Exactly a month

Well here I am. Sitting in the San Francisco fog, a month away from sitting in the Roman heat.

It doesn't feel real yet. I've typed out four different ways of explaining how I feel about leaving and what it feels like to move half way around the world, but I've deleted all of them. I've heard it all. I'm nervous, but incredibly excited. More excited than I have ever been in my entire life.

Since it doesn't feel real yet, I haven't really accepted the fact that I need to organize my life and start thinking about how my life is about to change. I'm about to more frustrated than I've ever been but I'm ready for that challenge!

I keep doing things I don't really need to do because I'm leaving. I'm looking up dates for concerts, getting my iPhone updated (I'm not using it in Italy), and spending money when I should be saving for my Italian Proseco. Oh well. Only young once...?

Another picture of things in my purse.
The NYTimes Weekend Arts section that I stuffed in my bag on the way to work this morning, some change, an old earring, my friends business card, sunglasses, deodorant, a pen, headphones, and my wallet. Will I carry the similar stuff in Italy?

Outtie!

I'm going to Italy!

I'm going to answer all your boiling questions in one full swoop:
1. Where will you be? I'm going to be in Rome for my first semester, and Florence for my second.
2. When do you leave? August 23rd at 8am.
3. Where will you be staying? I'm staying in a residence apartment in Rome in the Trastevere neighborhood. I'm not sure where I'll be staying in Florence yet.
4. What will you be studying? Art history mostly, and Italian. I'm trying to minor in the language.
5. Do you know anyone who's going on the same program? Nope. I've met the people going to Rome  from UCSC, but besides that I'm starting completely from scratch. But a few friends from high school will be scattered about Europe.
6. Do you know any Italian? Un po'. I've taken one quarter of accelerated Italian this year, so I have a very basic understanding of Italiano.


Glad we're now all on the same page.

Along with clothes for work later tonight, this is whats in my purse today. We'll see how this changes in the next couple of months.

I have my passport, my visa, my flight arrangements and now, I have my blog.
Next step: Packing.