-Elysées, rails, parks & culture.

Specific things to see: I should’ve glanced ahead. In school, I was always told, “Read ahead!” So, I’ll add: Magical Mystery Tour, author-related sites (especially in London), the Tower of London & Paris. Silly, really, recording my laundry list—I must see everything that’s anything, even if only for an exterior shot (i.e. I’d love to see Buckingham Palace, but unless free—which it’s not—I need not tour it my first time through London. A postcard-perfect photo: essential).

Trip stressors: Money. Organizing. Planes. Never settling into one place for more than seven days (Paris)—the stress of checking into one hostel, then out, then in: will everything work out okay? Of course, remove this stress & I’d only see one, not seven, cities—I’ll deal. Keeping track of my bags on trains, guarding important items (i.e. wallet, rail passes, passport). Making sure I’ve captured Europe on camera. There, I’ve said it—my stressors. Did I mention money?

Trip goals: Explore Europe on a sensible budget, as I experience unique cultures. And (imagine with French accent), PHOTOS!

Anything else: My, how I’ll miss Snuggles!