So it's official, then....

I passed the exam. What a strange feeling, though. Do you have any idea how long this whole process has taken? I started applying for scholarships to go to Italy back in 2003. It has been almost three years and I'm finally going (well, that's as long as the stupid consulate gives me a visa, which given our past relationship is a HUGE "if"). I only have a little over three weeks left in the States. America, I'm really going to miss you. Among the things I'll miss the most (people notwithstanding):

(1) Quick Trip. What a great place. Every morning before work I stop in and get myself a 60 cent coffee. Sometimes it's a Columbian Supremo with a splash of half and half then topped with the "original" steamer, other days it's a mix of coffee and hot chocolate topped with a caramel steamer. No matter how you do it, it's always good. And unlike Panera and Starbucks, a single coffee doesn't cost $3. And at Quick Trip, it's quick.

(2) American movies. Every once in a while, Europe comes up with a really good one. But nothing like the huge selection of good movies we have here. And over there I'll have to hear them in Italian and watch the little mouths move out of time to what's being said. And the voices will be Italian voices. That will be pretty funny at first, but I'm sure it will get old real fast.

(3) Choices. When I go to the store here, it takes me 20 minutes to pick out some toothpaste ("now do I want orange flavor with mouthwash and sparkles built in, or do I want the polar mint flavored super whitening with bleach, peroxide, and baking soda?").

(4) Walgreens Super Saver Club. If they would institute membership levels, I would be in the Platinum Club. Seriously, I was looking in my wallet this month and found $118 worth of Walgreens gift cards. Every penny of that was rebates for products I got for free.

(5) Internet access. It's standard here. You'll be talking to some grimy American with no teeth and he'll be telling you about some crap he read yesterday on the Promise Keepers (feels wrong to have to dignify that with capital letters) website. He can't afford to brush his teeth (well, when he had them), but he has internet access at home. In Italy it's still very much a luxury.

(6) Driving. You can bet I'm not going to even try that over there.

(7) Deoderant. Well, I'll have some. But no one else will.

That about sums it up. Can you tell I'm scared to death?