Ciao, mi bella collegiettes! (Pretty, cool, huh?) I wish I could say that’s just a taste of my knowledge of the Italian language, but alas, that’s pretty much the extent. Despite two whole semesters of excruciatingly difficult studies in Italian, I am still just a novice when it comes to the lovely language of the country in which I am studying abroad. As I’m writing this post, I’m set to embark on my European adventure in Florence in just two short days. It would have been even sooner if dear ole’ Hurricane Irene hadn’t swept up the East Coast and ruined my plans, but hey, so is life. I’m crossing my fingers that these complications in my travel plans are not an indicator of what my semester will be like, because frankly, I’m not exactly the “calm and collected” type when it comes to bumps in the road. My idea of coping involves hiding under the covers and developing a nervous eye twitch.
Which reminds me…I should probably tell you a little about myself (well, at least a little more than that).
My name is Gabrielle, but pretty much everyone calls me Ellie. I like to think that my name is “Elle”, because it makes me think of Legally Blonde, and who doesn’t want to be Reese Witherspoon? But the unfortunate truth is, Elle never seems to stick. Sigh. Anyways… I’m a junior at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, studying Communications & Journalism, but I’m a native Jersey Girl. I’m from one of those big, loud, Italian families, so it’s kind of a requirement that I spend my semester in the “home country”. As I mentioned before, I’m known to be a complete spazz, and okay, a little bit spacy, so part of my reason for going abroad is to prove to my doubtful Mother and wary Father that yes, I can survive in a foreign city without being pickpocketed, hospitalized, injured, or otherwise harmed. And between you and me, if any of the above should happen during my European adventures, I’ll be doing everything in my power to keep them from finding out…
The other reason I’m traveling, of course, is that it’s Florence, people! Italy! Who doesn’t want to spend a semester there? All I can think about is piles of spaghetti, glasses of wine, and vespas. Preferably with cute Italian guys riding them. Not to mention I am studying on a campus on the outskirts of Florence that literally looks like a castle. You know, no big deal…
With my big arrival only a few short days away, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t in panic-mode. I mean, how am I supposed to fit my entire life into one (okay, maybe two…) giant suitcases?! Of course I’ve been shopping far too much this summer, chalking up basically every purchase to “well, I’m going abroad!”. I’ve pretty much convinced my Mom that Florence is akin to a third-world country where things like those adorable brown ankle boots and to-die-for leather jacket just won’t be available! As a result, the pile of stuff I have to shove in a suitcase is looking pretty daunting…
And okay, I don’t know about you guys, but navigating an international airport, safely boarding a flight with all of my worldly possessions, switching flights in a foreign country, and then landing in another foreign country is, like, the scariest prospect in the world. So yeah, I’m freaking out just a little bit. I mean, my Dad is traveling with me, and I am flying on the second flight with my best friend from school, but still. A girl can worry, can’t she? Plus, all summer long my parents have been drilling the old “stranger danger” song and dance into my head at dinner (let’s just say watching “Taken” with them was probably a bad idea). That kind of talk doesn’t exactly ease my nerves! But every time I start to get anxious about jetting off for a semester abroad, I imagine the gorgeous Tuscan landscape, the once-in-a-lifetime architecture, and the chance to prove to everyone (myself most of all) that Ellie Baldini did in fact live (and survive!) for an entire four months in the most beautiful Italian city, Florence.
So for now, this nervous-nelly, pack-rat of an American girl is going to say arriverderci America, and arriverderci, my collegiettes! I am off on the adventure of a lifetime, and I am unbelievably excited to share it with all of you. Look for my posts every Tuesday, and I promise to entertain you with pictures of the stunning scenery, details of the delicious Italian food, and best of all, the embarrassing situations that seem to mark my everyday life, regardless of the continent.
Until next time my friends!