The Eve of the Departure....

Tomorrow's the BIG DAY!!  I'm super excited!  I'm not really nervous or anxious quite yet.  I just don't know what to worry about really so I'm just going to roll with it!  I am sad that I'm leaving everyone, but it is a bittersweet goodbye!  Everything is pretty surreal at this point.. I'll blog more tomorrow!  Good night and Happy New Year!

Excitement... Stress... Nervousness all In ONE

So... I was all set to start my student teaching in Williamston and I was super excited about it until I got the e-mail!!  The best e-mail I think I have ever received, the one from the principal in Italy.  It was letting me know that I was accepted and wanted to know my flight schedule and all sorts of other things that I had not planned for!  It was set at the point, I was heading to ITALY! 

From that point on my focus was how to get to Italy and what do I do when I get there.  I have never flown overseas and I really don't know how it all works.  I have a passport and a couple a suitcases, that's about it.  So, the plane ticket was no biggie, got the cheapest one possible! Easy enough...  Already had the passport... and then this visa came up.  The principal told me I needed to get a student visa since I would be over there for more than 90 days.  BOY OH BOY... was that an ordeal in a half!  I thought that was just something you did online and it was no big deal, I was WRONG!  In case you don't know, in order to get a student visa to Italy, you MUST see the consulate in person, unless you are going with a school that has an agreement already.  Since, I have to do everything on my own, it was a major difference.  There are like 8 consulates in the states, but all the states are under certain jurisdiction of the consulates.  The consulate for SC is in Miami, FL.  For a week, I called people, e-mailed visa services, googled, googled and googled some more.  This would be where the stress came in to the picture.  I was freaking out.  The family was freaking out (especially mom).  I found no other way but to just head down to Miami and try to get out all squared away because I only had like 16 days until I leave.  My dear ole' bro agreed to head down with me since it's a 12 hour drive and we were going to make it quick!  By this time, I think I was in a state of PANIC!  I was so close, but I felt as though I was soo far away! Then another wonderful e-mail arrived, one to say that I did not have to get a visa! WHOOOOH...  was that a relief for ALL of us.  So, I will just go to another country (which obviously I will) and come back and that starts my 90 days over again!  Problem solved!  

Thankfully, the stress has subsided and I'm just overwhelmed with Christmas, packing and trying to see everyone before I leave.  I will be leaving on January 1st out of Charlotte at 1 PM. Can't WAIT!  I will definitely be starting the new year with a new adventure!  With hopes of many many more to come!  

This is just the beginning of this adventure... so come back and check out how Europe is treating me!!!!  :) 

Merry Christmas