Goodbyes

Okay, so here's the deal:

-I'm leaving dear ole' Traverse in five days. FIVE DAYS.

-I haven't exactly talked to my host family yet.

-My suitcase is no where near packed

-My Italian is pushed to the limits of "Ciao, mi chiamo Jocelyn"

I'm tweakin' out.

This is weird. weird. weird. weird. I CANNOT believe I'm actually leaving. After a year, yes a year, of planning an exchange.

I'm not going to ramble on about time flying by like I usually do (but it's soaring at top speed right now). I'm already starting to feel like some

sort of tourist in my own town. I'm taking in the sites, and I want the days to last longer.

These next five days will consist of:

-Lots of eating out (gotta get my american food fix.)

-Going downstate for a day.

-Cramming in time with friends.

-Cramming in time with family.

-Buying plug adapters/transformers.

-Taking pictahhhs.

-Bummin' around Traverse City.

-Packing suitcase.

-And Goodbyes (boo hooo)

And how am I feeling overall? I feel like, I can't believe I'm going to be in Italy next week.

Oh Mio Dio.

Ciao! Oh Mio Dio!

Next week is my last week here in the United States of America. Or more specifically, Traverse City, the Cherry Capital of the world.

Io non parlo bene l'italiano ancora, (I don't speak good Italian yet) but I'll learn it lentamente (slowly). Google translate? Ignite.

Anywho, I'm frantically now trying to hang out with people 24/7 and getting my last week of work (at dairy queen) in. I haven't even begun to think about packing, but I know I should probably get on that.

I still can't believe that I'm leaving in 12 days or so. After about a year of planning and waiting. It's crazy, and starting to sink in. Yes, I will admit I'm a bit giddy. But, I'm also kind of sad too. One morning I'll wake up in TC, and go to bed in New York City. It's hard to believe that Jocelyn's life in Northern Michigan will turn into Jocelyn vita a Torino, Italia.

Sorry this post is me mostly just musing. But other than that, there's nothing else to say.

Ponte Vecchio = Extent of my Italian

My meeting with the consulate a few days ago went a little something like this:

After a four hour drive downstate, I was assuming I was going to some sort of office. But when we pulled up to a beautiful house, I realized it wasn't going to be like I expected. I also expected a 20 something year old Italian man at the door. In reality there was a 60 year old man, shorter than me, and with glasses that took up about 70% of his face. He had a warm inviting smile as he motioned us into his home. We walked in and sat down in his office.
The first thing I noticed about this man when he opened his mouth: he must be speaking Italian/English. His accent was thick. But needless to say he was very friendly and helpful.

After listening to his stories and finally signing one piece of paper (I know, we drove 4 hours to sign something) he showed us to the door, assuring me that piemonte was a beautiful place. We left, saying "bye bye".

And that was the consulate appointment. The days are just dwindling right on down. 24 days or so by my counting. The funny thing is - it hasn't really hit me yet. I have brief periods where in my head I'm like "wait a second... I'm actually going to Italy in less than a month" but then the thought disappears as fast as Michael Moore drives away from a McDonalds drive thru.

Anywho, the picture to the right is the "ponte vecchio" and my deep understanding of the Italian language leads me to believe that actually means "Old Bridge" in English. I think I'm living not to far away from that. Which is an awesome thing to think about when I'm having one of those "oh no I'm going to miss Traverse City too much" days.

The next 24 or so days will likely be filled with driving around the town, taking pictures, and hanging out with my friends. And all the little things that come with that.

Time's-a flying

Between cramming music on my ipod and hanging out with friends, time's whizzing by. So fast in fact, that I'm constantly losing track of the amount of days until I leave. Like I've mentioned before, this isn't a bad or good thing. I'm anxious for european life to start, and I'm freaked out about leaving everything I can't fit into my bag (friends / family).

Anywho, I have all my travel information:
September 9th:
-Leave Cherry Capital Airport at 11:30am
-Arrive in Chicago, Ohare at 11:30am local time
-Depart from Ohare at 12:35pm
-Arrive at JFK in New York City at 4:05-Make my own way from there to the orientation hotel (because I'm late)
-Gateway Orientation

September 10th:
-Gateway Orientation
-Leave New York City at 6:00pm
-Stay up on a airplane all night

September 11th:
-Arrive in Zurich, Switzerland at 8:15am
-Have an awesome 4 hour layover which will consist of me sleeping in a
completely obscure place
-Leave Zurich at 12:35pm
-Arrive in Rome at 2:00pm
-Arrival Orientation

Yeah and I'm sure I'll be smiling like a idiot the whole time.

I got my school too, I think. It's called Liceo Scientifico Statale "A. Gramsci"
Let's pretend it's not a situation that I can't say the name of my own school.

roughly 63 more days

Roughly 63 more days of summer time in Northern Michigan. It's flying by way to fast. In a way I'm anxious, and in other I want everything to slow down. So I figure, normal time is a happy middle ground.

I'm sad to say I've still got quite a bit to do. All those "things to do before I leave for Italy" are kind of piling up. Like say, learn Italian - or - get new glasses, and all those little things in between.

It's really weird to think that I'm leaving for a entire ten months, in - about - 63 days. And it still hasn't hit me. I'll be leaving my comfortable life in TC for something new and foreign. I know I'm going to like it, love it, and every moment of it. But at the same time half my mind will be back home, thinking of everyone else.

I know being an exchange student is NOT a 10 month vacation, like some people think it is (?), and I am so excited to learn and open my mind and travel.

As for the host family, well I got their application, and they seem like really nice folks. I think we'll all get on well. They seem to have the same life style as my family. And they have a cute little sail boat on the coast too! The only thing is I still haven't gotten ahold of them! Only my host sister, Michela, and I have had a few hurried messages on facebook.

Oh well I'm sure everything will end up like it should. It always does (:

What a rush

A quick summary of the Pre-departure Orientation: it was interesting / and boring. The people there were all interesting and really funny. I met a lot of people from all different contries too. All the exchange students in Ann Arbor were really close.
After coming home, I logged onto facebook (sadly, this is a daily ritual) and I clicked on my new friend request and SURPRISE! It was my host sister! I was completely taken off guard! I got to talk to here just a little. But from what I gathered she is currently in Arkensas as an exchange student (speaks english fluently!) and she seems really nice!
And, as for the thing that I was most anxious about: My Host City!It is… Ivrea!!Haha, I was hoping for a southern city, but nope! I get placed as far north as possible!!
But on the plus side, the city is INSANELY beautiful! I’m so lucky! Ivrea is very old too. So AFS didn’t contact me about my host family until today!
I tried to email them, but it doesn’t work :(I think I may mail them the old fashioned way :o
Haha but all is well. I’ll post some pictures of Ivrea (:

Pre-Departure Invitation

I got a letter in the mail the other day, and after promptly tearing open the only piece of mail I’ve had for weeks, I soon discovered it was (hazah!) a invitation/notification to my pre-departure orientation! It’s next weekend (May 16) and there are going to be about 5 other eager kids like me.
I’m the only one going thats headed for Italy, which was surprising. I think the mode (yes I just used that word) was Switzerland.

Alas, I still have some bad news. I haven’t gotten a host family yet :O. Which is bummer! But last night I had a dream that I was placed in Palermo (however it’s spelled) in Sicily, Italy. Maybe this is a revelation. I doubt it though haha. With my luck I will be placed 2 days before I leave and somewhere in the mountains that has a long, cold, winter. Knock on wood. Not that that would be all too bad, keeping in mind being farther north would just make it easier to see more of Europe! It’s so weird to think that I only have about four more months of living in the United States before I turn Italian!