For as long as I can remember, studying abroad for a semester my junior year of college has always been a plan of mine. It's hard to believe that in just a short amount of time, I leave for the trip that I have always dreamt of going on, studying abroad in Florence, Italy. With my departure date right around the corner, I have recently been feeling all different kinds of emotions towards my upcoming adventure.

It's hard not to feel nervous knowing that I am going to be on my own in a different country for a whole semester. I have grown up going to sleep away camp for my entire childhood, and I have always been one to enjoy being away from home, but I haven't been completely on my own to the extent of what I'm soon going to experience. The idea of being in a foreign country in which I don't speak the native language or fit in with the everyday culture is a bit frightening. I know that it will definitely take some getting used to, but I have a feeling that it wont take too long for this new place to feel like another home to me.

Being away from my college friends for even just a few weeks is difficult for me, so I can't say that I'm not feeling a little bit of FOMO. I'm sure I will feel a little home sick seeing my friends out at the first party of the semester or moving into our new apartments, but I know that I can't let that stop me from living in the moment that I am in. My friends will all be there when I get back from abroad, so I have to take advantage of the opportunities that are right in front of me while they are there. Studying abroad is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It is a chance for me to take part in things that I wouldn't normally be able to experience.

I have always been great at balancing my school work and my social life, but I am a bit nervous if I will be able to keep that up while abroad. I love adventures and I know that I am going to constantly want to see more and more of this new place that I will be living in. However, I need to remind myself that I am still going to school while I'm away, and that I will need to find that balance that I have always had between my school life and my social life. On the bright side, at least I don't have class on Fridays!

Overall, I am so excited to embark on this soon to be adventure of mine. I am going to learn so many new things about the world, and also about myself. I can't wait to meet all different kinds of people from all across the world, make new friendships, see all these different countries that I have always dreamt of visiting, eat endless amounts of pasta and gelato, but most importantly, make memories that will last forever.