21

I’m legal! Woohooo!

Even though I’ve yet to actually feel 21 here— you can actually buy alcohol at 16 in Italy— it was an amazingly fun celebration.

It began with an orientation dinner with wine and great food, and everyone singing happy birthday (mom, there was tiramisu for dessert)

Followed by about 20 people drinking wine in my apartment
(good thing the one thing our landlords told us in English was
“no parties”)

Then a bar named Red Garter for my birthday shot— then a club called Twice. So picture for yourself, it was a fun night! I was so happy that it was a chance for everyone in my program to go out together.

Only wish AJ and I could have celebrated together. Guess you’ll have to re-celebrate with me AJ when I get back to American so I can actually show my ID!

the roomies on my birthday
me, alex, chesley, jenna

Pisa

Important lessons I learned in Pisa:

1.Always bring a map when traveling to a new city

2.It is really hard to ask for help when you don’t speak the language

3.It is even harder to understand directions from Italians when you don’t understand the language

The leaning tower of Pisa is a thirty minute walk from the train station; well it should be. Add misguided directions from a pizza man (his pizza was to die for though!); walking along a highway; attempting to ask Italians for help on eight separate occasions (Jenna even resorted to acting out what a tower looked like, which still didn’t work); a random stop in a café that could have very well been associated with the mob…. we finally found the leaning tower.

Oh, did I mention this whole escapade took about three and a half hours? Oppss

Nonetheless, the tower really does lean (incase anyone was wondering). We got the typical leaning against the tower pictures and a lot of laughs.

I guess the adventure always comes when getting lost. But I’d still advise: remember your map.

ARRIVEDERCI AMERICA

Today's the day.

My suitcases are bursting at the seams, packed with too much I’m sure. In only a few hours I will be saying see-ya-later to America and boarding the plane for Italy. This time tomorrow I'll be walking the winding streets of Italy trying to find my apartment.

Unbelievable.

Before I leave I want to say thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to my friends and family. Everyone who has stood by me, held my hand, and helped me through last semester.

I recently read a poem about friendship; one line in particular resonated with me,

“When I become broken inside, they hold the pieces for me until I’m ready to put myself back together”

Thank you for holding my pieces. I would have lost some of them if it weren’t for you.

Although the past months were more difficult than anything I’ve faced, I can truthfully say I feel like my pieces are fitting back together.

Thank you especially to

My mom- I apologize for all the grey hairs I gave you :), but thank you for driving to Bloomington anytime I needed you

My dad- for the daily texts. Guess you’re going to have to send me daily facebook messages instead

& AJ- for always being there, usually with a joke.

Thank you; I love you all.

So I’m off to Florence, excited to share the adventures to come!

Con amore,

Kelsey