Two weeks and three days...

... I can't believe it is coming so fast! It seems as though yesterday was freshman year, and I was plotting my adventure abroad. I recall arriving a week early for a retreat my freshman year and making an appointment before classes with the study abroad office to get my name into their system. A little soon, no? I recall Rosemary Sands, the Italian study abroad advisor at the time, was surprised at my appearance, but happy for my enthusiasm. Now, as a second semester Junior, I am done with the waiting!

I can honestly say that this is the first new experience I have actually dreamed about, or to say I have expectations of. So many people have given me amazing stories of their experiences, that I feel completely at ease with daydreaming up my own. I enjoy the fact that the situations I fantasize about will be thrown out the window due to my lack of knowledge on Italian culture and the people I will actually befriend.

I do have a huge concern: language. I started the LiveMocha free month trial Study Abroad Italy (SAI) offers us, and needless to say, I rock so far, but I admit that I have no confidence in the actual speaking. I only pray that the people I meet will be patient with me in my struggle because I will be putting an effort towards speaking Italian whenever possible. Wish me luck!

What do I have left to do... pack! Buy toiletries! Work... Either way, only two weeks and three days!