I'm a about to turn a corner.
I am an international affairs major, attempting to become culturally competent in a globalized world,
yet I've never left the
United States.
(save a quick stop on the Canadian side of Niagra Falls, when I was ten.)
I've been trying to fly alongside Chris in his North African adventure. I love listening to him speak French to the cafe employees, I am fascinated by the jarring Rabat traffic noise I can sometimes hear outside during Skype calls, I like to imagine the atmosphere during Muslim holidays, and I love seeing the photos of sunsets, deserts, and and mountains. But, there's only so much I can experience through second hand stories and glimpses of Rabat's internet cafes. Someday I will make it to Morocco, myself. For now, a couple other destinations are on my path. Chris has finally finished the semester and is now skipping through the streets of Marseilles. Soon we will be reuniting in Italy. My first foreign country with by boo. wow!
It's going to be a very new experience. I don't know how to plan a trip, I don't really know how to travel. (Chris will keep my ignorance-induced anxiety at a minimum though.) We've obtained a Lonely Planet guide and I told Visa not to restrict my card, and soon I'll have my passport stamped for the very first time and join Mr. Well-Travelled in Italy!!! I owe a lot of thanks to my parents for helping me support this trip (especially for all those hotel points and free United miles, thanks mom!). I also am so thankful for Chris for getting me out of my domestic comfort zone, so that we can have an incredible Roman, Neopolitan, and Tuscan experience. I will also be so thankful for being exposed to the Italian accent before I hop to Buenos Aires this spring. The Argentine people wish they were Italian, apparently. I don't know too much about Italy now, but hopefully after a shameless tourist stint, I'll be able to flaunt my expertise. ;)
Pictures and reflections to follow....
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