How does every adventure begin? ANTICIPATION

              The weeks and months leading up to my study abroad have actually passed extremely quick. I have kept myself occupied with work and random worries long enough to delay the realization that my departure date is VERY SOON. I have been distractedly aware that it was approaching because I have been required to do a number of frustrating and tedious tasks just to be allowed into the country (getting a Visa once again became a source of stress in my life). However, the monotony of government paperwork and language tests did something to distract me from the real excitement that I now feel at full force. 

              Though I assume the majority of people reading this have been directed here by myself, I think I will still give a short introduction just in case any people I do not know have happened upon this blog. My name is Haley Stephenson, I go to the University of Denver and I am majoring International Studies. I will be studying abroad in Siena, Italy in a few short weeks. 

             The program I will be attending is not exactly the typical college study abroad experience. Mostly when people think of college students abroad they think of binge drinking in Australia. Although that sounds like a blast to me (and a few of my friends have gone that route and are LOVING IT), that has never really been my style. Because I was an exchange student in High School, I developed a strong love of going somewhere that I feel completely out of place. With this feeling in mind, I started my search for a study abroad program with one thing in mind: IMMERSION. I wanted the total package. I wanted to be forced to learn about the Italian culture and my language skills need some serious fine tuning that only full immersion can bring. Eventually, I found a program that seemed to fit my needs perfectly. My program is totally in Italian, I will live with a host family and I will work with children who can't speak a lick of English. 

            I know absolutely nothing about the structure of my classes, how much time I will be spending with the kids or if I will even have homework in the traditional sense. All of this uncertainty about what my life will be like abroad really adds to the anticipation I feel at the moment because I just want to get started! 

            Although I know I will take away many valuable lessons from this experience, I do have one overarching goal. I really need to get my Italian in working order. My Italian minor is a work in progress and by the end of this quarter I will have almost finished all the requirements. Funny thing about the Italian minor, you can complete a full two years and STILL NOT SPEAK ITALIAN. Granted, my Italian is passable in a class full of students who are all equally as lost as me. Honestly though, we spent most of the time staring into space or pondering the sexuality of the male professor (Do all Italian men dress this well? Doubt it).

           For the moment I am still in Denver. I am living in my apartment near the DU campus where I lived this summer with my Boyfriend, Aaron. I think one of the reasons I have not fully realized my excitement for going abroad until now is because I have had the most amazing summer I ever could have asked for. I have treasured every moment of my time with Aaron and I know that we are both bitter that the summer has ended and we have to go our separate ways. Much to my dismay we now have to make due with Facebook and Skype for a daunting four months. Though I have spent much longer than four months in a foreign country I have never had to cope with leaving this particular person behind and it will be rough. 

          I will do my best to update my blog with pictures and anything interesting that happens over these four months. From previous experience I can assume that I will land myself in several interesting situations so there should be no shortage of awkward stories and exciting adventures. I will do my best to keep all of you entertained until Christmas! 

Until next time, Ciao! (My Italian isn't completely hopeless I guess)