Hello everyone! My name’s Megan Dewalt and I’m a junior at Penn State University. This fall I’ll be doing a sustainable agriculture program at The Institute at Palazzo Rucellai.

I’ve been trying to start this blog for a few weeks now, but everytime I’d begin writing something, I’d end up deleting it and telling myself I’d do it later. I couldn’t figure out what people would want to know about my trip. I finally realized that every single time I tell someone that I’m studying abroad in Italy next semester, they ask me a ton of questions and always voice their concerns, so I figured I’d start by responding to some of them.

1. Aren’t you going to miss Penn State and your friends and family?
2. I can’t believe you’re missing football season.
3. Do you speak Italian?
4. Where are you living? Do you have roommates?
5. That’s going to be a long flight.
6. How are you going to fit all your stuff in two suitcases?

1. Yes, yes and yes. I love being at school, and being away from friends and family that long will be the hardest thing about this trip.
2. Please stop reminding me. I’ll totally become a soccer fan though.
3. Only what I’ve picked up in the bathroom at Macaroni Grill.
4. Great question. I’m not exactly sure. An apartment somewhere in Florence.. and I hope so!
5. Yes, indeed it will be.
6. To be honest I have absolutely no idea how I’m packing.

Well there you have it, the honest answers to those questions. I won’t lie, of course I’m scared. More often than not when I try to answer those questions, my responses scare me even more. Maybe I’m not prepared. Am I getting in over my head? Then I remember that I’m going to live in one of the most beautiful places in the entire world for almost four months. I’ll be surrounded by incredible architecture, delicious food, and amazing people who want to help me learn and grow as a person. This trip is going to be one of the best experiences of my life.

Yesterday someone asked me the simplest, yet most loaded question of all: “What are you getting yourself into?”

Well.. I have absolutely no idea, but I’m really excited to find out.

Location: Harrisburg, PA