"Just around the river bend....." - Pocahontas

In 14 days I will be landing in Italy. This is very unreal to me. I didn't think that I would make and it is scaring me. I have never been far from my family with little communication. My mind is over thinking everything.
I am officially done with my Junior year of classes and finals. How did I become a Senior??
Some bad news, I did not receive the $5000 Gilman scholarship I was counting on. They sent me an email saying that they had 300 awards and thousands of applicants.
Oh well. Keeping my chin up.
When something happens, I will let you know...

"Be an angel to someone else whenever you can, as a way of thanking God for the help your angel has given you." ~Quoted in The Angels' Little Instruction Book by Eileen Elias Freeman

Great News!

I have recieved a scholarship from Pruitt Tool and Supply Company. This scholarship has allowed me to pay my parents back for the flight. It has lifted such a weight off of my chest. Now the only thing I have to worry about is money for living and emergencies over in Italy. In 25 day my feet will be stepping on Italian land <3
I feel so blessed.

Thank you so much Pruitt Tool and Supply Company.

"Some of the world's greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible." ~Doug Larson

I had a meeting Wednesday about the trip. This was our last meeting before we leave. We discussed money, phones and traveling. So here's what happened:
*They suggest bringing a debit card instead of a credit card to avoid large oversea charges. This also is a good idea so you are not carrying around large sums of money. Also, if an emergnecy arises my parents can put money into my account to help me out.
*We discusses passports as well. Since I am new to travel, I did not know the details. I need to make sure that I am stamped in Dublin (where I have a layover) and in Italy. If I do not get stamped there is paperwork, fees and nonsense I have to go through to prove I can be there.
*Apparently the weather in Italy is very much like here at home. It can be anywhere from cold and rainy to warm and sunny. I need to pack a variety of things. When I go home for Easter break, I will pack everything and see if I can get in all carry on bags.
*We still need to find a phone system. I think my best bet is renting one from the University in Italy.
*We got our travel itinerary as well!! We will be taking weekend trips to Rome, Milan, Assisi, La Verna, Venice, Florence and Turin. Then we have one free weekend to travel where we would want. And my favorite one? There is a weekend where we can spend a weekend in a farmhouse in Tuscany. This is my heaven weekend :) This trip is the only one with an extra fee. This is because it is a filed trip with the University instead of our own. However, this fee is completely worth it!

The trip is nearly a month away.

“If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere.” - Frank A. Clark

My trip has been paid for!! Today was the final deposit. What a load off my chest...besides that I have to pay back what loans I got. It isn't horrible....about $700. I am still waiting to hear back from local business about donations. The letters were sent out awhile ago, so now it is just waiting. Hopefully I get a good response and am able to payback the loans.
Now I have to get money to spend in Italy. They said a high estimate would be $2,000. This would be for food (we have to feed ourselves for 6 weeks), traveling (we get weekends to explore where we please), souvenirs (duh!! It's Italy!) and emergencies (I hope there are none of those). I also will need money for classes and books. Not sure how much that will be. This trip is putting me in a hole but how many chances do you get to see Italy??
I have been reading through the handbook they sent us. It says Italians are very fashion forward and always look nice. I am thinking of getting a lot of flowing skirts and bike shorts to wear under them...who knows where I will be exploring. The skirts will also be lighter to pack. Also, in order to go into any of the churches or religious sites, legs and arms have to be covered. SO if my skirts are knee length, I can carry around a shawl to throw over my arms.
50 Days until I leave for Italy...ahhhhhh!

On another note, my teaching has been going well. I taught a spelling lesson yesterday for my kindergarteners and it went well. Tomorrow I am teaching at a preschool. It will be my last day there :( I will miss my students. I only have 6 more days with my kindergarteners. I can't wait to have my own class someday. Maybe I will start a teaching blog after Italy :)

Until next time!

By the way, my Mom started her own blog about making awesome food while living a busy life style with a big family! She wants to get published someday. She has talking about it for as long as I can remember. Check it out! http://achaoticcook.blogspot.com/

"And I won't look back, I can go the distance. And I'll stay on track; No, I won't accept defeat. It's an uphill slope, But I won't lose hope, Till I go the distance, And my journey is complete." - Disney's Hercules

Hello all. I am back from Father's Night at the Preschool I intern at. It was so beautiful and so precious. Here at school we thought spring was finally here....until we woke up to a few inches of snow this morning :(
As for Italy. My LAST deposit is due the 31st. Thanks to family loans and working at school, I will make it. However, I still need to make the money to pay back my family for the loan and the plane ticket (I will pay back every cent) and I need to make some spending money for classes, food and gifts. It is coming so fast! There hasn't been another meeting yet, but we were sent the study abroad handbook that I haven't had a chance to read yet. The next meeting will be in April.
Thanks for the comments and questions. I am more likely to post when I know people are reading and are interested. School is just so busy, blogging is in the background. Plus, this is my first blog so I am not sure what a proper amount of posts is.
Let's see....what else.....
I will be a University Senior in a few months....it is freaking me out.
I'm going to be a senior + my boyfriend graduates + Italy = Roller-coaster of emotions.

Well.....I feel like I am boring you. Anything you would like to know?

"Woah, we're half way there. Woah, living on a prayer." - Journey

Well I made it through the blizzard and am back at school. I got my first check from Amazon for $90! Thank you to everyone for clinking through using my site! Please keep it up! I did not get a chance to send out the letters to local businesses....I was doing homework all break, ask my family. But I will get them out as soon as possible. I am expecting another meeting soon and when I have one, I will update you right away.
26 days to make 2,340. *cue dramatic music*

"Have you ever thrown a fistful of glitter in the air?" - P!nk

My scholarship application is in! I wrote the papers, met with advisors, mailed transcripts and answered countless questions about my life. Now it is time to wait. Unfortunately, my advisor told me that even if I get the money, they do not award it until the beginning of June....I will be in Italy. So I have to find a way to come up with the money and then hopefully I will get the scholarship and get paid back for the trip. I am not sure what to do. March 31st is my next dead line of $2,600. I have about $200 of that. I will be sending out a letter to local businesses soon asking for a donation. Even if they are able to lend a little bit, it will help. I hate asking for help but I am not sure what to do. I have been working so hard and was able to make the first two payments. But this last payment is scaring me.
As for school, it is going well. I am teaching now. Monday and Wednesday I am in a Kindergarten and on Friday I am in a preschool. Tuesday and Thursday are still full with classes and work. I have taught a few lessons for the classes....nerve wracking but so rewarding. It is amazing watching the students learn and have fun doing it.
I hope all is doing well. Any advice on how to make a quick cash? Any stories? A joke? Witty comment? :) Thanks all!