Here We Go

This broad is going abroad again for work. This time to Europe. I figured I'd write out a run-down of this trip to let people know what I'll be doing over there, and how I keep getting so lucky. I'll write it out in Compliment/Answer form.

C: Wow Katy, you sure to get to travel a lot. You must be really important.
A: You knows it. However, this might be the last of the overseas travel for the year. The trip to Taiwan and China was to check on the decals for our bikes being produced. Now we're gearing up to design some fresh new bikes for next year, and I'm going to Italy and France to learn more about what people want their bikes to look like over there, since I have tricked my company into putting me in charge of the 2015 mountain bikes. Once I get back, the creative shackles go on and it's time to stay at work and crank out some awesome ideas.

C: Wow. Just wow. So jelly. So what exactly are you doing while you're in Europe?
A: Where to start... there's so much bragging to be done here. For the first few days, I'll be interviewing our succulent talented pro mountain bike team and riding with them in Finale Ligure, which happens to be part of the Italian Riviera. (When I Googled Finale Ligure, all I could do was bark out a HAH.) I'll ask them what's hot right now at the pro level, to get a even better picture of the different types of racing I'm designing bikes for. Next, a few coworkers and I will drive to Lyon, France, where we'll go on a series of shop visits, to learn more about the European customer. Again, it's my job to figure out what people want, then make it better and something amazing nobody's ever seen before. (Ha ha. That's the goal, anyway.)

C: I think I read on a celebrity blog that you'll be vacationing in Paris after you're done working?
A: Well, now that the press knows, I'll probably be battling paparazzi the whole time, but I'll try to enjoy myself. I've been on a kick to Carpe Diem the stuffing out of opportunities, and this was one such opportunity. Since I'm over there and plane tickets are paid for, I'm going to take a few days of vacation on the end of the work trip. Work responsibilities and corporate funding will cease and I'll spend one extra day in Lyon before heading to Paris for two full days.

C: Oh my gosh. You're so interesting and brave.
A: I try. This is my first solo vacation, and I have to be honest... it's a little intimidating. I've never thought of myself as this type of person at all; someone who travels abroad for her job, someone who tacks on a few days to take in the sights in a foreign city. I don't really know how to be that person yet, but I'll go and figure it out one way or another, and probably make it back with all my limbs, assuming I don't get Brokedown Palace'd, Hostel'd or Taken. Don't worry parents and relatives, I promise to trust no one, and my terrible French should ensure that I don't talk to many strangers.

C: When can we expect to see your shining face again? Will you write to us?
A: I'll be gone from Monday, Feb 25th through Sunday, March 10th. Same as the Asia trip, I'll try to blog regularly and put updates on Facebook for friends, family and fans ;) I might fall out of touch during the last four days of the trip, because I plan on having my coworker take my laptop and most of my luggage back to the US with him, so I don't have to worry about keeping track of everything when I'm on my own in France.

C: !!!
A: Try to hang in there. I'm sure I'll catch up on vacation blogging when I get back to the US.