just the beginning...

oh my gosh i don't even know where to begin. everything is just amazing! 

after the looooong flight here i checked into a really cute little hotel right on the river. i had planned to try and stay awake and grab some dinner so i could go to bed at a normal time so that my clock wasnt all turned around. but i was so tired and fell asleep around 4 in the afternoon and woke up around 1am. It was so hard for me to fall back asleep and when i finally did, i overslept and missed my alarm! by the time i got to the school to pick up my keys for the apartment it was noon. i was so excited to see the apartment!! i took another cab with all my luggage from the school to the apartment and when i got there, one of my roommates, whitney, was standing outside. she had been there a few hours and was the first of us to arrive. she was so cute to help me carry all my bags up two flights of stairs!! the second i walked into the apartment i was totally shocked--it was ADORABLE! i will upload pictures as soon as i can--i think i left the cord to connect my camera to my computer at home but one of the other girls is bound to have one that will work. the whole place is done with ikea furniture and pictures. we even have a little flat screen tv! i saw that there were four bedrooms--three with two beds and then a single room. i had decided a while back that if i could have a single room i would take it. i love being with new people but i also like having my own space. 

the rest of the day was a blur!! the other roommates came and with seven of us, it was just loud and fun getting to know everyone. cory and her friend from syracuse lauren (but we all call her by her last name, sisca) took one of the rooms up in the front of the apartment. whitney and steph (both from fairfield but they didnt know eachother) took another room up front. the last two girls alenea and marin (friends from home who both go to mulenberg) took the room in the back next to mine. we only have two bathrooms but its worked out so far. 

all of my roommates are so fun! each of them have their own personalities and its great to have that many people together. we all agree that our personalities are a perfect combination for one another. we also think we have the best apartment!! 

the building we live in is in a great part of town. on our street we have a couple little resturants, a bakery right below us and a wine bar! the grocery store is right by school which is only a few blocks from our place. the walk to school is so beautiful. we have the most amazing piazza a block from our house where they have open-air markets every sunday. at the back of the piazza is a HUGE church! it is so gorgeous!  every time we are all walking somewhere we always stop and say "oh my gosh can you believe that we are actually here?" it is refreshing to be surrounded by people who appreciate the experience as much as you do. 

last night we all went out for the first time to a local club. it was crazy! all 7 of us were dancing the entire night. the other thing i love about the girls i live with is that they seem really loyal. we are always looking out for eachother. it might seem odd that ive only known these girls for three days because we act like weve known each other for years. the program has a lot of students--maybe 50--but nobody else seems to have as much fun as we do. so for now, our apartment pretty much sticks together. 

well i think thats it for now! we have orientation in an hour where they walk us around the city to show us where our classes are. afterwards, i think the 7 of us are going to just wander around the city and find a fun place for dinner. 

molly-i cant wait for you to come visit!!!! get your sassy self here as soon as possible!!

mom and dad-give taco tummy and the rest of the babies a big kiss for me

bubba-get ready for the time of your life when you get here! 

julianna-i have been writing everyday in the journal you gave me!! thank you again.

lovelovelove