Graduation…check. Excited is an understatement. This past week I spent a good amount of my time unpacking from Penn State just to repack for Italy. It was tedious, but exciting to get everything together since I am going to be there for at least six months. My dad and I are flying to Lisbon, Portugal before we make our way to Italy, so I’ll need to prepare myself for that quick stop as well.
Usually when I tell people how long I’m staying in Italy there first question is, “Do you know Italian?”. My answer is always “No, but…”, and then I go on to explain why it’s not totally necessary that I know Italian right away. I’m going to live with a family to help their children learn English as that as one of my main duties. But, it would make sense for me to learn a few phrases before I’m dropped off in a different country surrounded by tons of people that may or may not speak English. I’ve been listening to a podcast called “Coffee Break Italian” which is teaching me basic phrases such as “I am from the United States”, “My name is Ali”, etc. I’ve been typing this into the notes in my phone as a cheat sheet. The mother of the family also said she will help me with my Italian when she has time. I’m hoping she can help me learn enough to be able to hold a conversation.
Another question I always get is, “Where are you living?”. I’m living in Bondeno, Italy which is in the northeastern part of Italy. I am less than a two hour train ride from major cities like Venice, Milan, Florence, Verona, and Bologna. I’m planning on visiting these cities as often as I can!
I’m planning on bringing my giant, rolling suitcase, a duffle bag, an extra suitcase, and my backpack. I’m trying to keep it minimal since it’s likely I will buy a few things here and there while I am traveling! Packing minimally for a few different seasons is going to be a challenge for sure.
