#BarniclesAbroad

Here is a quick glimpse at what you've missed...

I realize that I have not made a blog post since early November. It's December 1st. I know, I slack. But, by request I will update you on what I have been up to for the past month.

1. An API trip to Firenze. My program took us to my favorite city in Italy: Florence. Home of the Renaissance, the Arno River, the David, and the leather markets (my downfall). Florence was my favorite spot the last time I was in Italy so I was very excited to finally return. Although it was a bit rainy, it was just as wonderful as I remembered. Florence is very different from Rome in many ways, especially in terms of size and atmosphere. As a group we did a walking tour around the city, visiting Ponte Vecchio, Piazza Uffizi, and the Duomo. The next day we took a tour of Palazzo Vecchio. All I can say is that the next tour I am on better be one that I give with Matt Tardiff at Stonehill College. I can't take museums anymore.

Because we had already seen many of the touristy sites in our last visits to Florence, Alex and I spent most of our time in the leather markets. I have no shame. We each bought beautiful leather jackets that we are still so excited about...even a month later. Can't stop, won't stop.

2. Go ROMA! After our trip to Florence, we all got to go to a Roma soccer game in Stadio Olimpico. While I am not the biggest soccer fan out there, I have to say that it was pretty awesome. I've never heard a louder crowd or seen more spirited Romans in my life. Everyone was decked out in red and gold, waving flags, and tossing their scarves in the air. The stadium echoed with chants and cheers, especially as Roma scored the first goal. Unfortunately, the other team scored to tie the game just as time was up. It was such a unique experience and I am glad I had the opportunity to attend. It was a great way to experience the culture since calcio is basically considered to be a religion for Italians.

3. Oui! I went to Paris! I definitely think that Paris was my favorite trip in my time abroad. Although it was absolutely freezing, it was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. On our first day, Alex and I went to Versaille-- amazing. The palace was incredible and the gardens were even better. I could not believe how big the estate actually was. We took a tour of the palace and then hopped on a mini train that took us through the gardens to the royal apartments. Everything was manicured and in pristine condition-- a big switch from the ancient ruins we see every day in Rome. Later that night we met up with my roommate Alex coming in from London and took a midnight trip to see the Eiffel Tower. I knew that the tower would be big, but it was HUGE. It is crazy to be able to say that I have eaten crepes... in France....next to the Eiffel Tower. The next day we met up with some of the other Stonehill girls for a tour of Paris. Our guide was a great speaker and had interesting stories, but I was disappointed in the tour overall (and the fact that I was frozen the entire time). Rome's 70 degree weather has spoiled me this semester. Unfortunately, this tour took about three hours out of our day so we had some catching up and warming up to do. For the rest of the day we visited the Louvre, grabbed a bite to eat, and made it back to the Eiffel Tower just in time to make it to the top. I will never forget such an incredible view of the city of lights.

Paris was a great trip and I would really love to go back one day. This was the first trip that Alex and I were completely on our own with no tour groups or friends to teach us the city. We were able to figure out the metro system and navigate the city so easily, proving to ourselves just how much we have grown since the start of our time in Rome.

4. Papers on papers...pass/fail. After my visit to Paris, I had a lot of work to do at JCU. It is that point in the semester where all of our papers are due and final exams are approaching (like next Saturday...yikes). I worked really hard to get my research papers done that week because the next week my family would be visiting me. I knew very well that I would not get anything productive done with my siblings here. The motto of this semester has been Pass/Fail.

5. Five Barnicles Abroad. This past week has been one of a kind. My entire family plus our close friend Megan joined me in Rome for a Thanksgiving that we will never forget. It was great seeing all of them! It was a perfect time for them to come because it has given me the energy to push through these next two weeks before I am home for good. We had a lot of laughs, bottles of wine, a ton of pasta, and plenty of adventures. I was nervous at the beginning of the week because the weather turned for the worst and we could not shake the cold and rain; but, it picked up as soon as my brother arrived on Tuesday (for a total of five Barnicles abroad).

We spent Thanksgiving in Florence for the day and ended with a giant steak dinner to celebrate. Even though I miss my turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes; I am so blessed to have been able to spend the holiday with my whole family. For the rest of the week we spent our time seeing the sites, going to the top of the Vittoriano, the Cappuccin Crypt, and walking Via Del Corso. My brother was the last to leave, so we spent our Saturday visiting Castel Sant'Angelo and grabbing dinner. It was such a great day! We had perfect timing making it to the top of Castel Sant'Angelo just as the sun was setting making the view of St. Peter's Basilica gorgeous. Having my family in Rome was excellent, but it did make me a bit more homesick. I am so excited to see them again soon!

With only two weeks left abroad, I have reflected a lot on my experience. While it has been nothing that I had originally expected, it was an opportunity that I am glad I did not pass up. Living in Rome has taught me a lot about myself and about the world. I won't deny that it has been the most challenging time of my life. Being away from the people and places that I love has been incredibly difficult; but, I know that I am going to walk away just a little bit wiser and more appreciative of what I have missed at home.

Two weeks. 
I'll be home and able to say, remember that time I lived in Rome? I guess that's pretty cool.

That's My Kind of Night

Ten Quick Updates:

What I have been up to lately...

1. I am convinced that Stonehill 2015 has taken over Europe. Every weekend in October, I saw at least one person from Stonehill. It has been awesome! The weekend after my trip to London, I was visited by MaryCharlotte and Thomas from Florence. MC flew from the States to visit Thomas in Italy, so they decided to crash in my apartment for a night to see Rome. We took them around to all the sites, ate dinner, drank wine, and of course got gelato. It was a breath of fresh air to see more familiar faces from Stonehill. Although it was quick, I hope they enjoyed their stay in Rome.

2. An amazing visit from my boyfriend. Connor stayed with me in Rome for ten days in October. It was easily the best week I have spent in Rome so far. I had so much fun showing him all of Rome's monuments and sites-- Trevi Fountain, Colosseum, Vatican, Capitoline, Palatine, Roman Forum, Spanish Steps, Borghese Gardens... you name it we saw it all. It was such a fantastic trip, it felt like a dream. My time with Connor flew by. It was so hard to see him go back to the States, but I know I will see him again so soon. I can't thank him enough for coming to see me during my time abroad. It's been difficult being so far away from home, but being able to actually be with him was just what I needed.

 

3. A trip to Venice! I wanted to make sure Connor saw more than Rome during his trip to Italy, so we planned a visit to Venice. It could not have been more perfect (aside from people constantly trying to sell us roses). We got to Mestre Thursday night, and spent Friday and Saturday exploring San Marco and the canals of Venice. 

4. Midterms...Unfortunately, the study part of Study Abroad still exists. Midterm week has ended and I am doing well in all my classes. That's about all I got on that topic.
5. Stonehill Londoners take Rome. My roommate and a few other Stonehill girls =in London visited me for a weekend. Although I was tired from having explored all of Rome the week before, Alex and I showed them around the city. It was so great to be able to see them and catch up on everything that has been going on while abroad. It has been especially nice to hear how others have been handling their time away from home. It seems as though it is that point in the semester when everyone is starting to feel more homesick than before. 

6. A dramatic increase in our cooking skills, sort of. I have been gaining more and more confidence in my cooking than before, but they still aren't the best. Alex, Hayley and I have been making a lot of chicken, salad, pasta, and veggies/stir fries. Finally, I am no longer petrified of going to the farmers market down the street in the mornings. I've been able to get fresh vegetables and fruit for cheap instead of going to the grocery store. Last week, Alex and I made burgers and a vegetable medley of peppers, onions, broccoli, and cucumbers. It was delicious! We were so proud of ourselves.
7. I casually flew to Ireland last weekend. My second trip outside of Italy was to the Emerald Isle. We spent time in Dublin and Galway-- two amazing cities. Both had such a relaxed atmosphere to them compared to the hustle and bustle of Rome. Our first night in Dublin was on Halloween, SO COOL. The Irish do Halloween the way it is supposed to be: scary. We saw so many people dressed up with outstanding makeup, creepy contact lenses, and costumes that were unreal. I felt like I was in Disney Channel's Halloweentown or something. We didn't have much to dress up with ourselves, so we wore Venetian masks that we brought from Italy. 

Overall, my trip to Ireland was amazing. I felt like I was at home! I ate beef and Guinness stew with mashed potatoes, drank beer in real Irish pubs, listened to great live music, and embraced each moment as much as I could.  Ireland was beautiful and everything really was green. (I realized why my dad loves his lawn so much, dates back to his Irishman roots).  On Saturday, we went to Galway where we happened to run into one of my good friends from Stonehill, Meghan, as we were walking out of a restaurant. We got to spend the day with her walking and shopping around the town. I would love to go back to Ireland one day with my family.

8. Cliffs of Moher deserves its own update. Saturday morning was spent at the Cliffs of Moher. I was stoked to visit the cliffs, but when we got there it was rainy and windy. Mind you, I don't mean breezy... I mean hurricane-force winds. That combined with the fact that we were standing on the side of a cliff made us a bit uneasy. I am not going to lie, at times we were afraid for our lives; but, it was just as beautiful as I imagined and will remain as one of my major highlights during my abroad experience. 

9. I have trips booked for the next two weekends! Next weekend, I travel to Florence with API to see the David and Duomo! Florence was my favorite place in Italy during my first visit, so I am excited to finally return. Plus, I get to see even more Stonehill students who are studying in Firenze for the semester. The following weekend, I will be making my last big trip to France. We have booked our flights into Paris and scheduled a hostel for the weekend.
10. My family comes for Thanksgiving week. In about three weeks, I get to see my family. My mom, dad, sister, and her friend are coming for ten days and staying in Trastevere near me! I couldn't be more excited to see them. After Skyping them last night, I realize just how much I miss each of them. Although my brother cannot come on the trip, I have loved being able to stay in touch with him through Facebook.



My time abroad has moved quickly this past month. I've been able to experience so many great things so far and I have a lot to look forward to in the next month. Although day to day life in Rome is still a challenge, I get an incredible feeling when I step back and look at all of the extraordinary opportunities I have been given. Despite being homesick, peoplesick, and Stonehillsick, I know that I need to make the best of what is left of my experience as it begins to wind down. 

I hope to update you soon!

Love,

A Barnicle Abroad

Here Comes the Sun

It's been a while, hasn't it?

I apologize for waiting nearly a month to write another blog post, but I am not lying when I say that I have been extremely busy here in Rome. I have dealt with more things in the past few weeks than I would normally at Stonehill in a semester. 

For about two of those weeks, I was sick with some sort of bacterial infection which caused a lot of trouble when it came to eating. My friends were very supportive, but I eventually had to visit a doctor and go to multiple pharmacies before I finally received the antibiotic that helped me. Now, I've bounced back to my normal self -- stuffing my face with gelato, pizza, and pasta (the usual). 

If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, you probably do not believe that I am taking any classes; but, much of my time has been spent doing homework, reading, writing papers, and making presentations. We didn't waste any time getting into the coursework. Although they are sometimes challenging, I've enjoyed my classes so far at JCU. My favorite has been learning about Ancient Roman history. The class is on-site so we get to actually see all of the temples, forums, and tombs as we listen to the Professor's lecture. She also has a great Danish/British accent which helps our attention span.

The good stuff...

These past couple weeks have been FILLED with traveling. Two weekends ago I went to the Almalfi Coast with my study abroad program, API. It was absolutely magical. I have been to Capri and Pompeii once before, but I was still taken back by its beauty. We started our trip with a boat tour around the island of Capri where we saw the Faraglioni Rocks, Marina Grande, and the bluest water I have ever seen before. Inspired by the water, a couple of my friends and I decided to rent our own, private boat and take another turn around the island. We just wanted to get into the water as soon as possible, so this time we decided to swim in the grottos and go cliff jumping... It was awesome. 

That week we also had the opportunity to hike up Vesuvius. Another amazing experience. It was a work out to get to the top, but it was worth the sweat. Our last excursion of the weekend took us to Pompeii, where we were able to see the ruins of the ancient town that had been destroyed by Vesuvius years ago. It is incredible how archaeologists can piece together the lives of people that lived so long before us.

After the Almalfi Coast I had a tough week at school with my first ten page paper (It's been a while) and studying for a mid term. Mid term! Already?! I don't even want to think about it. I had a lot of motivation to work hard last week because on Thursday I would be flying to London to visit some of my best friends. Going to London was just what I needed: a little taste of home! Just being in an English speaking country was comforting enough for me, but when you add Alex, Jeff, and Austin to the mix ...the sky is the limit. It was so nice to catch up with everyone, swap stories, and have good friends show you around a great city.

We arrived in London at 4:30 AM on Friday morning after traveling for about nine hours straight from Rome. We weren't entirely sure of Jeff's address, so the plan was to walk around his dorm screaming "JEFF" until he heard us. Thankfully, it worked. We crashed on his floor and when we woke up we headed straight to Starbucks. The first day, Alex Chev and I explored London on our own: Big Ben, the Eye, Trafalgar Square. We eventually met up with my Stonehill roommate, Alex, and grabbed dinner. The Next day we were able to hit all of the major spots: Portobello Road, Buckingham Palace, Abbey Road, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey. We ate fish and chips for dinner and went out to a pub for the night. It was perfect. We even survived Ryan Air!

This week I've been working hard to get my work done early and even get ahead for next week. I am so excited to see Thomas and MC on Friday! Then, on Monday I get to see Connor for ten days and even take a trip to Venice!

I can't believe we are already into October. I hope this was enough of an update! The pictures say it all: I am living a dream.

Arrivederci!

It's Finally Starting to Feel Real

Classes, trips, euros, gelato, gelato, gelato.

Being in Rome is fantastic. It is easily one of the most amazing cities in the world. There are so many places to explore and history is just around every corner. Despite being so grand and wonderful, I have been a bit overwhelmed in Rome the past couple of weeks. A lot of new things are going on in every direction, but I am gradually making the necessary adjustments.

Classes. I forgot the study part of study abroad. Last week was my second full week of classes, so looking at all of the papers, exams, and projects I will have over the course of the semester was a wake up call. However, I have enjoyed all of my classes so far: Lit History, Media and the Environment, Ancient Rome, and Fresco Painting. That's right, I am taking an art course. Last week we had to make the cement layers and smooth it onto the wall. And for homework we were assigned water color paintings! I'm probably going to struggle, but it is a beginner course so everyone is in the same boat. This class is very different than what I am used to, but I figure when I am older and looking back on my experience it will be awesome to say I took Fresco Painting...in ROME!

My favorite class so far is Ancient Rome and Its monuments. Our professor is a brilliant archaeologist who is extremely passionate about her work. Her ability to get the class excited to learn about Ancient Rome is impressive. It is an on-site class, which means that we get to walk the streets of Rome and see all of the things she includes in her lectures. The other day, she brought us to Capitoline Hill where we had an astounding view of the Roman Forum. It is finally starting to feel real: we are living in Rome.

The great thing about studying abroad is that its not all work, all of the time. Last weekend my program brought us to Tuscany for a wine tasting. After waking up at 6 AM and traveling for about two and a half hours we made it to Montepulciano, a beautiful medieval town with an extraordinary view of Toscana. I've never seen a more breath-taking landscape. Blue skies, rolling hills, vineyards, valleys -- it was unbelievable. After touring the town, we were able to explore the wine cellars and go to a formal wine tasting. They taught us the proper techniques and explained all of the different wines.

The next day we drove to Cortona, another medieval town in Tuscany. These towns were built on steep hills. Every walk is an insanity work out -- up and down hill! I am not sure how people do that on a daily basis, but this town was just as beautiful as the previous one. Here we got to do more exploring and shopping on our own, which was a lot of fun. I bought three scarves...I have a problem, but I promise it was deal. We also got to go to a natural hot spring spa, which was the perfect, relaxing way to end the trip.

This weekend we've decided to stay in Rome. We are starting to plan out trips for October and November, so as the weeks go by we are going to be very busy juggling school work, visitors, and travel. We are planning on going to the Almalfi Coast, London, Paris, and Dublin-- all incredible places. I am so lucky to have this opportunity and I can't wait to start booking flights and hostels. But for now, we need to get to know our own city. Yesterday we took a tour of the Colosseum. We got to go on all levels, even underground beneath the stage. It was SO cool. Tomorrow I have plans to play ultimate disc in Circus Maximus. I need some frisbee in my life!

I wish I could share this experience with all of you. It has definitely been a challenge, maybe even the hardest thing I've done in my life. But, I can tell that by December it'll have been an experience worth having. I am so excited for what the next few months have to offer.

A Barnicle Abroad

I have finally made it to Italy. 

After a seven hour flight from JFK, I landed in Rome on Tuesday, August 27. I only slept one hour on the plane and am still trying to get over my jet lag and the six hour time difference. It was reassuring to see that the airport was filled with other college students getting ready to study abroad-- all of us feeling the same nerves mixed with excitement. 

Preparing to leave for Rome was difficult, especially during my last week home. Saying my goodbyes to friends at Stonehill and loved ones at home was one of the hardest things I've had to do. I already miss everyone, but I am already starting to adjust to my new living situation. I was placed in an apartment in Trastevere, a well known neighborhood in Rome. There are four of us in our apartment with two bedrooms, a small common room, kitchen, and one bathroom. It is a lot nicer than what I had been picturing, but there are some quirks. For example, in our bedroom there is a giant neon green triangle painted on the back wall, bright red curtains, and incredibly tall closets with more neon green shapes painted on. Not like what I am used to at Stonehill, but the ceilings are high and there is plenty of space. After a little rearranging and decorating we have started to make the room our own.

We had a couple of maintenance issues in the last couple of days regarding our shower. There is a giant water heater hanging above the bathtub that needs to be kept on at all times. First, we couldn't figure out how to switch the water flow from the faucet to the shower head, so my first shower in the apartment was me and a bucket of hot water. When in Europe, right? Once we figured out how to switch the water flow, the water heater stopped working. So my roommates and I were talking ice cold showers. The landlord came into our apartment, walked straight into the bathroom, and flipped a switch. Three hours later we had our hot water back, simple as that. We are learning one step at a time here in Rome.

 

Trastevere is absolutely gorgeous and I still cannot believe that this is going to be my home for the next few months. It is located on the other side of the Tiber River, across from the city center and historical monuments. The past few days have been spent exploring our neighborhood and trying to get to know our way around. Rome is not only overwhelming in its tremendous beauty, but also in its layout and design. Every street looks identical to the other. We have already done plenty of walking just trying to find our way back to the apartments, but getting lost in Rome is nothing to complain about.

The gelato is incredible, the pasta is to die for, and the pizza is delicious; however, I think I am going to need to expand my food selection eventually. This trip has to be all about trying new things. Both my roommate and I have been surprised at how different life is in Italy. It is a much more relaxed atmosphere compared to our fast-paced American lifestyle.

This past week has been busy with the scheduled Orientation program at John Cabot University -- info sessions, tours, etc. I have spent a lot of my time with the girls from Stonehill, but we have also met a lot of new people from all over the States. I had already been good acquaintances with a couple of the Stonehill girls, but I did not know them well before this trip. It has been so much fun going out with all of them and exploring Rome. I am very excited for our adventures to come! We finally ventured out across Ponte Sisto (one of the bridges over the Tiber River) and saw the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, Colosseum, Campo dei Fiori, and much more. There is so much to do and see in Rome! It is amazing because you are right in front of these magnificent structures with just a turn of a corner.

I am going to do my best to keep everyone updated on my life in Rome. I'm sure it will be interesting. I've only been here for five days, but it seems like it has been one month already. Next weekend the API group is traveling to Tuscany for a wine tasting in the countryside, after that we will be starting to venture out to see more of Europe. I love and miss you all!

Pre-Departure

Where to?

In a little less than a month I will be flying to Italy and living in Rome for an entire semester. I have probably said that exact sentence a million and two times this summer; but, it has not sunk in for me just yet. Honestly, I do not think it will be real until I am on my way to JFK. 

I have wanted to study abroad since my senior year of high school. For the longest time study abroad was the only definite thing in my four year plan. I went to Italy for ten days in high school and fell in love. I saw all the sites, but I never was able to truly experience the culture. Although the thought of leaving my friends, family, and Stonehill for over four months is intimidating, I know that this is the right decision. I will miss everyone dearly, but this is not permanent. I will be back. I hope that I will return not necessarily changed... but grown up. I realize that I will have to cook on my own, find my way around a new city, use different means of transportation, meet new people, and figure out the easiest ways to travel around Europe. I do not know if I'm ready, but I have accepted the fact that this will probably be the most challenging time of my life. From what I hear the experience is completely worth it.

Five things to look forward to...

1. Traveling Italy, traveling Europe: It has always been a dream of mine to travel throughout Europe. There is so much history in each country, especially in Italy. I mentioned earlier that I have already been to Italy once, but I promise you it was one of the most beautiful places I have every seen. Many of my Stonehill friends are traveling abroad this semester as well. Alex (My JCU roommate) and I have already started a list of all of the places we want to visit while in Europe: Barcelona, Paris, London, Prague, etc. I have at least one friend staying in each country, so it will hopefully be easy to see the sites and have a place to crash for free.
2. Food: For those of you that do not know me, I love food. I cannot wait to be reunited with gelato, but I also look forward to trying new things. I'm sure by the end of my stay in Rome I will only be able to afford pasta and wine-- not that I am complaining! I am not the biggest fan of both of these things, but I think I will be able to manage.
3. Experience: Having taken Italian for four years in high school and taking three semesters at the advanced level in college will only enhance my background knowledge of the country's language and history. It is one thing to visit the country for a week, but it is completely different to actually live in Italy for four months of my life. The culture, the people, the customs are going to be unlike anything that I am used in the US: I am going to be walking everywhere, I have to pick up fresh food nearly every day, I need to hang dry my clothes, I need to be conscientious of pick-pocketers. It is definitely going to be an adjustment.
4. Meet new people: I have joined all of the groups on Facebook associated with API Rome and I have seen all of the names of the people that will be coming on this trip with me. It's hard to believe that some of these people are going to be my best friends for the next semester, maybe longer. When I am abroad I want to try to get involved by joining a club or two with JCU and possibly even doing some community service. It is one of my main goals to get to know the community I am living in and the people who I will be sharing my experiences with.
5. Growing up: This is kind of a scary one. I am going to be doing a lot of things on my own next semester. Things that I would normally not have to think twice about are going to be the most difficult tasks just because I will not know where to go, who to speak to, or even how to speak to someone. One main purpose of this trip is for me to learn more about myself. Hopefully, by the end of it I will be able to confidently say that I can live and survive on my own. Stonehill is one of my favorite places to be, but let's be honest college is not real life. Studying abroad is just as much about growing up as it is about having fun.

Five things I am worried about...

1. Being Pick-pocketed. If anyone was going to be mugged it would probably be me. My family and friends have always said that I lack street-smarts. Personally, I like to give myself a bit more credit than that...but I can see where they are coming from. I really just do not want anything to be stolen. I have heard of apartments being broken into, theft on the street, and in hostels. Awareness is going to be key in Rome. As long as I am aware of my surroundings and keep my bag in front of me I am hoping I am going to be fine.
2. Missing Friends and Family. This is an obvious one. My family and my friends mean everything to me. To not be around them all the time for an entire semester is going to be hard. I have gotten closer to a lot people this past summer and I cannot believe that I have to leave so soon. I am going to do my absolute best to remain in contact with everyone from home, but at the same time I realize that I need to step outside of my comfort zone and not rely on things like Skype or Snapchat 24/7. I am going to be meeting new people, but those I am leaving at home are still going to have a major impact on my experience abroad.
3. Cooking. As excited as I am for all of the food that I will be eating in Europe, I cannot forget that I am going to need to cook a lot of it. Luckily, Alex's dad is a chef so she has some skills in that department. This past summer I have been cooking on my own as well, so I think I will be able to survive. It will be different. I am not sure how my kitchen is set up (assuming I have one) and I know that I will have to go shopping more frequently than I am used to going now. Once I get a budget I will feel better about myself.
4. Getting Lost. Again, this has to do with street smarts (or my lack there of). I will admit I have no sense of direction...at all. Maybe I will somehow learn my way around Rome, but if I am being honest I still do not know my way around the mall. The fact is that I am going to have to ask for help and I am okay with that.
5. Change. This is what I am most nervous about. I am not necessarily afraid of leaving and being away for just a few months, but I am afraid of my return. Although I know that I will gain new perspective on many different things while I am abroad, I do not want this to change my feelings towards things at home. More importantly, however, I do not want people to forget about me. This may be selfish and even sound silly, but I am not going to be around for four whole months. That is a long time. I am worried that I am going to come back and nothing is going to be the same.  I want everything to remain exactly how I left it, but that seems unrealistic. I will not be seeing some of my best friends for the entire year. Several of them will be leaving for their study abroad program as soon as I get back from mine. Junior year is going to be one of the best years of my life, but I also have a feeling it is going to be a "lost year."  I can only hope that when I do experience any change, it is only for the better.