With just under two months left until school, I am sure most of you are just as anxious as I am to get back.\u00a0 Though I will miss the lazy days of summer, not having to stress over finals, and the luxury of having a room all to myself, I can\u2019t wait to be in Rome.\u00a0 Yes, Rome.\u00a0 The Eternal City where Audrey Hepburn took a holiday, Nat King Cole sang a sad goodbye, Julius Caesar dictated, and countless men and women have tossed their coins in the hopes of one day returning to this breathtaking city.<\/p>\n
Ever since I submitted my application way back in November, I have been nervously counting the days until my departure.\u00a0 Travel books have been bought and lists of countries to visit have been made.\u00a0 Soon, I will have to start the daunting task of deciding what to pack.\u00a0 You would think it would be fairly simple.\u00a0 Not so.\u00a0 Since I will be gone a whole year, I have to pack for virtually every type of weather and situation.\u00a0 But, with TSA\u2019s limitations on the number of bags I can bring aboard the plane, my number of clothes and other necessities has dwindled to a scary few.<\/p>\n
I am that girl who packs every piece of clothing she owns, justifying this insane packing style by saying, \u201cwho knows what type of mood I\u2019ll be in!\u201d\u00a0 Disregarding practicality and weather, I pack for style, comfort, mood, and worst-case scenarios.\u00a0 Sure, I will be shopping in Italy.\u00a0 Who wouldn\u2019t?\u00a0 But until I go shopping, I have to have options.\u00a0 This poses an enormous problem to my sanity and packing abilities.\u00a0 I am so unsure of what to pack and what to leave at home that I\u2019m pretty sure I will still be packing the morning of my flight.\u00a0 I can imagine being in the car, halfway there, and wishing I had packed that extra pair of shoes, or that hat I might need for running.\u00a0 What is my solution to this packing dilemma?\u00a0 Well, for now, it\u2019s to not think about it.\u00a0 Instead, I will just continue to focus on the mountains of gelato, coffee, cannoli, pasta, and pizza that I will be consuming.\u00a0 Some of you may be reading this and thinking, \u201cby eating all that she\u2019ll have to buy new clothes anyways.\u201d\u00a0 Well\u2026let\u2019s just pray it doesn\u2019t come to that.\u00a0 I guess that is what running is for!<\/p>\n
While the next seven-ish weeks will, hopefully, give me plenty of time to prepare myself for all things foreign, it will be a struggle to contain my excitement.\u00a0 To me, studying in Rome means opportunities, traveling trips, immersion, growth, and the inevitable (and petrifying) experience of getting lost.\u00a0 It will be quite entertaining to see how these next several months turn out.\u00a0 Fingers crossed that I survive!<\/p>\n
Ciao per ora,<\/p>\n
Elizabeth<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
With just under two months left until school, I am sure most of you are just as anxious as I am to get back.\u00a0 Though I will miss the lazy days of summer, not having to stress over finals, and the luxury of having a room all to myself, I can\u2019t wait to be in … <\/p>\n