Leaving the USA

     As I prepare to start on this immersive experience abroad in Italy, I am feeling nervous, curious, but most of all excited. I am so excited to learn about a new culture and meet people from a different country. This experience is going to be one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had, and I hope to take it all in as much as I can. 

    While packing for this trip I made sure to pack the essentials, but I also packed something I treasure, my Bible. I read the scripture Psalms 121:8 and prayed for safety throughout the entire trip while packing all of my things. I also made sure to pack my Strengths Finder book and a notebook so that I can be sure to take notes on everything I am learning and refer back to my strengths and how I can best use them while abroad. I hope that through this experience I am able to learn more about myself and what I may be lacking in terms of how I interact with others and handle new experiences. 

    Part of studying abroad means having expectations for both others and myself. Some expectations I have for myself while abroad are that I will have an open mind throughout the entire experience, I will not let discomfort cause me to miss out on opportunities, and I will participate in group and class discussions. Some expectations I have for others are to be respectful of everyone on the trip, be helpful in small groups and teams by doing their part, and to just be kind humans.

    Some goals that I have set and would like to achieve while on this abroad experience are to be fully present during every lecture, learn some basic Italian language, be willing to try new foods that may be foreign to me, learn as much about the Italian culture as I can, and build relationships with my peers, instructors, and the Italians. I believe that each of these goals will help me make the best of the entire experience and be fully engaged throughout. As I am getting ready to depart, I can't help but feel grateful for this opportunity. For the longest time I have wanted to travel to Italy and now I get to with so many special people. I can't wait for this experience and the memories I will make!







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