And So It Begins

~January 7, 2014~

I woke up this morning after a rough night’s sleep because of my never-ending ‘Taken’ type dreams. I collected myself and packed up my belongings because it was finally the big day when I officially begin my study abroad experience and move into my apartment. With a backpack full of personal belongings I made the trek to the designated plaza where I was supposed to be meeting with my program coordinators and be escorted to my apartment. Somehow, in my overzealous state, I arrived to said plaza an hour before the scheduled meeting time. Dun Dun Dun. Commence daunting music to go with an overwhelming sense of panic as all the warnings people had given me before I departed danced through my head. Fortunately, the panic quickly faded when I sat on a bench and let the warm sun calm my nerves. The location of the bench was perfect because I could people watch like a champ. About 10 minutes prior to the designated meeting time, Nicole (my roommate and fellow ASU Sun Devil) along with her mom, Rose, walked up and we small talked. After stumbling around the plaza finding the correct group, we were placed on a bus and escorted to our new home!

Ah! Finally the wait is over :)

We saw the inside of our apartment for the first time and it was a dream come true; love at first sight; the whole enchilada; everything and more then I could have ever wished for. The narrow white marble staircase that I had seen from peeking in the day before circled all the way up with a small lift (elevator) going up the center. Our heavy wooden door with gold detailing opened up into a charming, bright, entryway. To the right there was a nice living room area with couches, two French doors opening out to the patio overlooking the busy street below, and a teeny-tiny typical European kitchen with a small table. To the left of the entryway, there was a long hallway with one bathroom and one washroom on one side, and three bedrooms (2 single, 1 double) as well as a good sized study room on the other. Nicole and I flipped a coin to pick between the single rooms. I ended up at the far end of the hall. The room has a little twin bed, a couple tables, a bookcase, a large armoire, and a large wooden desk with windows all behind it. Unfortunately the windows are heavily frosted because they look to the backs of other apartment buildings where everyone is drying their laundry but it provides natural light and I am very happy with my room.

We couldn't contain our excitement

I unpacked some of the things I had shoved in my backpack earlier that morning and then met up with Sam to get my other two monster bags from the hotel. We struggled with the heavy bags all the way to the metro, on the metro, and on the walk back to the apartment building. I’m so lucky Sam was willing to help me because I was already sore and sweaty! A short while after my room was thoroughly covered with my belongings as I unpacked, our remaining two roommates, Alex and Shanna arrived. They had come directly from the airport and are both from Pennsylvania and know each other from school. The four of us went through introductions and then we let them get some rest and prep their rooms (Shanna transformed the study into another single room).

The girls from apartemento 1a 

That evening all newly arrived students were required to go a meeting. While this may sound simple enough, the group consisted of approximately 180 students. We were instructed to meet at a specific intersection across from a specific metro stop. From there we were led to our final destination, our large group meandering through the streets and across intersections.  I think we resembled a line of ants marching to an ant hill. The meeting was informative but we were all tired and hungry so afterwards we found my roommate Nicole’s mom (Rose) and all hunted for dinner together. We found a lovely little place, ate a nice meal, and then Rose treated all four girls (roommates) to our first gelato. 

First of many 'family' dinners ( + 'Mom' of course)

Peace, Love & Happiness,

Nicole

XOXO