and so it begins...

Yes, it's true: I'm spending Spring 2009 in Rome, Italy. I know, I'm an English major and for the longest time I was set on studying in London, but with the study abroad application deadline looming, I switched to the land of pizza and the Pope. I blame it on the book Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Please read it if you haven't already, especially the first section. Who wouldn't want to go to Italy after reading that? I really do owe that lady a thank you.

The process for studying abroad was stressful yet satisfying. I didn't know how I would finish the application and get my classes approved on time, but I did. I didn't know how I would ever get a visa, but I did. God is good. I only had a slight breakdown at the Italian consulate in Chicago and only one of my classes remains to be approved. (In my defense for the breakdown, I was yelled at by a large Italian man for not properly affixing my photo. He gave me five minutes to fix it but then ended up using his stapler anyway.)

So now I have all the paperwork, a round trip ticket, and an iPod full of audiobooks for the 13 hour plane ride. I leave on January 11 and come back on May 10...a full four months of living like a Roman.