In some ways, I am absolutely ready to go.

The first thing anyone tells you when you mention that you will be studying abroad is, “You are going to have so much fun!” Don’t get me wrong, I don’t doubt this, but I kind of want to scream. My to-do list is never ending, my anxiety has been at an all time high, I have three flights to prepare for, and I have repacked my bags countless times, but yeah. So much fun.

Getting to this point in my college career has been a rough but exciting challenge. Now that everything is set in stone, I realized that I had to begin preparing for my study abroad program. However, I felt incredibly overwhelmed and had no idea where to start. I hope this blog post can help others who are in a similar position feel more confident in themselves when it comes to being prepared.

Hi everyone! 

I hope you are all safe, happy, and healthy. 

I cannot believe the day is almost here! My suitcases are filled to the brim, and I am ready to tackle my next adventure. I will leave on Sunday, August 28th for a three-and-a-half-month internship experience in Rome, Italy. If you would have told me one year ago or even six months ago that I would be leaving for Rome in four days I simply would not have believed you. But here I am, nervous, excited, and hardly able to sleep! 

But let’s back it up a little bit. 

My brain is organized into lists: to-do lists for the day, future goals and aspirations, and bucket lists stretching for miles and miles. My travel bug is responsible for making these bucket lists long; I have one for each place I visit, as well as a general one. Some of the items on the big bucket list are attending a lantern festival, dancing the night away at a ball, scuba diving in a coral reef, and going on a safari. To me, a bucket list item is not something to be taken lightly.

            I’m not sure how to start my first blog, but I guess I should introduce myself first. Some people, some friends call me zucchini, so you can, too! I’ll be going to Dublin for the Writer’s program, which I’m excited about in many ways! For one, I’m excited to escape the summer Texan heat of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit each day. Though I will have to make a conscious effort to bundle up so that the change in weather doesn’t make me sick.