So….ONE MORE WEEK UNTIL I LEAVE!!! WHAT IS THIS MADNESS?! It's so crazy that this experience that I have dreamed about and worked for and been counting down to since January is finally here!! It's so surreal, and it still feels like a dream. So here's what's in store for me for the next week and a half of my life:
Thursday: Basically just study Italian (AKA try to and then end up reading exchange blogs and flipping out with my fellow exchange students about the fact we only have a few days left), enjoy my last yoga class before I leave, and spend time relaxing at home.
Friday: My mom is planning a family dinner (that I am to know nothing about, but I'm very excited for) since Sunday and Monday morning my dad and brother will be gone for one of my brother's fencing competitions. It's probably our last dinner all together as a family before I leave, and I have a feeling there will be equal parts tears, laughter, and yummy food.
Saturday: My best friend is coming over to hang out and catch up, and then she's going to help me set up for my going away party in the night. I'm having a small get together (Only like 10 people or so) to say goodbye to them all one last time before I leave. We will eat, talk, and just chill until it's time for me to say goodbye.
Sunday/Monday: Doing all the last minute things I need to do before I leave, packing, saying goodbye to everyone, and all that jazz.
Tuesday: I am driving to Austin with my mom, because there were no non-stop flights to JFK from Houston that day and it's like half the price as the Houston ones, so we decided to be savvy and fly me out from there.
Wednesday: I will fly out in the morning to NYC, meet all the AFSers heading to Europe , and have an overnight orientation.
Thursday: NYC orientation in the day, and then at night all the Italy bound AFSers fly first to Switzerland (Zurich) for a layover, and then head to Romaaaa <3
Friday: Arrive (exhausted and super sleep-deprived probably) in the morning to Rome, go to the orientation site where I will get to meet all of my fellow Italy AFSers from all over the world!! ("The Originals" will finally get to meet! *cough cough* Nita, Axe, Kon, Elena)
Saturday: Orientation day in Rome!
Sunday: I will take a bus (or train? I'm not exactly sure) to meet my host family in Sorrento!!! I cannot wait to meet them!! They have been so kind and have been a huge help with getting ready to leave! It will be so nice to finally meet them!
As of now, I have bought everything I needed, packed my suitcase just to make sure everything fits (it did! 41 pounds!), and then unpacked because I am using those vacuum sealed bags and it seriously wrinkles your clothes so I want to wait until like Sunday to pack. And just doing all the typical pre-departure stuff!
*THIS IS A PSA FOR ALL EXCHANGE STUDENTS*
I have discovered this magical luggage in Marshall's that weighs only 5.68 pounds, and can easily fit all of your clothes!! It's by a UK company called "it", but in Marshall's you can get it for super cheap!
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| This luggage (gift from the gods) is super cute and only 5.68 pounds. No I am not kidding. |
I also got my visa last week! Which is good since I applied late when I found out that my European passport wouldn't get here in time! :)
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| I didn't blog about my trip to the visa, but here's a picture from when I went to the Consulate! Let's just say the man was less than friendly, but I met a few other exchange students there! :) |
So I will keep you guys updated as the pace of my journey begins to pick up speed!! At least 3 times a day I kind of realize that this is not a dream and I have a mini internal (okay sometimes external if I'm alone) happy spaz attack (which ends in me getting hiccups like I always do when I get excited…)
Ciao! Xoxo <3
-- Tami
