Less Than 1 Month Until Moving to Europe

Countdown: 20 days

What I’ve been doing in the past couple of weeks:

• Canceling magazine and other subscriptions
• Unsubscribing from emails I won’t need abroad (coupons, store sales, etc)
• Switching the utilities from my name to my “roommate’s” name
• Dental checkups and procedures
• Doctor appointments and follow ups
• Travel vaccinations (I advise starting these 2 months before you leave)
• Changing my address to my mom’s at the post office
• Spending time with friends and family
• Packing, packing and more packing
• Purging old clothes and unnecessary things to give away, sell or donate
• Haircut with an easy going style
• Putting things aside to put in my carry on or checked bag
• Reconsidering the things I set aside to take along
• Drinking all the wine on my wine rack (because you never waste wine)

This is the "after" picture and isn't even all my shit!

My apartment is filled with boxes stacked high and wide. It feels empty, and less and less like my home. My special things no longer decorate the walls or fill the shelves. In an attempt to fill the barrenness, S has hung a few comic books around, but they don’t quite fill the void.

Since we officially had The Talk last Sunday, it’s been a bit strange, but mostly relieving. We both agreed we no longer feel a romantic connection and it is way easier being best friends than it is being a partner. I expect too much, he’s irresponsible. I need something else that he can’t give me anymore. Being with me has become a chore to him. It’s just over. We still love each other and living together has been mostly fine since, but there is still the feeling of impending doom of my absence. We still behave like we are a couple sometimes, but old habits are hard to break. After this week, I should be all packed up and have decided to switch off staying with my Grandma and parents until I leave. It’s all very emotional, but I know this is nothing compared to how I’ll feel when I get to Florence and it all hits me.

On a lighter note…

My best friend came to visit for 4^th of July and I had the best weekend I’ve had in a long time. Poolside barbeque with all my friends, sun bathing, baseball game (Go Dodgers!), hot dogs and hamburgers, ice cold beer, fireworks, and dancing the night away at our favorite bar: the most American things we could have possibly done. It was the perfect Independence Day.

Take me out to the ballgame

I cried the day she left. I doubted my decision again, but I remembered what she told me. I can always come back home if I don’t like it. This is something I’ve always wanted and now I’m finally getting it. No matter how hard it will be, I’ll still be there fulfilling my dream. It’s a win-win no matter what. This is why I need her.

I think I'll miss America...