I've arrived!

Well, I'm here! After a very long trip, I have arrived safely in Florence :) It all started at around 1:15 p.m. on January 10 when Mom, Dad, Anna, Adam, and I left Harrisonburg and headed up to Dulles in D.C.  At this point, I was experiencing quite a plethora of emotions.  At one moment I would be so excited, then the next moment I'd be dreading it, then the next moment I'd be nervous, and then I would go through those same emotions over and over again.  When the time finally came to say goodbye to my family, I couldn't help but cry.  I have never been away from home for more than a few weeks at a time and I still can't believe that it will be that long until I see my family again.  But after hugs and kisses and tears, I walked away, giving one last final wave before heading down the stairs to security.  Luckily I was traveling with another girl from my trip, Ellie! She helped me a lot to not be sad and she just kept reminding me about how much fun we are going to have and how awesome the experience is going to be.  Anyways...after making it safely and smoothly through security (no pat-downs here!), we were off to our terminal.  We stopped and got some Starbucks and then we boarded the plane.  The plane was HUGE!  We each had our own t.v., so I watched a movie (The Social Network), played some games on my iPod, listened to music, and got about a quarter of the way through a book.  Although I tried to sleep, I was (unfortunately) unsuccessful.  The seats were very cramped and it was extremely hard to get comfortable.  I did decide one thing on this trip...one day, I WILL fly 1st class. 

So after a 7 hour, 45 minute flight, we landed in Frankfurt, Germany.  Having only a 1-hour layover, we had to hurry through security and we were able to get right on our flight.  This plane was smaller but I would say about 75% of the passengers were college students on the way to Florence for the semester.  There was one group from Syracuse, New York with almost 40 people on the flight! I guess a lot of college students had the same idea as me! After landing in Florence, we were met by 2 of our group leaders who gave us some information and then got us a taxi to our homestay.  The taxi drive took FOREVER, or so it seemed.  We were winding in and out of streets and the drivers here are crazy! I was trying to enjoy the opportunity in the taxi to see the city and sort of figure out where I am, but all the twists and turns sort of through me off! Finally, the taxi driver dropped me off in front of my homestay and I was on my own.  I rang the doorbell and waited. And waited. And waited some more.  Finally, my host mom, Signora Rovai, greeted me and brought me in.  She showed me to my room and showed me around the house. I was the first of my roommates to arrive (the others aren't even here yet!) so I got to choose my bed and closet and I am already unpacked! After settling in I got to Skype with Mom and Dad and I even got to wake Adam up through Skype :) I am so glad to have technology that allows me to stay so in touch with them! 

Wow, sorry that was so long. I'm partially doing this for my own sake so that I can look back and remember what happened and I don't have to write it down :) Oh, and it's raining. I think I should get used to the rain.