Before the Beginning

I thought that I should probably mention how I actually came to be going to Italy in the first place :P

First of all, I can't remember a time when I didn't want to go to Italy. For as long as I can remember I have had this book on Italy, its really small and short; its intention is for children. It basically has stuff in it like the Italian flag, a map of Italy, about Italian lives, and a lot of phrases. I remember sitting in my room and devouring that book, every piece of information I memorized. I also had this encyclopedia type book and one chapter of it talked about Pompeii and showed one of the frozen bodies; I was completely and morbidly fascinated with that chapter. Also, my family is Italian, so I have Italy in my blood I guess :)

so those are the reasons I chose ITALY, but how I chose ASSE is another story...

I asked my parents in like 6th or 7th grade if I could be an exchange student, knowing it would never really happen until I was 16 or so. So it was a far off dream. But I would still search organizations and read rules and became totally obsessed with going. When I knew I was finally eligible, I really asked my parents. I don't really know how, it's kind of a blur, but I convinced them, made a ton of phone calls, spent hours researching on the Internet and I finally narrowed it down to two organizations AFS and ASSE. Then it was money, AFS cost like $3,000 more. So ASSE it was...

Then came lots and lots of forms, an essay, a collage, all the drama involving mini photos, meetings, and waiting. and then more waiting. and then more waiting, then I got my host family :D which I talk about in my other post...

the money was another issue. I know I'm blessed, because I have a lot of people willing to help me reach my dreams. My birth-dad Jim gave me $2500 which was great of him and really helped, my parents split the rest besides the thousand dollars I was (and am :/) responsible to make. Now I had no idea how this would be possible, I'm only 15 and with the economy as it is there is really no way for me to get a job until the golf course becomes more busy. So my youth pastor Dawn gave me the idea (aka forced me) to sing for the Valentines Banquet at church. Not a real big deal, and I honestly had low expectations especially with the economy and such. But I was defiantly surprised at how generous my church is when I made $532 in just a couple hours. I'm so grateful for my church :)

So now, I have to figure out a way to make the other half and pay my dad back, which I'll do as soon as I can get that job...

the end... so far.