A week later...

     So last Monday I ventured out to San Francisco for the second time to file for my student visa. And was told I was missing ONE thing so I needed to acquire this ONE thing and return Thursday (the office is open M & Th from 1-3:30...convenient much?). So I did. Skipped class again on Thursday to drive out there. Stood in line for an hour outside before realizing that not only would I make it to the front of the line before 3:30 ( I arrived at 1:30) but I would be late for work. Left. Returned AGAIN yesterday at 1 p.m. sharp and finally reached the window at 2:55 pm. And finally filed for my visa. I get to pick it up May 17th. Just in the nick of time. That is the Monday of the week I leave for home before taking off for Italy. Sheesh way to cut it close Alessandra....But I have to say this. I got the biggest feeling of relief and giddiness as I got in my car. I am really going to Italy this summer. I AM. And now I have to somehow focus on school the next 4 weeks and not let my mind wander to the wonderfulness that is Italia. And pack mentally a thousand times. 

     It is bittersweet. 3 months is a long time to be away. I know it is going to be worth it but I am missing so, so much. I am missing my departments' graduation in which several of my friends are walking, my sister's prom and high school graduation and a friend's wedding. Also, by the time I get back, my sister and a few other close friends will already be at school for the semester and my roommate will be in D.C. for an amazing internship that she worked her butt off to earn. It's bittersweet. Last summer and this coming summer are totally different. Last summer I drove everyday to an office and sat at a computer, planning a big sports event (Senior Olympics). This summer I will be interning somewhere in Italy and omgosh exploring that beautiful country. Completely different experiences. 

     My parents were recently there for a family event and I just can't wait to see all my family. And a couple that is a close friend of the family has been living there for a year and looking at all of their pictures just makes me giddy inside. I can NOT wait. I don't know how I'm going to be able to contain my excitement. I'm going to be jumping up and down in my airplane seat the whole 7 hour flight there (from NY...from LA its 12....sheesh). 

ok ok I am rambling and have far too much school work to do...but AHHH I am SO excited. If you haven't gone to Europe and you want to.....do it. You will NEVER forget it. I promise. 

Death

     Death is not a favorite topic of mine. I don't think that anyone can be too fond of it either. The day and a half, I have had death on my mind. Not mine of course. I love my life and don't plan on leaving this world until I am good and ready and around 120 years old. I know, wishful thinking, but hey I'm stubborn. Just ask my dad. Anyways, death has been brought to my attention twice in the last 36 hours. The first time, yesterday morning when I was checking my Yahoo. On the main page they always have news story that are either breaking or highlighted for the day. It's great because you can localize it.
      A story had the headline of "Suspect in Ventura killings apprehended" or something to that extent. My stomach knotted and I clicked. Last May, a couple was murdered in their home in a city not far from me. The wife was 4 months pregnant and it is being ruled a triple homicide. It hits home because this couple was related to a friend of mine at church. I just could not believe it when it happened. It was the most horrific thing to happen in our county in a long time and no one could figure out why this couple. They were a wonderful couple with two children and one on the way. They were well liked and connected in the community.
      Sunday night they arrested a young man in connection. Now, Tuesday he was being arraigned and my friend's facebook page let me know that he was going with some family members. I pray for their sake that this is the right guy and that this guy, this scum of the earth who took innocent lives, gets what's coming to him. It's despicable. When I was reading the breaking news article I could feel myself boiling with anger at this person. A person I didn't know who had taken the lives of people I had never met. But it hurt and caught me off guard. I was so shaken that I couldn't get it out of my head until yesterday afternoon when I was preoccupied with not getting lost in SF. This type of death is the violent one, obviously. These people had a long life ahead of them that was going to be full of love and laughter and good times. Now their two older children, who were not harmed physically, will live life without their parents. It's cruel.
     The second time was about an hour ago when I was talking a friend I had done my internship with last summer. She started the conversation with the foreboding "did you hear the news?" Somehow I knew it was not good news. It wasn't. The beloved husband of our boss from last summer had passed away in the night and she had found out before me. I knew that he was sick and struggling and in and out of the hosptial but it still hurt. He was so love by his wife and children. Yes, he was elderly and ill but he was so so loved. I know this is going to hurt his wife and family but they know now that he is in a better place and no longer suffering. He was suffering for so long.
     Death is not fun. I experienced it for the first time when I was in second grade and my grandpa died. It's a surreal feeling. I don't look forward to going through those feelings again. Make sure that the ones you love know you love them and do your best to love and care for all in your life.

Student Visas

      For my summer abroad, I am required to obtain a student visa. I know we are dealing with national security but this has been the most complicated and frustrating process I have ever gone through. I am making another attempt at getting all of my paperwork in today, and I really hope that I have it all this time. The frustrating thing is that different consulates and websites say different things. I have the list for the LA consulate of what they require. And then I go to the SF consulate to make sure I have everything and there are a few things extra from the LA list that they require. I thought this was a UNIVERSAL thing! If one Italian consulate requires a certain piece of paperwork, they should ALL require it. So I think that I have everything I possibly could. And am going to make the drive into SF once again, this time in the rain, because I have less than 7 weeks until my departure and well I need that visa on my passport before I leave California. It's essential. And nerve-racking. So a piece of advice to students traveling abroad for study...get help. Go through your school. If you do go through a private program, ask as many questions as possible. I learned my lesson the hard way (like I usually do). If my dad reads this, he'll probably laugh at me and then call me and tell me "I told you so." Yes, Dad, you are right.
        Oh and the rain. It has been raining on and off for a whole WEEK. I don't understand it. I know the whole saying "April showers bring May flowers" but my goodness. It's POURING. And my cousin is getting married in an outdoor wedding at the end of the month. I'm pretty sure that this whole week is putting her on edge. It's going to be beautiful no matter what but it'd be nice if it was clear skies.
       Ok well that's my rant right now. Here's to one more week of school and one more week closer to summer and my wonderful adventures.

24 Hours

     Since starting this blog, I've begun to write blog posts in my head...but by the time I get around to actually posting them, in my mind, it's off. The timing isn't right anymore. Most of the time I abandon the unwritten post and convince myself that it was one topic that the virtual world just wasn't ready for. But this one...this one I want to post. But I need to set it up. See, right now it is 10 p.m. but I started writing this post in my head around 5:45 p.m. And the time matters for this post. A lot can happen in 24 hours...so pretend you're reading this as if I posted at, oh say 6:15 p.m. today. Not 10ish.
     5:45 p.m. on April 5, 2010 I was walking from campus to the light rail station, marveling at how much had happened in the last 24 hours. 24 hours ago, I was sitting at a kitchen table, enjoying an Easter bbq with a friend and his family. Easter has been a little different the last 2 years for me. Last Easter, I spent with my cousin and her fiancee at his grandma's house. A new sort of family if you will. I did this because I had to work the day before and could not make it home for Easter. The first holiday away from my parents. It was strange. This year I did make it home, but lo and behold, my parents are out of town. For good reason and I know they're having a blast. But it just so happened that this would be the year for my aunt's family and my family to just decide to do....nothing. Not really any celebration as a family. My family had my aunt and uncle over for Palm Sunday dinner the week before, so that was our psuedo Easter dinner.
     Anyways, I'm getting off track. 24 hours ago...sitting, laughing, talking, playing games. 24 hours from right now (10:05) I was watching a comedian's standup that my friend insisted I watch. And well I laughed so hard I'm pretty sure I got a good ab workout. Went home...packed a little more (it's amazing how far my stuff spreads when I come home for a week) and try to get some sleep. Wake up at 6 a.m. today (I swear I've been awake longer), Skype with mom and dad, assure them I'll be safe driving in the torrential rain (p.s. California......what the heck?). Say good bye to my sister as she goes off to school, pack up my car, drive 5 hours in rain and sunshine (bipolar state....I swear). Get back to the house up north, shower, dig out my school things, catch the train and boom I'm at school like it's just a normal day.  And now, finally, I'm lying in bed as I type this and can't wait to fall asleep. Maybe dream of 24 hours ago when I was still at "home". Reality bites sometimes.
     It's all about going from the familiar and comfortable to the less-familiar and starting to get comfortable. I kind of surprise myself with how easily I switch from being at home me to being school me. At home me knows all the roads and knows where all my friends live and I enjoy the suburban lifestyle. School me knows my way around the city and takes public transit to school and walks around like I am not afraid of some crazy person trying to preach to me about Jesus and such. But all in all, I'm just one me....just different sides of me in different places. I don't even know where public transit is at home. But it's a way of life up here. Sometimes I worry that I can't be both and that I'll have to choose.
     Ok that is all for now. I am closing my eyes and going to sleep. It's going to be great. Just remember how much can happen in 24 hours...