Eight Days Until My New Adventure Begins

This is my first blog ever. I must say that I am very excited about this! I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

Through this blog I strive to highlight important parts of my life and help people understand life from my perspective. This will be really helpful for those of you who have requested to live my life vicariously while I study in Rome. I hope this aids you^_^

In just eight short days I will be leaving America for the first time in my life (I don't count going to Canada as leaving the country)! I will be going to Rome, Italy! For my whole life I have longed to see another country and experience another country firsthand. This is the perfect opportunity for me. I will be able to eat Italian food, speak the Italian language, worship in Italian churches, and see the beautiful Italian countryside. In short, I will be immersing myself into unfamiliar, but inviting waters.

When I think I am going to Rome, I am beset by a many different sentiments. One feeling is overwhelming excitement. Do you know the excitement you feel when think about going to Disney World for the first time, the uncontrollable urge to geek out everytime you think about it? Magnify that experience by twenty times and that is how I am feeling. Another feeling, though, is apprehension. What if I cannot speak the language very well? What if I offend someone because of my limited cultural experience there? These are just a few of the reservations I have. Still, though, I know that they are normal and rational fears. I think they will inspire me to learn the culture as best I can. Another feeling I get is sadness. It is a sadness about leaving behind friends and family, about leaving behind the familiarity of home. It is okay, though, because I know part of home for me will be in Italy.

As I embark on this adventure, I am both scared and excited. It certainly will be life changing, though. As I trust in God to hold me during this trip, I will come back a man whose horizons have been broadened. For once, I will see the world as bigger than Washington, Pennsylvania. I am ready for new adventure to begin!