Last night in America

That's right, it's my last night in America...at least for awhile. The past couple days I have been packing everything up and making trips to the grocery store to get last minute things (locks, vitamins, etc.) It really isn't hitting me yet that I am going to Florence, Italy, tomorrow AND that I will be living there for an entire semester. I guess it really won't hit me until I get on the plane.

Tonight has been the night of final good-byes. I have called several of my closest friends at Baylor to bid them farewell. I only wish I could say it in person! I went with my two sisters, Rachel and Faith, to IHOP tonight as a tradition for hot chocolate. It was strage even saying goodbye to them. It's not until I'm home and see them in school that I realize how much of seeing them grow up I am missing out on. The picture above is of my entire family before Courtney left for Syracuse (Faith and Rachel are the ones standing in the middle back.) The Italian culture is supposed to be very family-centered. I wonder if my perceptions on my own family will change at all.

Tomorrow I guess my mom will take me (along with my 2 toddler brothers) to the airport. The flight takes off at 2 for Dallas. Zena will be waiting for me at the gate and we will fly on the same flight for London Gatwick and then to Florence. I don't think it will hit me that I am going to Italy until I am on the plane. I am sick of sitting around and waiting to leave, especially since Baylor has been in session for a week now. However, I have been looking forward to this trip for so long that it is hard to believe that I am now supposed to actually be going on it. It is no longer a dream, but reality!

I guess I had better get back to packing. I may call it quits soon. I am so tired both physically from packing and emotionally from saying good-bye that I think I need a break. After all, I do have until 1 pm tomorrow. Wow, I really am leaving...this is awesome!! As my favorite childhood poem goes, God bless the moon, and God bless me!