Countdown: One Month

Well hello there! I decided I couldn't wait to start writing, and since I want to make this blog a complete reflection of my experience abroad I figured the month before I leave is pretty important!

I am currently in a coffee shop in Carlsbad, CA, sipping on a delicious salted caramel iced coffee a block from the ocean. I know, why am I not on the beach? Well I've already been four times this week, and it's ridiculous how used to that luxury one can get. I am visiting my lovely friend Ana for her birthday, which was really just an excuse to hop on a plane from Kansas to see her once more before I leave for a year! This brings me to my first thought- the people I'm leaving behind.

Soon I'll start thinking about packing lists, electrical adapters, and fees for currency exchange but right now I'm in that twilight zone between saying goodbye to a huge part of my life and the actual physical leaving. It's not a fun place to be. God knows I hate dragging out goodbyes and three whole months of waiting for this next phase of my life to start is quite the long haul.

But as hard as it is to leave, this blog isn't supposed to be sad, and honestly I'm more excited than anything! I mean I'm going to be living in Italy for an entire year. I can't imagine doing anything more exciting except maybe having a job taste-testing pina coladas and judging surfing competitions or maybe professionally going to brunch. I'm so incredibly lucky and no matter how hard it might be to leave I know it will be worth it!

I love the beach here!