Benvenuto! Today was the first day of my AFS adventure. I packed my things last night and flew off this morning to New York! Now I’m sitting on my bed in a hotel thinking over my day. It’s so extraordinary how quickly one can change emotions – The beginning of my day was full of tears and sadness with saying goodbye to my family. Then on the plane my emotions changed from sorrow to a mixture of hopefulness and fear for my upcoming adventure. And now, after meeting the other exchange students from America and going through orientation after orientation, I am both exited and terrified for my upcoming adventure in Italy. It will be such a wonderful, eye-opening experience for me; I am truly grateful to have this opportunity. And even though it will be very exhausting at times, I am up for the challenge!