Arrivederci

So it has been a long, eventful day so far and we've only been on one flight.
I arrived at the STL airport at 9 am to find out our first flight to Chicago was cancelled. Because that flight was cancelled, it would make us miss our next flight to Rome. They could get us on the next flight to Chicago but there wasn't enough room for 22 people on the next flight to Rome. So after 5 hours of waiting at the ticket counter, we got a new plan. STL to NY Laguardia then take a shuttle to NY JFK then to London Heathrow then to Rome. Then a train ride from Rome to Florence. Whew! I am sitting in NY typing this right now. I think everyone will be relieved once we finally get to Florence tomorrow night. I know I am tired and we still quite a long way to go.

We should he boarding the flight soon, so my next blog will come straight from Italy. Arrivederci United States!

My bags are packed (mostly)

This is my last blog post (or maybe next to last if I write a blog from the airport before we take off) in the United States.

The next blog will come to all my American friends and family from all the way across the Atlantic. That made me just realize this is my first trip across the Atlantic, first trip to another country (that border town in Mexico that we visited on spring break doesn't count; oh and don't tell my Dad that I went there), first trip to Europe, and so on and so on, you get the point.

I weighed my suitcase tonight, although it's only 95% packed, but it weighed 39.4 lbs. My goal was less than 40 lbs so I will have room to bring some olive oil back. I thought about shipping some things back, but we'll see how cost-efficient that will be.

I have a few last minute stressful things to take care of - mowing the grass once before I leave and those last minute packing things to get - but the stress is subsiding and I'm getting much more excited!

I found out on Saturday that I will have to do some homework while I'm over there because we are starting our July class session with pre-July readings. I'm taking my books with me and hope to get those things done in some of my free time. But, on the same note, I don't want to sit around with my nose in a book when I have all the excitement of Florence around me! I am hoping to get one assignment done before I leave, one in the airport in Chicago, and that leaves me with only one other one to do.

My whirlwind summer is beginning so quickly. My goal is to enjoy Italy as much as I possibly can while taking a lot of pictures and making a lot of memories (and keeping track of them here!)

Buon viaggio! (happy travels!)

Closer...and closer

I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little nervous for a 9 1/2 hour flight from Chicago to Rome in less than 2 weeks. Here are some reasons why:

1. I've never flown that long or even close to it.
2. I hate breathing in that stale air, I don't even really get air sickness but breathing in the air makes me feel yucky. I need fresh air!
3. While I am glad that Bin Laden was killed, it makes me wonder what's going to happen next. I feel like his network may retaliate or seek revenge in some ways. It scares me.
4. The time change is really going to mess me up. I am going to try to get some sleep on the plane but I am a light sleeper and I really do like my sleep in my bed!

I'm still practicing my Italian phrases but it's hard. I can at least say please (per favore), thank you (grazie), hello (ciao), goodbye (arrivederci), excuse me (mi scusi). I don't know how in the world I am going to order food or buy things while I'm there. I may just have to point! Hopefully some of the Italians can speak English!

Italian language cramming

I downloaded a few apps on my iPad 2 to help with translating and speaking Italian. A few of them speak the words for me, so that really helps. Besides the normal phrases of hello, goodbye, thank you, excuse me, etc...here are a few that I may need to know:

Thank you for the meal (because I plan to eat a lot of good meals)
Grazie per il pranzo

I would like a glass of red wine
Vorrei un biccheiere di vino rosso (I think just remembering di vino rosso will be most helpful)

Where is the nearest bathroom?
Dove il bagno piu vicino

How much is this? (while shopping)
Quanto costa questo

Let's cross over (if you've read Eat, Pray, Love, this was Julia Robert's character's favorite word)
Attraversiamo

Shoot, crap, uh oh (g-rated version)
Accidenti! (actually pronounced ah-chee-DENT-tee and sounds like fun to say)

We all know Mamma Mia is used by Italians, but a similar one that expresses surprise or annoyance is Madonna! (pronounced mah-DOHN-nah)

Shoot, crap, darn (a little less G-rated than the one above, but still ok)
Porca vacca (literally means pig cow, but also sounds fun)

My new favorite word is the word for cabbage - cavolo. It just sounds fun!

Just over 2 1/2 weeks away! Buon pomeriggio!

Blogging from iPad 2

This is my first blog from my iPad 2, I wanted to try it out for a test run. I plan to take a lot of pictures to post to the blog (even some with the camera on here) and even some videos. The video and regular camera are extremely easy to use on the iPad 2. I've also downloaded Skype for video and phone calls while I'm gone, so add me if you use Skype. I also have a few apps that will help me with learning and speaking Italian. Plus my Kindle, netflix, games, and other things that will help make the layovers and 9.5 hour flight from Chicago to Rome. Google maps may also come in handy for navigating the streets of Florence. I already found that there are a Dolce and Gabbana, Fendi, and Louis Vuitton boutiques all within 5 minutes walking distance from my apartment!

Buon pomeriggio (good afternoon)!

4 more weeks!

Buongiorno! (good morning)

In 4 weeks from today, I will be starting my first day of classes in Italy. I got my chef's coat, some euros, and my schedule on Saturday.

Now I'm just trying to make a packing list, but packing for 3 weeks in a foreign country is hard!

I am also trying to practice some Italian. I'm not very good at it, but I want to learn at least some main phrases. I am going to work more on that the next few weeks.

I googled the address of the apartment where we are staying and saw the street view. It looks fabulous! There are lots of little boutiques around and it's very Italian.

I will start posting more as the trip gets closer and will definitely post as often as I can while I'm there.

BI and AI

The trip is getting closer and closer. Only 5 1/2 more weeks until I leave the United States!

There are still things I need to do, including:

• getting my Ipad 2 shipped to me, which will allow me to video chat with friends/family, check email, listen to music, watch movies, read books, and I can also download an app that will allow me to text without having to use my cell phone and pay the enormous bill associated with that. I can't wait for that.
• get a new suitcase. I found a really cute and VERY reasonably priced one that I wanted from Marshalls but instead of buying it, I waited. Guess what, I went back and it was gone! I'm going to keep looking to see if they get others in.
• finalize the plans for the cats. Yes, it seems silly but I am going to worry about them. My mom is coming to check on them, Chris will go see them, but I want them to be happy while I'm gone because I know they will miss me tremendously.

It seems like I have been thinking of everything in terms of BI (Before Italy) and AI (After Italy). All of my plans are revolving around doing it before I go or when I come back. That's how I know that it's quickly approaching!

I plan to add lots of pictures and keep up with this blog while I travel, so check back often.

Ciao for now!