Here's What I've Learned, Folks.

Planning to leave the country under the watchful eye of a university is very difficult. 

It would be one thing if I were just to say, "See ya, U.S. I'm out." 

It's an entirely different thing to try and enroll in a foreign university.

Here are the things that I've been working on: 

1. Getting a visa. AKA "Surprise! You cannot just leave the country for more than 90 days without the permission of our government and yours. To obtain that permission, you'd better take a nice trip down to Chicago and see the Italian consulate." 

2. Housing for when I return. The housing while I am in Milan is going to be VERY cool - all apartments that I share with two or three other roommates. It was just a problem of where I was going to live when I returned home. We didn't want to spend the money canceling and refilling out contracts with UNL's Housing Department, so (as I am extremely excited to report), we will be apartment shopping!

3. Airfare. I love airplanes. I love airports. I love traveling. The only thing I don't love is trying to find a flight that doesn't cost the rest of my college tuition.

So, those are the things that may have not been so fun. But here are the things that I have had so much fun doing: 

1. Planning my classes. 

2. Planning my excursions. 

3. Planning what I'm going to eat and wear and bring and buy.

4. Planning what Mom and I are going to do when she comes to get me at the end of my adventure. 

5. Planning the kind of camera I want to get to take beautiful pictures with.

6. Planning the gifts I'll bring back for my friends. 

7. Planning, planning, planning EVERYTHING. 

I am so grateful. This is the trip of a lifetime. 

Hope everyone is having a wonderful week! 

My Obsessions (this week, anyway)

The best thing about college is that trends, culture, and new ideas spread fast - it's easy to find new obsessions in a variety of different places. Here's a couple of things that I've been loving this week: 

1. The Hunger Games movie 

I read the books a while ago and while I wasn't as impressed with the movie as I wanted to be, I am totally infatuated with Jennifer Lawrence, the star of the movie. She is strong, she is capable, and she is entirely herself no matter where she is. I also love that she has a normal shaped body - she isn't stick thin, and she isn't a size 2 deemed "curvy." She's just normal. 

2. M. Ward's "Magic Trick" 

"It's like, now you see her, now you don't. 

You think you're gonna get to know her but oh, now you won't.

She's got one magic trick, just one and that's it

She disappears." 

3. All Italy related things

Two days ago I received an email telling me I had been "placed and confirmed" in Milan to study abroad in the fall. While I'm going to miss my friends and family terribly, I am so excited to get started planning and spend some time in one of the most beautiful cities in the world!

4. Summer, summer, summer

5. One Tree Hill

This week, One Tree Hill ended after 9 successful seasons on the air. One Tree Hill has been one of my favorite shows for many years now, and though it is cheesy and irrelevant to modern day pop culture and sometimes entirely too unrealistic, I love it, and it has taught me more than anyone probably realizes. 

One of my favorite quotes comes from season six: "Sometimes happiness doesn't come from money or fame or power. Sometimes happiness comes from good friends and family and the quiet nobility of leading a good life. Believe that dreams come true every day. Because they do. So take a look in that mirror and remind yourself to be happy because you deserve to be. Believe that." 

Hope everyone's having a great week!