Host Family!!!

I got my host family information today!  WOOHOOO!  Their pictures make them look like the happiest people in the world.  The father is ALWAYS smiling.  I am not sure if they want me sharing anything personal, but I can tell you some stuff I guess.  The father is named Tiziano, and the mother is named Stefania.  The have a 17 year old son named Giorgio as well, which is awesome!  At least I will know 1 person at school. Haha!  They live in Francavilla Al Mare, which is right on the Eastern Coast!  Their house is only 200 meters away from the beach, but they are also by some mountains it looks like! Couldn't have been better placement.  I wish I could describe this feeling.  It's like I am so excited, but I am so unbelievably terrified. Everything is so real now that I know where I am going. At first, I had a little panic attack, but after I calmed down a bit, I realized how perfect everything is.  I have been talking with Giogio, and he seems really cool.  They live a different lifestyle than I do, but isn't that part of why I'm going? (it is)

Today I received my Rosetta Stone information as well.  I already own all five levels, but I haven't done very much, so this will be good.  My goal is to finish all five levels before I go, but I'm not sure if that will happen.  I'll try, but it's gonna be a lot of work.

My flight information came as well.  I need to be in New York City on January 28th for the pre-departure orientation.  Then, I fly from NYC to Zurich, Switzerland on the 29th.  We have a layover in Zurich for a few hours, then we fly to Rome on the 30th.  We will have our arrival orientation, then go our host families!

I have my visa appointment in Minneapolis on December 13th.  I am busy trying to get everything organized for that.  Do you know how impossible it is to have passport pictures copied?  IT'S IM-FRICKEN-POSSIBLE.  It took three and a half hours today to get some freaking copies of my picture!  I ended up just having to retake them.  I think I have everything figured out now, but it wasn't without some frustration. (PS, I hate you Walmart.)

I'll try to keep this updated more (it took me about a week to write this post by the way). Everything just kind of happened at once, so I'm not sure what I will have to update.  I'll let you know! Peace.