38 Days

While my family was visiting me this weekend for yet another inspiring loss by the Irish, my wonderful mother pointed out to me that there was nothing about my home/family in my previous post about things I will miss while I am abroad. So as to not offend my chief financial advisors, I present a stipulation to my list:

1. Coming home every couple months to find that each of my brothers has grown roughly another 6 inches. Needless to say, I now have zero competition for shortest person in the family.
2. Having my mum call me a few days before I return home to ask me what I would like her to prepare for dinner while I am home. This is easily on my list of greatest things ever.
3. When my father calls me at odd times of the day to ask me questions about random movie quotes, song lyrics, how to say things in foreign languages, and the names of side projects of indie hipster bands. These calls usually involve me being on speakerphone with his coworkers, some sort of bet, and my father being mocked for having the musical preferences of a 17-year-old girl.
4. Calling my sister at 2 in the morning on the brink of tears, begging for help on Medieval Literature papers, and having her be awake as well, also on the brink of tears over her own papers. Three cheers for college procrastination and sisterly love.
5. My dogs.


In other news, I was finally able to register for classes this past week. It was quite nice to not have to stay up with the rest of the SMC population until the bleak hours of the morning until registration opened, then make a mad dash for the classes I need, praying that they wouldn't fill up before I got to them. I simply went to my Rome advisor, told him what I wanted to take, and I was good to go. I'll be taking 16 credit hours (a nice break from the 19-hour courseload I'm currently tackling), all of which are general-education courses and classes for my Italian minor:

Art History (This is going to be fantastic.)
Lectures and Tours (This is a mandatory class in which we travel around Rome and look at the landmarks and such. Easiest credit I'll ever earn.)
Introduction to Philosophy
Italian Language and Literature
Italian Cinema
Religious Moral Life (Taught by the former head of the Dominican order. He's buddies with the Pope. No big deal.)

So needless, to say, my excitement is reaching unprecedented levels. Everything is falling into place: I've got my flight booked, my student visa authorized, my roommate situation figured out (Shout-out to Laura!), and my classes picked out. Now all that's left to do is wait. And pack.