The start of something good

Hey, but soon to be Ciao

Before leaving in 6 days for Florence, Italy I decided to start my one sided conversations on here. There is going to be so much thrown on me in a very short period of time once the plane lands, so starting to get the feel of this before I leave will help...I hope.


After contemplating how I should start my first post, something leaped in my face with a big "Duh!". Of course I had to explain my rather unique way of coming to the conclusion to study in Italy for a semester. Only a very few people know the reason. I have refrained from telling many people because no one but me and God can truly understand, so why tell people...then realized, that's stupid. It's not my problem if others don't understand that God asked me to do this. I have heard it all from "I wish God would ask me to go to Italy for 3.5 months" to "What a hardship. Living in italy." (from the very few people I told) So, because of this, basically no one knows, until just this second when the whole internet now knows. Due to various things standing in my way (rather ginormous things!) along with several people, mostly family members, having criticized me for this. After getting over the pain, I realized, yes they matter to me very much, but I can't expect them to understand my reasoning (and I'm way too determined when I put my mind to something, but that's beside the point). Feelings between two people (or God and me) can't be fully explained to on lookers. I found a quote last week while reading a book by Francis Chan, "Having faith often means doing what others see as crazy. Something is wrong when our lives (christian's lives) makes sense to unbelievers." That pretty much sums up the shortest possible explanation. How I got almost a years worth of fighting with God, hurt, and joy into one paragraph is waaaay beyond me!
I have asked myself everyday since I finally stopped trying to bargain with God, how the heck I have the strength and security to do this living in a foreign place thing. I mean really, I am in college 20 minutes from the only place I have ever lived, 15 minutes on a good day. I met someone who had a tremendous impact on me. (After meeting her less than 12 hours before...she's that amazing) We were talking and at one point she got quiet and TRULY looked at ME and said, "I see a hint of the strength in you that you don't." At the time, it gave me chills. As I said in my SU Abroad application, "I am a product of how I was raised. The incredible strength and love I was shown by my parents and brother has defined me as a person and helped shape how I view the world." I think my parents have always seen an adventurous spirit in me. They have nutured me with the intent that their only job on this earth is to raise me the best way they can to let me go one day (Ok, they have told me that so that's how I know.) There is basically no way someone can ever talk to me for more than 10 minutes without me mentioning my mom, dad or brother. They are that important to me.

This is a bit heavier and longer than I orginially intended so off to the fun stuff. I leave in 6 days!! Even as I say that, I get a surge of adrenaline. So excited!! So many adventures to be had galavanting around Europe. : ) I haven't even started packing. That's the next step. I'm trying to pack light. We will see how far that goes while trying to carry all my stuff to the bus in Rome. For all you people who wanted to know this info- I fly from Charlotte to JFK to Rome. From Rome I ride to Florence with other Syracuse students (that I will have been with since JFK). Orientation for 2 days, while staying in a hotel, then off to meet my homestay family who I will be with for the remaining 3 months! yay!

Most looking forward to:
1. the Italian people and culture
2. my family while I am there
3.all other things that I can't decide how to rank...all one big excitment.

Also, my talking (or typing) tends to be like an ADHD persons, so just go with it please. Thank you!