3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . Students deploy!

That's right. Everyone, who isn't living in Paris anyway, is leaving Paris today. We're deploying at various times throughout the day to our nations of study. Most of us are totally ready to leave Paris. As wonderful as it has been, the big city life, with it's constant noise and everyone always around us, has gotten a little long. Not to mention the French. I mean, I've learned some and am VERY proud of myself for doing so, but I like Spanish/Italian! I like being able to understand people and have them understand me! Just today, the maids came to my door, saying something about checking out...and I had no clue what they were saying and vice versa. So, I really hope I wasn't rude or anything to them, and that they didn't take anything that way.

I've had a really good time so far. It's been a lot of fun, getting to know everyone in the Semester Abroad: Europe 2012 group this week. And I'm gonna miss all of them. After all, they're pretty much just a giant group of goofballs. But it won't be long before I see them again in Levanto, Italy.

Today, I'll be leaving for Milan, Italy on an overnight train leaving at 7:45 pm here, or noon-forty-five back home. I'll probably just spend some of today there, before moving on to Pisa, Italy, where I'll be staying this week. I'm meeting my professor, Mauro Rosi, on Monday.

I'm both sad and excited to move on to the next leg of my journey. I'm gonna miss the group, but I'm excited to FINALLY get to talk volcanoes! Whether or not I remembered to post it, I've already had my first bout of homesickness, so I definitely am nervous that more of that will come once I'm away from the group. And I definitely miss everyone back home...I'd list you all...but that would take WAY too much time and space.

But I'm ready. I'm ready to leave Paris and to explore Italy. I'm ready to hike volcanoes and take ferries and whatever else entailed with my trip. I'm ready to become a Sicilian!

Au revoir France! I'll see you again in three months! Buongiorno Italy! I'll see you in less than 24 hours!