Bon Voyage!

Well, yesterday I had a going away party with some of my closest friends. They are really amazing. THE best! I had such a fun time chatting and catching up with my friends before I leave the country for three months. Here are a few pictures from the party!

The worst part is that when I get back, most of my friends will be off doing summer things or on mission trips, so some of them I won't see for five months...really sad.

Anyways I cannot think about that stuff right now because this week is going to be emotional enough as it is. Don't get me wrong, I am getting really excited about Italy! Only 8 more days! WOW! Everything is slowly starting to sink in and my semester is coming to a close (school wise that is--thank goodness!). It has been a crazy semester to say the least and I am very excited that it is almost over. 

Many of you may be wondering about how this whole thing is working out with school and such so I will briefly explain! (sorry for those of you who have heard this a million times!)

This semester I am in special classes that are for my major, but only girls that are going to Italy are in them. This has been great because we have all been able to get to know each other before we go live together for 2+ months.

I am taking 12 hours right now, but I am almost done because our courses end before we leave so we are not so bogged down with classes while in Italy, which is a GREAT thing! Once we get there, Monday through Thursday we will be teaching in the Italian junior high school in the small town we are living in. I am very excited about this opportunity! Then Friday-Sunday we get free travel! YAY!

Looking forward to Italy is the only thing that is getting be through this semester because cramming all my classes before I leave has made for a crazy past 8 weeks! In total I will have read 9 children's novels and 2 textbooks, written 10 papers, created 4 lesson plans, and done a major group project/presentation! No big deal though!

Needless to say I have been a tad bit stressed out and am very glad for it to be almost over!

Anyways enough about the boring school stuff! 

With only 8 days left, I am finding myself constantly lost in daydreams about walking through little Italian villas, and riding trains to Austria, Germany, and France. Can you blame me?? 

But also I am a little bit stressed/nervous about packing and making sure all the little things are taken care of before I leave.  

If you could take a minute and pray that God can calm my nerves and that everything goes smoothly! 

For those of you that know me, you know this is not an ordinary thing for me to just hop on a plane out of the country away from family and friends for 3 months, but I am so looking forward to growing and becoming more adventurous! 

Well, sorry for the long post! Hope all is well with everyone who is reading this!

Arrivederci! (Good-bye!)