As usual, my mom gave me my latest fantastic idea. As I'm preparing to leave for the year, I'm going to virtually journal my experience as I prepare to leave and while I'm abroad. That way, everyone I love can share in my once in a lifetime experience.
As of today, I have 57 days left stateside. My flight is booked with Alitalia for August 31st at 5p.m! I leave from NYC, stop over in Roma, and finally land in Firenze on early Wednesday morning. I have my passport - with a much more attractive picture than my chunky, 15 year-old portrait. Thank God, that passport can be permanently destroyed. I'm still finishing up my VISA application which should be done by next week. That application is such a hassle. Advice for anyone traveling abroad and in need of a VISA: start early and stay on top of it. It's obnoxious.
I have a couple things I need to start picking up like a new camera. Since I'm such a dork, I bought a bigger postcard book. My old one was on overflow and this one is about half way done already. I have postcards in there from when I was in grammar school. My goal is to be able to finish off the book by the end of my year abroad. I haven't even begun to pack yet. I'll say I'm going to start that process next week, but I know it won't be done until the morning I leave.
I have two "holidays" already planned. I'm traveling to Switzerland and Lake Como in late September. In early October, I'm traveling to Nice, Montecarlo, and the French Riviera. I already told my mom that I'll have a glass of champagne in honor of her birthday that weekend. That will be two more place for my postcard book. I want to travel to London, Paris, Madrid, Athens, Istanbul, Berlin, Dublin... I want to travel to as many places as I possibly can. After fall semester ends, my plan is to travel down the west coast of Italy meeting scattered members of my family. I want to end up in Sicily where my Nonno was born so I can attend Christmas Eve Mass in the cathedral he painted.
My Nonno and Nonna are one of the biggest reasons I picked to travel to Italy for study abroad. I want to see where I came from, how I ended up where I am today, where my grandparents grew up, my family history. I want to be able to be a part of that history and know that part of my grandparents. I've wanted to travel abroad since I was a child, but in the past couple years I've wanted to connect with my heritage more than just study abroad.
I don't know anyone I'm going with. I don't know the language well enough to claim to be able to speak it. I've never even been to the city. I'm just picking up and moving across the ocean. It's going to be an amazing adventure. I can't wait. Fifty seven days and counting...
