Last Saturday my friend April hosted a send-off party for me and my friends. April is just about the most amazing host. Not only did she host the party at her apartment but she also made bruschetta (from scratch!) and prosciutto-wrapped melon! She also had other Italy-inspired goodies including some great cheeses, grapes, and salami. I brought the brownies--super Italian, I know! It was so wonderful to see so many friends. Some I see more often than others but all are so valuable and important to me. I was able to show everyone the brochure for my program and explain "What are you going to Italy for?". For those who don't know yet, I am going to Italy for 3.5 months. I am doing a 12 week Italian language program in Florence and then I am spending one week traveling with a friend in Greece and then one last week traveling in Italy with my friend and my Mom.
I am flying out of LAX on Monday, March 19th. I fly through London to Rome and from there, I will take the train to Florence where I will meet up with my friends. Fortunately, I will be able to stay with them for the first few days before I move into my apartment. The program I am doing is setting me up with an apartment in the city. I already have the address and my coworker and I went on Google Earth and checked out the neighborhood! So amazing to think I am going to be there in less than a week!
Thank you so much to everyone who came out to wish me well. I had friends from church, grad school, past jobs, and two former bosses in attendance! Thank you to the two wonderful babies for coming out and bringing their parents!
This was the first I had met beautiful Aidan and sweet Julia is getting so big and lovely--it was a joy to see them. Thank you everyone for your support as I take this trip. It is something I have wanted to do for so long and I feel so blessed to be able to finally make the journey. As exciting as it is, making the trip is taking a lot of faith. Faith in my ability to survive in a foreign country, faith in my fiercely independent streak and the adventures it gets me into, and faith in my ability to get a job when I get back! Thank you to all my friends who are such a source of support--I can't wait to share my adventures with you!
Jennifer and I went to In-N-Out on Saturday since I won't be enjoying their delicacies while in Italy. This was one of my friend Marc's suggestions of things to do before I leave (he has been living in Italy without In-N-Out for some time now...). The other suggestion was to eat as much ethnic food as possible. Especially Mexican food since I won't have much access to that there. I have had no problem complying with these suggestions. I think my diet is just about half Italian and half Mexican--so it is going to be tough when there is no El Pollo Loco or Las Golondrinas (shout out to those who are cool enough to know where that is). 
So Jen and I made one last run. And I really enjoyed my grilled cheese with no special sauce, ketchup and mustard instead, order of fries and a chocolate shake. Jen enjoyed her cheeseburger even though she couldn't find the meat right away. Yes, just like the commercial from the eighties. But she found it and all was well.
I began packing on Monday night! How do you decide what you can't live without for 3 months?! I am usually a very light packer but being in a foreign country makes you think twice about what you are bringing. My friends Marc and Amy, who have been living in Italy for the past year, have been really helpful by guiding me on what I do and do not need to have--thank goodness they have paved the way! It is hard to believe this trip is really becoming a reality--I have wanted to take this journey for a long time. Thank you to everyone who has been supportive and encouraging of me while I pursued my sometimes crazy idea of leaving my life in LA and taking off for Italy. I will be posting pictures of what I am up to in Italy so I can share this experience with you. Remember, everyone is welcome to come visit!
