Bella Italia and the Art of Packing

I only have two days until I leave for Rome. I have been devoting a lot of thought to this. It is weird how I can feel both excited to go to Rome and sadness about leaving home at the same time.

To be in Rome, a completely new place, is so amazing to me. I will have many adventures, make such fantastic memories, gain new friends, and discover new sights of beauty. Can you imagine lazily floating down the canals of Venice on a starry night or watching a sunset from the shores of Naples or gazing on the rolling hills of Tuscany? Imagining these moments sends pangs of jubilant anticipation through my mind. My heart begins to race a little more.

Still, though, I am going to miss the familiar. I am going to miss home. There are so many friends with whom I have to part. Leaving behind family is difficult as well. With them my fondest memories have been made. In short, they make it so easy for me to be content with life.

But if I only stayed where I was content and comfortable, how could I grow? If I only stayed in the familiar places, I would have never gone to college. I would have been happy to stay in high school. But at college I discovered so much. I discovered new friends, new passions, and my calling. Going to Italy will stretch me just as much. Given time I will learn to be content there. I will even venture to say that God will help me make home there. My life will be changed and influenced by Italy in so many ways. Thats what makes Italia molta bella!

On a side note, I spent much of this evening packing. I noticed how difficult it was to pack three months into two suitcases and two carry-ons. I did it, though. I think getting everything home will be even harder, though. That is a subject for another blog...