ciao a Tuti,

OK, I am sitting in an Internet cafe in Ravenna, a town north east of Rome. The program has ended, we have finished finals, and moved out of our apartment. At the moment we (my roommate Em, her sister Margie, our friend Amber, and myself) are waiting for our train to Ancora, from there we take a boat to Croatia. We will be in Croatia until the 23rd. I spent one night in Rome and then fly to Dublin, where I am meeting up with my roommate and Bestest friend from San Diego, Shannon. We spend three nights in Dublin and then fly to Budapest, three nights in Budapest and then I fly to Rome. I have to nights in Rome, by myself, and then I fly home on June 1st. I am glad that I will have that time in Rome to my self, a chance to make peace with the Eternal City, and come to terms with leaving it. I have mixed emotions about all of this.

I am excited to start this part of my European adventure, I can't wait to get on a Croatian beach, but SO sad to be done with my study abroad program. I feel so different and far from the girl who first arrived in Rome, clueless and unsure, yet the time went so fast. I feel like I experienced 20 years worth of life in three weeks. My head is spinning. This is a transition. I am both excited and disappointed to know that I get to go home soon. Excited to see all of the people I care about and miss dearly, but disappointed that I have to leave when I don't feel ready to do so. Va Bene, time is time, it moves forward and there is not much I can do to stop it. The plan is to relax, breath in my last moments here in a few deep cleansing yoga breaths, and jump in to my next phase.

I love and miss you all, this is the home stretch ... see you in Cali. =)

A presto,
Lauren

PS: Ravenna is pretty, well at least the central part of town which is still reminiscent of the middle ages is. We saw some amazing mosaics, which is what the town is know for, and Dante's tomb. Don't be fooled by the one in Florence, they exiled Dante, and he came here. Then he became famous and Florence wanted his body, but Ravenna wouldn't hear of it, so the actual tomb is here, and the one in Florence is more of a memorial. Ravenna was also the last capitol of the Western Holy Roman Empire before it fell.

I will do my best to keep you all posted through out the remainder of my travels, but I don't know how available the Internet will be. But I will do my best.

Pace.