The Boy, Italy and Me

Chapter 1

Hello everyone! I hope y'all like the first chapter. It was fun to write. Please feel free to comment and also know I am not the best at grammar so please excuse the mistakes!! Enjoy :)

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I wake up to my alarm going off at 8 am. I roll over and automatically start thinking of what I have to do that day. I make a mental list starting with: wash clothes, call mom, clean bathroom, and pack. And then I remember that tomorrow I leave for Italy. Not only will this trip change my life forever, it will hopefully hold so many opportunities. I was always told that going abroad helps you find yourself and I'm really hoping that happens for me.

I attend the University of Georgia, which has always been my dream school since I was a child. I have always wanted to go abroad while in college, but always chickened out. As the summer going into my senior year approached, I finally decided it was time I give myself this experience. It took a lot of persuading on my parents part, because they have always been super protective over me, and didn't really feel comfortable with their 21 year old daughter going away for the whole summer in another country alone. But I assured them I would be okay and that I would call them everyday and update them. I explained to them how this would be such an amazing experience for me not only academically but personally.

Once I am out of bed, I head to the kitchen to make myself some coffee. This is one of my favorite parts of the day. When I enter the kitchen I see my best friend/roommate/sorority sister, Emily. Her and I met on bid day freshman year and have been inseparable ever since. "Good morning Em," I say to her smiling. "Good morning Jane. One more day until you are off to wine country and amazing pasta. How are you feeling? Excited? Nervous?," she asks.

Now first let me tell you about Emily. She is one of the nicest people I have ever met and probably the most genuine. She always ask about your day and wants to know every detail. She has a great way of making you feel special and loved. She has long blond hair, big blue eyes, and is 5'9. She literally looks like a supermodel and has no problems getting boys attention. There have been a few mornings when I walked into the kitchen and saw her new fling of the week. But she has always been there for me and when I mentioned I wanted to go abroad she did not hesitate to tell me how much she thought it was a good idea.

As I pour my coffee in my favorite mug, I look over at her with a half smile. "I don't know what I feel. It's kinda a little bit of everything honestly. I'm a little excited, a little nervous, and a little scared. I know this trip is going to be so amazing, I'm just worried I won't be able to loosen up and truly enjoy it," I tell her. One of the biggest things I struggle with is being so uptight and always following the rules. I have always been know as the goody to-shoes (which does not bother me at all), but it has sometimes led me into situations that I wish I could be enjoying but am always so scared of the consequences that I don't let myself have fun. This is why I really hope this trip changes me for the good and loosens me up and allows me to try new things.

Emily walks from the kitchen table, straight to me, and gives me a big hug. She stands back and twirls a strand of my long brown hair around her finger. "Janey, I know you are a little overwhelmed with the situation. It is not something you have ever done before, but I just have this gut feeling that you are going to have so much fun and truly enjoy yourself. I think you are gonna experience things and try new things and maybe even find yourself. Please don't let yourself and your "goody to-shoes" ways mess this up."

After she her big speech, I hug her once more knowing that I am going to miss her so much over the next 3 months. I tell her I will try my best and then head back to my room to pack some more. Like what do you even pack for a 3 month trip to Italy??