My hopes and aspirations for Vienna, Austria

With traveling and living in a new country comes different concerns, hopes, fears, anticipation, and adventure.

My hopes for the FP students is above all to have fun and to learn to appreciate the culture and way of life in Europe. Our experience is more than text book learning and in class studies, it's about putting ourselves out there and coming out with first hand knowledge of something we didn't know before. I hope we'll meet kids our own age who are willing to befriend us despite the sometimes misinterpretation of Americans. I hope we all learn German cause I know mine is terrible! I also hope we all get along since sometimes that's an issue :(

My hopes for Heather and Tom is similar to that of the students. I hope they learn as much as we do about things they might not have known about before. I also hope while learning and working they enjoy their time in Europe as a couple and as a family; I wish my parents were able to experience Europe like I have the opportunity to. I hope they enjoy spending time and having the opportunity to teach us as students. I hope they enjoy our company and the different personalities each of us will bring to Europe.

My hopes for myself are...hmm...I'm not sure I have an exact word. I hope to obviously learn German (and not sound stupid speaking it). I hope to take back customes and traditions that I will be able to share with my family and friends. I hope to learn about the world around me and what's really going on first hand rather than watching it on the news. I hope that I'll meet other kids my age who I can have a good time with as well as learn different things. I hope to share a piece of my own heritage (Italian) and bring a part of my home (Rhode Island) to people who might know nothing about them. I hope to take lots of pictures since I always go places and NEVER take any pictures to bring home!

I'm nervous about being on a plane for that long. Sometimes I get anxious or motion-sickness...but don't worry, I'll make sure I get some medicine from the doctor before we leave :) Although I hope to try new and different types of food I've very nervous since I'm allergic to fruit, crab, lobster, some nuts, and MSG (monostodium glutimate). I'm nervous that something will happen to one of my family members while I'm away since I won't be close enough to come home. I'm nervous about the drinking water so I'll make sure I stick to bottled. I'm nervous I'm going to forget something at home and not have it available for me to buy in Europe. I'm nervous I won't see everything I want to and more nervous that I won't take pictures of the things I see! I'm more sad than I am nervous that I'll be spending my birthday away from home as well as my grandpa's, dad's, and sister's birthday. I'm just a generally nervous person so I'm gonna try not to be nervous at all and just focus on being excited!!

My kitty Moo who I was I could pack in my suitcase :(

"There are only two emotions in a plane: boredom and terror"- Orson Welles