Ciao

Three years go Nick and I said goodbye to our family, friends, and every thing that we knew. 

The night before we left TN I felt so excited, scared, curious, sad and many more feelings! I was scared more than anything, so anxious and just plain scared, wondering what life in Italy would be like, what we would do and see, who would we meet, where would we live, and those are just a few! I thought three years was going to take forever to get through. 

Now three years have come and gone and it did take what felt like forever sometimes. It's the night before we leave Italy and return back to America. I feel thrilled, relieved and excited, I can't wait to see my family and friends! But as I type the words "see my family" my eyes fill with tears because I am leaving our Aviano family behind. We have come to know and love so many people here. We have spent our Thanksgiving's and Christmas' together, celebrated  birthdays, welcomed new babies into the world, seen the wonders of Europe, experienced new and often times awkward language barrier situations, we have laughed together, cried together and made many unforgeable memories.  

This is not goodbye to all of you! This is just a little "Ciao". In Italy ciao means "goodbye" and guess what!? It also means "hello". So, this is not goodbye! 

You all mean so much to me, to us. I thank you for being our friends and standing by us like family. Saying I will miss you all is an understatement! 

I want to take this time to encourage you (anyone who has hopes to go out and do something new or different, something that maybe very scarey!) to not let fear stop you! It is so true that if something isn't scary then it probabley isn't worth the while! I have grown so much in the last three years! No, I have not enjoyed everyday! Many days I wanted to strangle someone! But the days that I tried a new food, met a new friend, enjoyed a cappacino with a smiley face on it, walked with friends to get gelato, toured a castle (more like 20 castles), waved at the Queen of England, rode a donkey in Santorini,  auditioned and acted in my first play and then musical, rode in a boat  around Capri, held up the Leaning Tower of Pisa, photographed the birth of my friends baby boy, viewed the Statue of David three times, sang along with the Sound of Music in Salzburg, hiked across lakes in Croatia, heard the ringing bells of Notre Dame, ate french fries under the Eiffel Tower, stood in awe by Gaudi's architectural genius, walked through the rubble of Pompeii, stood in the Roman coliseum,  and have been captivated by the sight of the Italian coast at Cinque Terra. All those moments were worth it! They were incredible and amazing! I can't belive I have been so blessed to see all those things and meet all the people I have. 

I love you all in Avaino, I love all the moments we have shared together and made the best of living here! And with that... Ciao to my friends and Italy! 

See you soon, America!