America obsessed?...yes.

Italy has been the best experience and I feel so blessed to have lived here and traveled for three months. It truly is indescribable and you never really know until you experience it. But there is nothing like the feeling of home. And in less than 8 hours, I WILL BE HOME. I have come to appreciate America so much. Just a few things I appreciate...we know the concept of lines and waiting patiently, variety of food choices, very nice hotels, not as big of a worry of pick-pocketers, not paying extra for condiments, not having to pay for tap water at restaurants and many more things that I could go on about but I will spare you : ).

We had a great apertivo last night, where we invited the staff of the palace and our professors. I made a slideshow of a lot of our memories and it was a great time of fellowship and reminiscing on this wonderful time we've had together. I truly could not have asked for a better group of girls to be in Italy with for three months. We had our little fights and everyone got tired of each other, but all in all we got along and clicked so well. I feel like I've gained 19 new friends. That is what is going to be the hardest part about leaving - is leaving these great people. The positive about living with 19 other girls is there is always someone there to listen or laugh with. Each of these girls contributed a different quality that made this trip the best it could be. I am so thankful to each of them for that.

Cinzia and our (our Italian lifesaver!)

The fashion girls!

Our art history professor, Susanna, and I. She has such grace and elegance!

Tonight we had our last group dinner and our "Momma O" (the GTA of the group) gave a great toast and went around and said a personal speech to all of us. I have expressed how nervous I am about the next step of my life and moving to New York (if that is God's will) to Momma O. That was what she addressed in her speech to me - how I am going to take New York by storm and to remain confident in whatever I do because she will always have faith in me. Let's just say the ugly cry came out. You know when your face gets all squished up and you start to not be able to breathe. Yes, that was me tonight.

Our last trip to Rome...

One of our first trips to Rome...

I cannot express how thankful I am to my parents and God for blessing me with this experience and these last three months. America, here I come!!!

(via caryrandolph.com

and I'm proud to be an American...

I WILL BE IN AMERICA IN 2 DAYS! Can you tell I'm excited?!! I can't wait to sleep in my own bed, shower in my own shower, use my own toilet. Oh, the luxuries.

Can't wait to see these people (and many more!)

Eat these foods...

Do these things....

Fendi, Naples, and Positano

Last week the fashion girls went to the Fendi store and headquarters in Rome for our practicum. The building is really cool because it has the store and also everything that has to do with the company - PR, production, sales, management, press, etc - all in one building. They are the only company who is set up that way. Gabriella, who gave us our tour, was very nice and a straight forward woman. She went on this rage about Italy not giving motivation to its young people and called it a 3rd world country. So that was a little awkward because do you agree or not agree. So we just all stared with blank faces. But she did a great job of explaining things and let us try on twenty thousand dollar furs and handbags. What girl doesn't love dress-up? Their clothes are so beautiful and Karl Lagerfield designs their ready-to-wear. He is one busy man.

With Gabriella...

Thursday we went to Naples, which was miserable. A few years ago they had a trash problem and had piles and piles of trash on their streets. But it's not a pretty city and in my opinion makes Italy look bad. The mafia is mainly stationed in Naples and controls most everything there. We were all pretty miserable until lunch time (ha! of course). I will say they have delicious pizza.

From Naples we traveled to Positano which is on the coast! It was beautiful! The first night was a little chilly but the next few days did warm up. We visited the Amalfi coast the first day which is a cute, beachy town. The second day was beautiful so we layed on the beach all day. I am definitely paying for it now since I didn't put sunscreen on until after two hours! It was a great last trip!

Some of us on the ferry...

Amalfi

view from our hotel balcony...

me and dreshy on the beach

perfect day!

We heard about the Volcano while in Positano. As of right now, Italy airports are open and flights are taking off. Sadly, my parents are no longer coming but we just want to get me home safely. So if everything continues going well, I'll be home Saturday! I can't wait! Please pray that we will be able to get home safely and on time. Now the only problem is how am I going to pack everything that I've bought! This is going to be a challenge!

Barcelona!

After a fun week in Milan, majority of the girls headed to Barcelona, Spain! We had amazing weather - sunny and in the 60's! We splurged a little more on our hotel since it was our last out of the country trip. And it ended up being an amazing apartment. We were all so happy to have normal size everything - bed, kitchen, bathroom! It was such a luxury. I will never take American hotels for granted again.

Me and Jess's room...

Huge TV!

Friday, all 17 of us went on a biking tour. Now, I really couldn't tell you the last time I rode a bike. I'm expecting the worse and also not even sure if I still know how to ride a bike. When we arrive, I ask the instructor for a helmut and also a tutorial on bike riding. He thought I was joking but, oh no, I wasn't. I am also biking in my Tory Burch flats because since I am now a sufficient packer (refer to last post), I thought it would be useless to bring tennis shoes for just a few hours. Lets just say flats aren't the best thing to ride a bike in. But actually to my surprise (and I'm pretty sure everyone else's) I could still ride a bike! i almost knocked out a few pedestrians but only because we were on the sidewalk of busy Barcelona! And Peter (the instructor) also took us in the street - with cars! But it was so much fun and I'm so happy I did it. So now when I get back to the states I can pick up my new favorite things - biking and hiking. Never thought I would say that!

Some of us ready to go biking! (please note flats hehe)

Music Museum

Arc de Triomphe

Gaudi's Sagrada Familia

(one side is the birth of Christ)

(the other side is the crucifixion of Christ)

Biking on the boardwalk!

Beautiful beaches

Eating lunch on the beach!

Friday night, we all met at Margarita Blue for TexMex that was so delicious! And then went to a small bar to meet our hottie bike tour instructors. We all had a fun night together!

Saturday, we slept until about 12 and then explored the city and shopped. We were all pretty exhausted from the bike tour the day before - probably because that has been the first real exercise we've all done in 2 1/2 months- so we decided to see a movie and call it a night. We saw Bounty Hunter with Jennifer Anniston and Gerard Butler. It was cheesy cute - probably wouldn't have saw it in the theaters, but would be a cute rental! The next morning we had to be up at 4, so we tried to sleep but people were celebrating in the streets for the soccer game. Barcelona played Madrid which are the biggest rivals in Spain. Fireworks and screaming, excited people was what we heard all night long!

Las Ramblas...one of Barcelona's most famous streets

Verona, Como and Milan!

Last Monday was a whirlwind. We left bright and early and were suppose to arrive in Medona for a balsamic vinegar tasting in a few 6 hours. But that few six hours turned into 13! Our bus had a mechanical problem and we had to stop in a random town. For 2 hours, while the bus was being fixed we played games such as psychiatrist, mafia, and the movie game. I felt like I was at camp in the 4th grade again, but it was so fun and we laughed for the full 2 hours. I have really enjoyed getting to know the other 20 girls. This trip wouldn't be the same without any one of them! So the bus was supposedly "fixed" and then we get lost! We finally made it to the balsamic vinegar place and had a great time. We tried balsamic vinegar on ice-cream and I know it doesn't sound good (I was definitely skeptical!), but it was actually delicious. Probably won't whip out my vinegar next time I have ice-cream but if you're ever in the mood, you should definitely try it! After our tasting, it was back on the bus to travel to Verona. We finally made it and I think everyone crashed. We were all so tired!

Tuesday, we toured Verona, which is such a cute town. If I come back to Italy, I want to go back there! It has an arena that looks similar to the coliseum where concerts are held. Rod Stewart was coming next! Verona had amazing shopping - Louis Vuitton, Gucci, etc, which was so surprising for being such a small town. Also, Juliet's house, from Romeo and Juliet, is in Verona. So we went and saw the balcony and at the entrance of her house, people have written love letters and they are attached everywhere on the walls. It was really neat!

Arriving in Verona!

Part of the cute town from the top of the arena...

The entrance to Juliet's house...

A statue of Juliet and the balcony...

Beautiful view!

Next, we traveled to Como. We stayed there a few hours to walk around and have lunch. I was really sad because I didn't see George (as in George Clooney). The lake was beautiful and it was such a perfect day to be on a boat!

Some of us after lunch!

After a short trip to Como, we went to Milan! I was super excited about this because it is the fashion capital of Italy. First, we visited the Duomo and then walked through the first mall ever! I felt like I needed to take a moment of silence in front of it. hehe!

Milan's Duomo

The first mall! (It has the first Prada store in it too!)

Wednesday, we met with Max who gave us a presentation on architecture of Milan. Milan is very different because it is modern while the rest of Italy has more "historic-looking" buildings. We also visited a Villa that had a mixture of modern and Renaissance style. We had lunch at a yummy Japanese restaurant which was a nice change from pasta! We also went to a modern art museum and toured a popular street in Milan. It was a packed day! Sidenote story: I've become an avid packer during my stay in Italy, so I only had one outfit per day for this 10-day trip. Well Wednesday I wore tights and when I put them on in the morning I noticed they had a small run. I didn't really think anything of it, but by the end of the day it was from the top of my thigh to my foot! Then we stop to get a nutella crepe and somehow, I still am unsure, I get nutella all down the front of my tights - both legs! Sometimes I feel like a 3 year old child! So I have to take off my tights because they are so gross. Well then everyone makes fun of my pale white, hairy legs. It was not pretty!

Some of use relaxing...

Canal in Milan...

Cute vanity at the Villa we visited! (There was also a Lacoste photo shoot going on while we were there!)

Exhibit A of the torn hose...I don't think someone has posted a pic with the nutella yet...

Thursday, one of Max's students met the fashion girls and we went to a store called 10 Corso Como and to a young fashion house called A-Lab Milano. 10 Corso Como was the cutest (and very expensive) shop! It sells high designer items and avant garde pieces. They have everything from shoes to jewelry to makeup and perfume. They also have a library with books on fashion, interior design and music and a restaurant. A-Lab Milano consisted of 3 people - one designer/ concept developer and two people who construct the garments. They had some very cool pieces and are becoming well know in Italy. They were so nice and some girls even bought some pieces! Milan was a great experience and hopefully one day I'll be back for fashion week there!

With Veto, our tour guide for the day!

10 Corso Como!

I think I need these shoes...

Inside the store!

Inside A-Lab Studio...

With the designers!