Sunday, January 23, 2011

Departure Day!

The day is finally here! It's been a LONG break and, to be honest, I was pretty jealous when all of my friends went back to school without me. I've only been away from Mississippi for two months and it already feels like two months too long. While the rest of my friends have been busy with the new semester, I have been working on packing, re-packing, organizing, and clock-watching until I finally get to begin my adventure in Italia! The hardest part about packing for four months is that I keep getting the feeling that I'm forgetting something (who doesn't?) I guess I will probably figure out what I forgot when I get to Europe and, by then, it will be too late. I guess forgetting something wouldn't be all that bad because then I will have an excuse to go the some of the shops and markets in Florence in search of what I need.


This is the stack of paperwork I have been sorting through and organizing to make sure I'll make it into Italy and back the USA relatively hassle free (we'll see). It's not all fun and games when it comes to studying abroad.


 This mess is what I refer to as "packing." This is how most of my packing for trips goes. I throw everything I think I'll need in the center of my room and make a giant pile and then start stuffing it in the bag until I can't fit anything else. Then I usually have to take everything out, fold it, leave some stuff out of the suitcase, and re-pack it until it fits. Since this adventure will be lasting four months the pile was slightly larger and a bit mroe chaotic looking than usual. My mom offered to help pack, but as soon as she walked into my room and saw the mess she walked right back upstairs (she's a clean freak and she can't deal with stuff like that).


 Somehow I always seem to pull through in the end. My backs are packed (AND organized) and I even managed a bit of extra room to make souvenir storage a little bit easier on the return trip.

My last two days in Wisconsin:

 My family is very close so I ended up spending the last few days I had in the US with them. It was our first winter in Wisconsin as a family so we decided to stop being hermits like rest of the population here and we got out in the snow. I took my sister and the dog on a walk down the river behind our house. I was literally ON the river because everything is frozen solid here. She found some icicles and the dog found the only soft spot in the ice. He was fine, I just think it scared him when his foot went in the water. My sister also figured out why so many people prefer to wear snowshoes on the trail. There was fresh powder from the night before and when she walked it came up to her knee! The dog didn't much like the high snow either.


 You can tell by Dakota's face that he was traumatized by the snow. Fifteen minutes into our walk and he kept trying to sit down somewhere so he wouldn't have to walk through the drifts.

On my last day, we went to the local sledding hill and had some fun. It was nice because we were the only ones there, probably because we were the only ones crazy enough to go sledding in -10 degree weather. I hadn't been sledding since I was about eight and the rest of my siblings had never been before. I was a successful day, except I got a little sun burned from the reflection from the snow. I know, I know. Who gets sunburn in the snow in -10 degree weather? This kid.


I'm excited and nervous about my upcoming adventure, but I'm sure I'm going to have a blast! Coincidentally, the day I'm leaving is also the same day (and time) as the Green Bay Packers' playoff game vs. the Chicago Bears. Everyone here is all dresses up in their packer uniforms, including my family, and there is absolutely no traffic on the road because everyone is at home with their faces glued to the TV. I hope the Pack win, but I won't be able to find out until I land in Paris tomorrow morning.

To all my friends and family: I miss you all already and make sure to look for a postcard in the mail sometime in the next month or so! Also, make sure to keep checking back here on my blog for photo and video updates of my time abroad.

Ciao!

1 comment:

  1. Tyler,
    What a chance of a lifetime! I hope you have a great time and enjoy all the sights! I am looking forward to some pictures. I am so Jealous of you right now!
    Have fun!

    Your cousin,
    Amanda

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