The airport

So I am sitting in the Phily airport. bored. .. yeah that about sums it up. I have talked to a few people online but otherwise this is an empty 3 hours for me. At least the airport has free wifi! But so my first flight was a TINY plane and a not so tiny person next to me ;) haha but it wasn't bad. this plane might be another story. my goal is to sleep, we will see if that gets accopmlished.

My favorite thing about airports is.... people watching. Especially right now. I am in the international terminal. So there is about every nationality here that you could imagine. and personal bubbles are a mix of close, non-existant, or big. today mine was destroyed by a couple from what seemed like somewhere in Asia and they sat SO close to me. There was tons of seats. but no. they sat RIGHT NEXT TO ME! I was not very excited about that so I decided to go for a walk instead of sit there.

And then I ate next to someone from north Europe from what I could tell and he was very absorbed in his computer like I was. but when a lady came and sat at his table cause there were none open he was so different. he turned off his music, turned off his computer and sat there and ate quietly until he was done and then left without a word. I found it very .... polite. to take away the technology and not be rude. Even though they did not talk it was a non-verbal signal that said a lot to me.

Well now I am off to sit and listen to my ipod while people watching and maybe read a little.

-- airport people watching.

I h.a.t.e. packing.

I hate packing and this is just a preview of why ^

I am going to see a movie with my parents. Dinner with them. Ice cream with 2 of the girls. And then off to bed before a huge day of travel.

See ya later USA, Ciao Italia

C'est le vie?

Yes I know this seems silly but it is my dilemma, Do I do Paris on my own during fall break in October, or do I go on a group trip in which I would see Prauge, Amsterdam, and Paris? I know I know this seems easy, but if I go with the student group I will be surrounded by drunk college students, and on my own it just seems more peaceful but more stressful? My parents seem to think it is more worth my money to do the student trip. This trip is fully funded by yours truely and it would cost more than I earned all summer. But here is what I keep thinking...

When will I get this chance again? When will I be so young with this option in life?

So any opinions are welcome.

Other than that thought process and decision, I am 5 days away from being in one of the most ancient cities in the world today! I got an email today saying that one of my roommates isn't coming on the trip now. So my roommates for this semester will be Jessica and Katie. And we will have an interesting time deciding who gets the single room! haha We will be living directly on the river in the heart of the city! (above is my apartment on google maps) :) So that is where we will live with a courtyard, and a 24hr doorman. I know it is really exciting! Well just wanted to bring up some of my thoughts and some info on my life there that I know of now :) Thanks for reading!

--planning the trip

A week away... How did that happen?

Hello everyone!
For those who don't know me or for those who do but don't know, I am going to Florence Italy for a semester abroad. I am studying Italian, Modern Italian History, and Ethics of Globalization. It doesn't sound like a lot because: 1. It is only 12 hours, so it isn't a lot. but 2. I am using it to finish my minor which I am almost done with. and 3. I want to be able to travel a lot while in Europe without school hanging over my head.

So I have been talking to my family and friends for years about how I was going to go off across the world and experience all there was to see and adventure into. And I never dreamed the day would come so soon that it all came true. I leave in ONE week for Italy!!! I can't believe it most of the time! It feels like I am dreaming it all. Luckly I'm NOT! :)

So the only downside that I hadn't thought about for traveling somewhere and living there for four full months is the issue of ...... only 2 suitcases. AHH! haha It is already proving itself a battle for me to conquor before I can even leave! I think I can I think I can I think I can. haha! I will post pictures soon to show you what I mean about it being a struggle :)

The other thing is that even if I have the money to get there and go to school, I never thought about the extra money that is costs for me to travel within Europe. :O < that was my face realizing what it truly is gonna cost me for this experience. But I guess I am going with the feeling of "I will probably only get to do this once in my life so its worth the money". I don't know if that is smart, but thats how its going down. :)

And then how did it come down to a week. I have 7 days off enjoying my time home, before I go back to a place where I know NO ONE, Don't speak the language, AND have to balance school and travel. :) No one tells you about the feelings you get a week before all of that! haha they should add that to the websites haha.

But through all that I still remember daily that God has blessed me with this oppurtunity, and I plan to grab it by the horns!

-- Kate getting ready to be adventerous