On packing...

As I prepare for Italy, I've begun to pack up... well, everything. I'm not sure I can properly express how depressing this is. First off, I am going to be paying at least $300 in shipping/baggage costs to get all my stuff home. How is that even possible?? I'm not entirely sure. It cost me $60 to get it here. Granted, I'm stopping in New York before heading on home, so that doubles my baggage costs already. Which then, doubles again because well, hey, why not?! (Also, I like to shop, so that doesn't help.)

In any case, I'm actually really sad to be going home. Which sounds weird. I think everyone I've talked to here is super excited about going home. I just...never really want to leave here. I came here as a student, to fulfill a dream about 6 years in the making, just to see what it's like living halfway across the world. The first few weeks were fun and exciting. Around the one-month mark, I really just wanted to come home. I made a countdown on my calendar of how many more weeks I had to endure before going home to see my family and friends again. Now, in the final weeks, facing my imminent departure, packing up my life here, wondering how I'm ever going to say goodbye to this family, I realize that I found a home here.

Maybe it's a little early to start getting nostalgic and thinking about this too much, but I really can't picture living the rest of my life anywhere but here, in France. I've been bitten by the wanderlust bug (a really, REALLY big one), and I honestly can't picture staying in the States for more than a few more years to finish my studies.

In any case, I figured I'd let you all know what's going on since I'll be leaving for Italy on Saturday (bright and early...just the way I like to travel!). Not sure when I'll have time to blog again--maybe when I get back from Italy, maybe in the airport waiting for my plane to New York.

This Saturday marks the start of almost a full month of travels--Italy (!!!), New York (!!!! [yes, New York is a little more exciting than Italy--I'll get to see my best friend AND my aunt!]), and Georgia (!!!). Then I get to trudge home and start real life again.

I can't wait to share all of my adventures with you. My final study abroad adventures! Stay tuned for pictures of Rome, the Vatican City, Pompeii, Florence, Pisa, and Venice!!