I promise it's not just for the gelato...

Contrary to popular belief, I am not only going to Italy for the gelato. Also, contrary to what I wish was popular belief, a gelato a day is not likely to keep the doctor away. However, I do not plan on letting that stop me from eating a gelato (or two) a day. Don't believe I won't-anyone who knows me knows I love ice cream, and what better than ice cream than gelato. What better than gelato than to be eating it in the very country in which it originated...needless to say I am very excited about all the delicious, authentic gelato I will be enjoying as I study abroad in Italy.

Studying abroad in Italy-the very point of this blog. I have never been very good at maintaining journals and diaries; usually I write in them for about a week and then they are left on a shelf full of mostly empty pages. Lucky for you my what I hope to become faithful readers, this blog is being graded as part of a class I will be taking while abroad, and therefore I have incentive to sustain it. This blog will serve as my tool to share the amazing experiences and day-to-day life I will be living while in Italy. I hope you find it entertaining, interesting and a small way to live vicariously through me (I don't mind), experiencing Italy for yourself.

I will be studying with 8 other women from Meredith College in the small town of Sansepolcro, Italy January 31-May 8. With a population of about 20,000 people, Sansepolcro is located in the Tuscany region of Italy approximately two hours from Florence. Due to its location (a two hour train ride and one hour bus ride from the nearest big city), it has been untouched by tourism (part of the main lure for Meredith's study abroad department in picking Sansepolcro for their program), and is known for its linens and Buitoni pasta factory.

I have always considered myself a very lucky person, and this particular semester is one more reason to add to the already long list of why I am so fortunate. Before I leave the country, I feel as though I should make this first blog post a thank you speech a la Academy Awards. First and foremost thank you to my parents who never once told me "no" to studying abroad and did everything in their power to make this semester possible for me. Thank you to Dr. Walton, Mrs. Stewart, Dr. Hess, Dr. Frazier and Dr. Brown for writing letters of recommendation and signing forms so that I would not only be accepted into the program, but also receive scholarship money. Thank you to Kyle for being ever so supportive when it would have been easy to be selfish. Thank you to my roommates for be willing to have an empty room in the apartment and for being understanding when we thought someone else might move in (thank you to residence life for not making me pay rent and for not putting someone else in my room). Thank you to Uncle Doug and Aunt Lynda for lending me your Italian language tape and travel guide book. Thank you to everyone in ECM for your excitement and prayers. Thank you to all other family and friends for being supportive of and excited for me, and for reading this blog. Lastly, thank you to the Office of Study Abroad for creating a semester-long program in Sansepolcro and for making my long-time dream of going to Italy come true in less than 11 days.

Yes, just 11 days now. In that time I will cram survival Italian into my brain, be nervous, be more excited, pack, re-pack with less stuff, and countdown the minutes until I am in what I am sure will instantly become one of my favorite places. I will e-mail when I have updated the blog, so be on a look-out for those, especially as we near our departure date!

ciao for now,
Hilary