Italy: The Prologue

In early spring of 2011, my mom and I traveled to Niagara Univesity, the college I would be attending that fall, for an informational meeting of the College of Hospitality and Tourism Management. We were awed after we arrived at the home of the college on the fourth floor of Saint Vincent's Hall, to see that the inside of the building was decorated to look like the inside of a hotel. The college, equipped with a a full kitchen and dining room, provided breakfast for my mom, myself, and all of the other prospective hospitality students before Dr. Praetzel, the dean, spoke to us. In his speech he mentioned many things, including a once in a lifetime opportunity provided to the Hospitality students in which ten students each year are chosen to travel to Lake Como Italy to work at some of the luxury hotels located there. As he finished talking about the incredible experiences of past students, the marketability one gains by working In a foreign country, and the fact that George Clooney has three houses there, I looked at my mom and made one simple statement,

                                                               "I'm going"

Throughout the last three years, after applying six months after that initial meeting and being accepted, I've never forgotten those words. At one point, after going through some struggles with school my Sophomore year, I taped a postcard to the wall which Niagara had sent me which, in addition to a beautiful bird's eye view of Lake Como, read, "Which university offers it's students a chance to work at the number one hotel in the world?" This trip has been the single goal and purpose to my last three years at Niagara. Although with two years notice, it at times was hard to imagine that some day I would actually be going to Italy and working in one of these amazing hotels, the time has passed quickly as I am preparing for my flight to JFK which leaves in 22 hours!  I've felt a range of emotions, from excited to nervous and back again, sometimes forcing myself not to think about it just to avoid the anxiety. But, ready or not the time has come. Despite my anxieties, I have worked hard and am very comfortable with the language, and can't wait to get over there and immerse myself in it. So, today I finished packing my suitcase, which weighed In at a whopping 48 pounds. I'm really hoping to not have to carry it too far! That being said, I'm truly just praying that it doesn't fall into the DELTA Airlines motto of "Don't Expect Luggage To Arrive," as did happen to one student last year. But, luggage or no luggage, at this time tomorrow I will be boarding my final plane (which I am comforted to say is a huge Boeing 767) and will arrive in the land of pizza, pasta, wine and shoes at 7:45 a.m. on. Thursday morning.

I'm extremely excited and nervous for this trip to begin, and look forward to sharing it with you all. I hope that, as I did last summer with "A Summer in Time," I can bring you all on this journey with me, and allow you to experience things as I do - seeing what I see, smelling what I smell, and perhaps drinking a glass of Malbec along with me.

Ciao for now!