First day of school!!!!!!!!!

(I wrote this on Lunedi but I'm publishing it oggi.)

I made it to Porto San Giorgio in one piece. I didn't think I would make it. But I did.

I had orientation in New York from Wednesday at 4pm - Thursday at 5pm. Really boring. Not worth discussing. The plane left JFK at 9pm on Thursday night. My plane landed in Zurich, Switzerland on Friday at noon (but 6 am EST). Then I took an hour plane ride from Zurich to Rome (Fiumicino Airport). I love planes. I really do. Also Swiss Air just throws chocolate at you every 15 minutes, which I greatly appreciate.

Ok so when I got to Rome we drove about 30 minutes to the hotel for a second orientation. It was better than the New York one but still not very fun. US students annoyed me but the Argentinian exchange students were so silly. They taught me some really intricate Spanish cursing. Also, I felt very stupid because everyone there spoke at least two languages except for the American students... and the Australian but they don't count.

Side note. I kind of feel myself forgetting English.

Then I slept in Rome for two nights and on Sunday afternoon I took a bus to Porto San Giorgio. That bus ride was something else. I lost my phone briefly, an Italian grandmother fed me biscuits, I discussed Kobe with a man who spoke absolutely no English. It was awesome.

THEN I ARRIVED. I got off the bus and immediately heard my name, except they pronounce it Khai (rhymes with hi) - la. Kyla? They don't say "Kay." I don't know. It was so cute. I didn't want to correct them, but then they asked me how to pronounce my name while we filled out my Resident Permit several hours later.

They live in a beautiful apartment. I share a room with Ludovica. The bathroom has a bidet which I just kind of stare at & avoid. So European. So Italy. I loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee it. I just love it.

Honeymoon phase with Italy. Seriously. OH AND MY FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL WAS TODAY. I almost forgot.

School was awesome. I went with my mom to meet "la preside" as I have been instructed to call her, and she enrolled me in the school and helped me pick classes. I'm taking English, Italiano, German, Spanish, Philosophy, History of Art, Physics, Math, Religious Studies, & Gym. Everyone was nice. It was great. No complaints. Ugh blogging is really difficult when there are no complaints.

I've only been here 24 hours and I just love it. Ok. I know it will fade. I know I will miss my family. I know I will miss my friends but right now I just am in love. It could not be more perfect. 

Last post in America

In 40 minutes I'm leaving my house for the last time for 6 months.

It's very weird. I feel very weird. And excited and happy and overwhelmed. Very shortly I will be 4000 miles away from every person, animal, thing I've ever known. I just can't believe today is here already. I've been preparing for this since August and I just can't believe this is it.

My dog has been following me around all day. I'm convinced she knows. Dogs always know. They're smarter than most humans in my experience.

HOW TO CONTACT ME:

After Thursday night @ 9:10 pm do not text or call because my phone will not work.

I will get an Italian SIM card ASAP (probably by Monday or Tuesday) when I do we can use iMessage//WhatsApp//Snapchat for texting & chatting purposes. Also my Italian phone # will be different so don't freak out when I add you on WhatsApp and you're like WHO IS THIS?? It's me, ok.

You can always email me ~ kaylameyer07@gmail.com ~ or send me a FB message or a smoke signal.

And finally, if you want to get crazy, you can send me a physical letter:

Kayla Meyer

Via Vanvitelli n 3,

63822 Porto San Giorgio (FM)

Italia

Last minute things I decided to pack:

• Catch Me If You Can DVD because I always cry when I watch it and it reminds me of home and how much my mom loves me and 9th grade and Christmas and midterms and the idea that anybody can do anything and there is good and bad in everyone and yeah it's a flawless movie
• another pair of jeans because you can never have too many jeans
• my running shoes just in case I feel the urge to work out - you never know
• pink t shirt because I look really really good in pink
• and lastly my little American flag

Ok we officially leave in 15 minutes for JFK. It's been real America. See y'all later. 

My suitcase weighs 63 pounds

This is a problem.

Americans are classic overpackers. I'M FITTING A STEREOTYPE. Ok in other news. Last night my friends threw me the best going away party ever.

Mira + Kayla

2005--forever

ALLY! I ended up getting mad at her. But we have a tumultuous relationship so it was to be expected.

MY OTHER BLONDE FRIEND

who is slightly more blonde but she uses sun in

it isn't fair

ugh

the greatest team in the world

she sacrificed her house for my going away party

she is literally perfect

luv u molé

These lovely people got me a cake with my face on it. That's just love right there. I don't know what I'm going to do without them. Quality of the pic doesn't do it justice.

They got me a tiara!!!!!!! And a magazine with Ryan Gosling on the cover. They just get me.

I love you all. So much. Last night was my favorite night in America by far.

PORTO SAN GIORGIO

WHERE I'LL BE SPENDING THE NEXT SIX MONTHS. Google Maps is such a beautiful thing. Here's where we are on the map. Porto San Giorgio is in the Marche region (regions are similar to states in the US) - Northeast of Rome.

BEACH.

I really love Google Maps.

T MINUS 192 HOURS

OHHHHHHHHHH MAN.

I'VE ALWAYS WANTED ONE OF THESE.

Making a blog is way too easy there should be a psych evaluation before they let you sign up or something. Also I'm amazed at the amount of things Google now owns. Anyway - that's beside the point. I have a blog!!!!!! This is my very own blog. And I'm going to use it to document all the exciting things I will be doing over the next six months.................. innnnnn............... ITALY!!!!!!!

For the next six months (January 23rd to July 7th) I will be doing crazy things on a global scale. America just couldn't handle me any more. No not really. They love me here. Yeah they love me everywhere.

August 2012 I decided I was hashtag over it. I decided it was time to test myself in a new way. By throwing myself into chaos, I'm hoping to learn who I really am. It sounds ridiculous and silly but if I take away all the external factors in my life - American culture, my first language, my friends, even PLAYERS - I will be left with nothing but myself.

My mind will open to different people, my self esteem will improve as I realize I can go anywhere in this world and still be myself, and I will feel zen-like and calm and happy. Or at least, that's what I want out of this adventure. Ok enough emotion. Gross.

Things that still need to happen in the next 192 hours: wrap host family presents, box up summer clothes to be shipped, pack, pack some more, take an Oceanography final, write one last rhetorical analysis, force Eric Lynn to give me an A, and kiss my dog goodbye.

No offense to all the humans out there, but I will miss my dog more than any of you.

Love,
Kayla