Auguri!

So its now the end of 2010.  I don't really know anymore, does that rhyme? Whatever! I cannot believe that another year has gone by and this time I am celebrating the new year in a new place with new friends.  I am lucky enough to have made some great friends here in Bologna. I spent the past week getting to know all the friends that my roommates have in their hometown and now I am spending New Years in Bologna with all of them.  There are actually 30 people staying in my apartment for New Years eve.  And if I have learned anything from our most recent house guest, they are not likely to leave anytime soon! 

I just want to take a minute to reflect on such a great year I have had.  It was barely a year ago that I was returning to Champaign-Urbana to live with my nuggets and Petey for my final semester at U of I in what I will never consider a real apartment.  To tell you the truth, I cannot remember what I did for New Years.  That last semster went by so quickly, I trained for a half marathon, I took 18 hours worth of classes, worked as a waitress at Sushi House, and spent as much time as I could with my friends Emily, Teresa, Jessy, Cory and Corinne.  We took a road trip to Iowa to visit Brad and Colleen.  That was Petey's first road trip!!! BBBBRRRRRRAAAAAAADDDDD!!!!!  Haha.  We made our very own WOLFPACK barcrawl.  I learned to drive a stick shift (not very well).  I celebrated my last Unofficial.  I got to surprise Baby Kelly for her 21st birthday with Anna.  I went to visit Anna with my cousin Kayla in Colorado.  I spent the summer being a bum in the beginning, getting my TEFL degree in the middle and spent the last month with family and friends that I will not get to see for another 8 months.  Wow, that sounds crazy!  I finally got to see Rihanna in concert with Emily, Colleen, Ellie, and AJ! "The ticket is for my girlfriend!"  I also got to spend time with my family at my lakehouse on the 4th of July and watch some baseball games with my Dad.  Then I packed my bags and headed to Bologna.  I know I am leaving out a few things but I did so much I cannot remember! 

Here in Bologna I made a new family.  I now have 8 brothers and all the friends that come with them.  I have also become close with the girls in my program Lauren, Mallory, Maried and Nicola and my roommate Romina.  Sadly though, Nicola is not coming back next semester. I am going to miss you!  I got to know Bologna, and now consider it my home.  I am tutoring a boy in English and working at the International School of Bologna. I also got to see my roommate Azmeen and meet all her friends in Verona, Italy and again when Kelly, Maried and I went to Rome.  I also got to see London for the second time and still could not bring myself to like it. Oh well. I also got to see a ton of little town on day trips and got to become part of a real Italian community when I went with my roommate Enrico to his hometown of Carassai. 

I still cannot believe how lucky I am.  I am 23 years old, living, studying and working in Bologna, Italy.  I have the most amazing family and friends that I could ever ask for.  And the best, smartest, most beautiful dog that has ever walked the planet.  If you disagree, please stop following my blog.  Again, I just want to wish everyone the most wonderful New Years.  I hope that all your hopes for the new year come true and that you keep your new years resolution for at least a week. :)

Baci xx