Posterous theme by Cory Watilo

Tomorrow is the day!

In just over 24 hours, I will be leaving for the airport and my journey will begin. I truly am excited, and this summer has been wonderful even though it went very fast. Today is my packing day, and I know that even through these nerves, I will be just fine! Casey has made the past week so special for me, and seeing all of my family before I leave is a grand thing indeed.

There isn’t much else for me to say, except that I hope whoever reads this blog will enjoy it! Don’t worry, it will get much more exciting when I am Italy.

Much love to all those I will leave behind, and know that I carry you all with me in my heart =]

BYE, ‘MERICA.

Less than a week!

Hey I just realized
(and this is crazy)-
One week I’ll be in
Florence, Italy!!

So that was a ridiculous version of ‘Call Me Maybe.’ You can’t stop me. As my song suggests, I will indeed be in Italy this time next week, and that is crazy to think about! I have recently gotten my housing assignment (Kim and I will be rooming with 2 other girls who go to school in Wisconsin; big relief that it won’t be too crowded), and also my cell phone number (I think??- weird website), and also I went shopping with Mum to get everything that I need. Hope my suitcase will contain it all!

The summer truly went much faster, it seems, than I thought it would. However, I did so many things that I wanted to do, so it was definitely a good time! Since school ended I have had 7 photoshoots, a great birthday, lots of time with the love of my life and also with friends I haven’t seen in a while, and to top it all off- ENGAGEMENT! What a year it has been so far. I am truly excited about this trip, and all the wonderful things I will do and see. August has been a pretty stressful month for me with trying to get stuff done and worrying about who knows what, but I know deep down that everything is just fine and this journey will be awesome!

Things still to come in my last week in ‘Merica include a trip to the Dells, attending  a wedding with Casey, seeing a good friend/future bridesmaid, and spending time with my family. Oh, and packing. Lots of that.

I will probs post again before I leave, so until then! =]

~Gr

Venti Anni! =]

My life is so amazing right now, even if some days seem a little dark. I just had a wonderful birthday celebration with my family (and extra!), I have a job that isn’t too bad and earns me the money I need, and I am engaged to the love of my life!!! I cannot be happier about that last one, and if it isn’t apparent enough, I love Casey so so so much! Before Florence some trips to wedding venues might occur, but we will see.

It’s already July, and I am already 20 years old! This is crazy to me- the whole lack of “teen” thing. But to grow up is inevitable, and will provide just as many joys as hardships. And even without a clear direction, I still can love life and be happy just the way things are. And things are truly going well for me! Despite the worries and apprehension about being gone for 3 months in a place I have never been, I am still very excited for this journey and can’t believe how close it is getting. This month will skip by, I’m thinking, for the past couple months all have. Casey is leaving for California tomorrow and will be gone most of the month, but I will be just fine. It’s ok to miss someone, but not ok to let it take you over. I will keep busy and do things that I enjoy- which is sometimes harder than it sounds! I am sure that all will be well, though.

Since my last post I received yet another scholarship, this time for even more than the last one! I feel so accomplished and happy that I can make things easier on myself and my family with all these scholarships. The pre-departure list is both growing as the trip gets closer, but at the same time I am always crossing things off. My organization skills are constantly at work, and for that I can’t complain.

Hopefully I will be doing some photoshoots this summer, along with other fun stuff that will keep my occupied and appreciating the summer itself. And learning more Italian…that’s on my list too!

Later Days,
Gretchen =]

Buon giorno!

Gah I hope I spelled that ^ correctly….I am currently learning Italian so go easy on me. 103 days until Italy, and my ‘Things to Do’ list for the trip is gradually getting shorter. Applied for 4 scholarships (already got one!) so we will see what that ends up like. Soon I can apply for my student visa (lots of paperwork for that) and that will be a big load off of my mind. Truly there is not much left to do but buy certain things for the trip, learn more Italian, make sure Kim is on track with her paperwork (I’m sure she is…smartypants, lol) and earn some paperrrr. I actually have a summer job now so huzzah! Casey also does, so my worries are getting smaller and smaller. :) I will keep on with the good ol’ Rosetta Stone and hopefully I can start writing a sentence or two of Italian on here. Other than that, not much is happening…trying to utilize all my time before the end of the month when I have to work. Also looking forward to some trip Casey is planning for next weekend….mystery mystery. More later as the summer progresses (as it pretty much is summer now), and hopefully more Italian!

~Gr

Oh, and I got my grade report for the semester, 2 As and 2 ABs…one I think should be changed but hey I will take it! Dean’s List for the 4th time in a row yayyyyyyy :D

Study Abroad Orientation Meeting: Stuff’s gettin real up in here!

Today was the orientation meeting with all of the other study abroad students from Carroll and I have to say, I’d been waiting for this meeting for months. Getting more information and making sure that I am on the right track with everything are things that I need so much…but truth be told, I was feeling quite nervous at the meeting. Everyone is so excited and I am too, but underneath that is always some anxiety. I really am excited, but it’s just that this whole planning experience is stressful and there’s a lot to remember and a lot of forms to fill out. I know that I will get everything done and all that, and that I will be safe when I am in Florence if I use common sense, but still I fear that I will be the one with the “uncontrollable fits of weeping.” As if I am not that already! I know that others will have a hard time adjusting, too. I cannot say enough how happy I am that Kim is going with me! She is such an amazing friend and truly the one I want with me in a new place to experience this whole thing with. We bought our plane tickets recently (a topic that I am NOT looking forward to discussing further) and it’s crazy how real this is all getting. It’s already mid-April, and that is nuts!! Today I was feeling scared, but like I said, I am trying to keep on the happy and excited thoughts. Now I am just going to focus on getting through the small remainder of sophomore year and filling out lots of paperwork on the way.

~Gr

This is just the start...

I won’t be using this blog too much yet, for my adventure doesn’t begin until the end of August. However, much preparation is already taking place, so get ready for some exciting tales of paperwork really soon. There isn’t any specific reason that I made this blog, though I’m guessing that it will help me deal with the new experiences that I will have to face. I’m a person of habit, of list-making and organization. I get frantic easily, I am emotional always, and writing sometimes helps. I have a person that I love more than any other aspect of my life, and he loves me just as much. There will no doubt be a lot about him in this blog. Also, I have a roommate and friend that I love dearly, and she will be making this journey with me. Her presence will be what keeps me sane, in my opinion. Truly, though, I know that I will have fun on this journey, and that I will gain so much from an experience that, in theory, scares me to death. More later as things progress….I better use this blog, because I think it will be really good for me!

Much love,
Gretchen