It feels a bit more like a fairy tale than reality. Just as both my brother Sam and I went off to start our own lives, him in Pullman, WA, and myself in Missoula, MT, my dad took an offer from Boeing to live and work in Trani, Italy. My parents couldn't say no, and frankly, I'd have been upset if they had.
I've been blessed in my life to come from a family where we had the time and money to travel. I've traveled the US and Canada, with several family trips to Mexico and even one European excursion with my mom and my high school art class. I pride myself in being a bit more in tune to the world than a large portion of people my age. I've fed manatees with a garden hose off the coast of Florida, spent six hours training dolphins in Cabo San Lucas, watched the changing of the guard in Monaco, and got stuck in the middle of a gay pride parade in Spain.
This opportunity though. This chance to spend my winter break in Southern Italy, is going to change my life in unimaginable ways. How can it not?
I want to write about the time I spend living in Italy. I want to remember every single sensation and I want to share what I see and hear and experience with the people I love. It'll be a scary and exhilarating and beautiful time.
I fly out of Seattle with my brother and his friend on the 17th of December to our final destination of Rome.
