After I opened my Italian-English dictionary while waiting to board my flight to Rome in Chicago, complete and utter terror came over me. I called my mom and was almost in tears! I felt like I could not recall any of my Italian from last semester. Needless to say, I was a little spooked but couldn't help but feel excited. I boarded the plane, got my snuggie out and sat down surrounded by the buzzing and intense hand gestures of Italians. About a half hour into the flight I finally found the courage to ask the clearly Italian woman next to me where she was from. Within minutes we were semi-communicating in Italian! I could not believe it; it was truly an exhilarating feeling. It was at this moment I realized the next four months would be the best four months of my life.
After I landed in Rome, eight other students and I who were already there and I met Gianni, our driver. He was born and raised in Arezzo and was the typical Italian man in a linen button-up shirt, jeans, and very nice leather loafers. He made us feel right at home when we finally packed out luggage into the van he played what he called "discoteca", which was really Black Eyed Peas' "I Got a Feeling."
The drive from Rome to Arezzo was truly breathtaking. Every city we passed looked like it came from right out of a movie! We arrived in Arezzo to our wonderful apartment! Our rooftop deck overlooking Tuscany is the icing on the cake! Holly and I share a room and Alison has her own room. Our kitchen is perfect and I cannot get enough of the rooftop!
Arrivederci!
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