The number of days that are remaining has now gotten down to the double digits, which enthuses my friends and me. The countdown is growing shorter. This means that there are only seventy-two more days(as of February 5) left until we can finally step foot onto the ground of one of the world’s most breathtakingly stunning countries, Italy.

This will not be the first occasion I have traveled to a foreign place with my school, Monmouth Academy. Last year I had the opportunity to visit Amsterdam, London, and Paris all on the same trip with about thirty-five of my classmates. Within this ten day excursion, I devoured about ten pounds of bread and butter for breakfast each morning in Paris, navigated the subway as best I could, napped in London’s public parks, strolled through Amsterdam’s Red Light District (which was very, very…uh… interesting), saw the Mona Lisa up close, and I trust that I speak for everyone who went on the trip, when I say that it was one of the most memorable experiences of my life.

Feeling as much enjoyment as I felt after venturing to Paris, Amsterdam, and London, you can only imagine how giddy I became after the word had spread that the destination of this year’s trip would be Italy. I.T.A.L.Y. The word began to ring in my ear as lovely as a song as I imagined myself seated outside a small café in the afternoon, followed by a long gondola ride through Venice. I signed up to go right then and there, along with about five of my friends.

Now as the departure date approaches, I have grown busy trying to learn as much Italian as possible, even though I usually lack in the area of learning new languages quickly. Just ask my Spanish teacher. I now own two books covering the history of the majority of the areas we will be visiting including Florence, Venice, and Assisi, to get at least a minuscule understanding of these scenic destinations before actually visiting them. One of the components of our trip I am personally eager for is the piece when we tour Rome and see the Pantheon. This only becomes important to me after I continually seem to read about its beauty in every book I open. Also, viewing Milan, fashion capital of the world, sounds like a complete thrill to me. But of course, visiting one of the richest archeological sites in the world, Pompeii, does not sound like a bad time either. Basically, I am fully wound up for all aspects of this trip because, come on, I will be in I.T.A.L.Y!

By going on this trip I anticipate that I will get to experience the true spirit and culture of Italy, perhaps gain some weight from the Italian pizza and gelato I will be eating every opportunity I get, and leaving with pictures of my friends and me to be placed in with my others from Paris, London, and Amsterdam, so I will remember this once-in-a- lifetime journey for the rest of my life.