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Well it happened. I HAVE MY ITALIAN VISA!!!!!!!!!! In three weeks, I will be on my way to the greatest country in the world (at least in my eyes)!
As you can probably guess, I am BEYOND ecstatic right now and the news that my visa had arrived brought tears to my eyes. I have been waiting to tell people because I am a paranoid person. My biggest fear was being put in the position that I had told everyone about my good news, only to find out that my visa application had been rejected. Then I would have had to go back and tell people "Never-mind, my dreams are not, in fact, coming true". I don't know that my heart could have taken that kind of disappointment.
Besides jumping up and down at the initial knowledge that my life was falling into place and texting my best friends who have supported me every step of the way, I pretty much kept to myself. I went for a walk, iPod headphones in, and ended up at the local park and started swinging for awhile. Playground swings are probably one of my favorite places to think. There is no better feeling than listening to music and swinging higher and higher. It is quite freeing.
When I started losing the feeling in my legs, I headed into to work and shared my good news.
Direct conversation with my boss:
Boss: "Why do you look different?" Me: "I got my visa today." Boss: "Oh that's it, you're smiling. Grinning from ear to ear."
Obviously, my job doesn't encourage many genuine smiles.
I am happier than I have been in awhile, and yet there is still that feeling of sadness. I have to leave my family and friends. They have all been there for me whenever I have needed them. It goes to show just how much they love me, because they are all putting on happy faces for me even though I am leaving them. If my sister had her way, I'd be chained up in our basement so that I could never leave her.
I am still stuck on this island for another week and a half, so there is not much I can start doing to prepare for my journey. Although, I will say I have been stalking Pintrest for good packing tips. I have to prepare for a mulitiude of occasions and cold seasons. I have never been in Italy during the winter, so that should be an interesting experience. Christmas in Italy... I like the sound of that.
Now I have to start the rounds of goodbyes. It's really going to suck. Someone should start a pool as to when I will actually start crying.
What I'm Listening To:
~ We Weren't Born to Follow - Bon Jovi
~ Suitcases - Dara Maclean
~ Chances - Five For Fighting
~ Time of Our Lives - Miley Cyrus
~ Oh No! - Marina and the Diamonds
~ I Won't Give Up - Jason Mraz
~ Phoenix Burn - Alpha Rev
~ Don't Look Back - Boston
~ Southern Comfort Zone - Brad Paisley
~ It's Only Life - Kate Voegele
~ Inner Smile - Texas
~ New Day - Tamar Kaprelian
~ I Say OK - The Saturdays
~ Roam - The B-52's
~ Have a Nice Day - Bon Jovi