Cue the squealing

I WON THE SCHOLARSHIP!! I've been running around my house dancing awkwardly and screaming and squealing and almost crying hysterically. I'm just an emotional hot mess right now and I have no problem with that, I can't contain my elation, this is honestly going to help out my budget tremendously. This is all so surreal, I need someone to pinch me repeatedly. This is the confirmation that I will have to book within a few weeks and it still hasn't hit me. I'll be in Italy. For study abroad. Something I've wanted since a child. It's actually happening, no more delays due to budgets or class conflicts. I'm going to be living in Italy for four months. How crazy is that? Ahhhhsfkjhfshjkfdsjhkfdjshk!!

Fingers Crossed

Tomorrow I find out if I will be a recipient of the Presidential International Travel Fellowship, a scholarship that aids with airfare to study abroad students. If you win, upon returning from your study abroad experience, you have to promote studying abroad to other students through presentations or help out students who are planning to study abroad with their preparations, which I have no complaints about. It'd be nice to promote something I'm very passionate about. I really hope I get it, I almost gave myself an aneurism writing the essays and creating budgets and freaking out. It's safe to say I looked like a zombie after. It's 1 AM and I'm already anxious, I don't think I'll be getting much sleep tonight!

Restless

is the perfect word to describe my physical and mental state of being as of late. Four months separate me from living in Italy and the idea of having to write papers, take exams, and prepare for finals seems so inconsequential compared to the enthrallment of Europe.

• I find out if I won the scholarship for airfare to Italy this Friday (fingers crossed, I spent hours writings those essays, I still haven't recovered)
• I have to turn in my deposit for housing this week as well
• My flight should be booked by the middle of April
• I also find out if I get the interview for the summer job I applied to in April (my shoe addiction may or may not have encouraged this decision)
• I still have a ton of pre-departure videos to watch

30 days left of this semester; 4 papers, a presentation, a few exams, finals, and three summer months separate me from the trip I've wanted since I was a child......somebody pinch me, because this all feels too surreal.

Artsy Fartsy

I have officially picked the classes I want to take in Italy and a majority of them are based on art and literature. I'll be able to visit various museums and historical sites with some of these classes and I'm really excited because I'll get to see all the statues, murals, buildings, etc, that I've seen in all of my history books, in person.

Let's discuss my inner nerd/fascination for art since we're already on the subject. Besides ruining my entire wardrobe when I painted, carved, sketched as a child, I also took Understanding Art my freshman year. Aside from the abundance of statuesque nudity and awkward pieces (how is urine in a bottle art???), I enjoyed the class and not only passed with an A (swag~), but I ended the semester with a profound understanding and appreciation for art that I didn't possess before.

Back in the day, Italy was practically crawling with artistic prodigies who created masterpieces with their bare hands, and yes, Michelangelo, I definitely mean you. The idea of looking/admiring/touching/oooo-ing and aaaah-ing/feeling/smelling actual art in person is pretty exciting, no? I can already imagine myself trying to touch the statue of David and getting thrown out of the museum. This is going to be a fresh and interesting semester, considering how I've been doomed to business classes for the last year and a half!

Spring Break

After the last two and a half months of hell on earth, I'm relieved to say that spring break, for me, has officially begun. The idea of relaxing on my couch with a bunch of movies and junk food sounds heavenly but (there's always a but, isn't there?) Calculus II has decided to make itself my companion because I have a test the second day I return to school. Certain professors do not give me a lot of hope for the world. I'm trying to remain positive though, so let's move to another topic shall we?

I attended my first pre-departure meeting for Italy yesterday and it was amazing. I was able to mingle with the other students who are going as well and I was bombarded with truckloads of information on airfare and visas and how Italian men sometimes like to follow you home if you give them your attention (is that a good or bad thing?). I get to spend my spring break discussing housing options with my mom, looking up flights, and watching pre-departure videos. And since I just turned in a scholarship application, which took me years to finish because I get sidetracked easily and frequently, I won't have to stress myself. Enough blogging, I'm in need of numerous of throw pillows and Netflix.

6 years later...

and my dream of studying abroad in Italy is well on its way to becoming true. I never thought this day would actually come. It's been such a struggle to get here and it's hard for me to accept the fact that this is going to happen, even though I've committed to the program and made phone calls to travel agents about airfare. I have so many emotions running through me right now and I'm excited to finally be able to travel and explore after these hectic last couple of years. Italia Fall 2012, here I come!

My first time....

buying a pair of Steve Madden shoes! What did you think I meant? Get your head out of the gutter, sillies. I was indifferent to Oxfords only because I was worried I wouldn't be able to pull them off. Trying them on changed my mind and I couldn't be happier. They're extremely comfortable, can be paired with multiple outfits, and it's not a bad thing if they make me feel English, innit? (Pretty sure I didn't use that slang term right??)