One Small Step For Man...

One giant leap for Zoë! heheh :]
WELL since we last met many things have occurred! Wednesday was quite the day.
Matt and I met for breakfast at Just Muffin' Around which I've never been to, and it's kindof fun scratching all these places off my list before I go. Then I headed on over to work and in between running errands and managing checks for my dad @ his solar store, I picked up some more more things I'll need for the trip! My mom also took off work so she managed to get me essential vitamins, dictionaries, and lots lots of Ibuprofen for all those potential migraines haha. I went to lunch with Kristy, Genna, and Alex, one of my favorite crews of people, so funny. We laughed over Dion's and then I took a slice to go to Audrey @ school. When I stopped by to see her, she and the girls were working on the skit for the powderpuff game which makes me sooo sad that I can't be there but it was fun to see it in the works. I stuck around 8th period too and visited everyone, played some hxc ping pong with mah favorite boys and Andy even serenaded me!! Oh it was so rich, I didn't want to leave :[ But at the same time...
Then ma and I met Aunt Jean and my good ol' cousin Tyler for some coffee at the classic Satellite, yummm. I swear though people are definitely feeding me to bulk me up so I can't fit on the airplane, I'm positive. Anywho. My aunt cried, she was so sad, and I felt bad because I wasn't really sad at all, I mean yes I'm gonna miss them but this year holds so many good things to come, I think everyone in Albuquerque will be kept very busy doing many exciting things while I'm gone :D
Ma and I went to Target and I crossed quite the load off my list, including a bathrobe, and walking/gym shoes! I've never owned those before so I'm so excited to have them now bahaha. I ran down to Keshet to pick up a CD with some pictures from my spring dance performance to show my family, the pixxx are so amazing, I'm really gonna miss dancing this year and I hope, pray, wish, know I will find a good studio in Viterbo to keep my buns busy!!
THURSDAY
Phew, day of DOOM. I didn't sleep at all Wednesday because of packing and making really fabulous CDs for some really fabulous people, besides, I was going NUTS I was getting so anxious, there's no time to sleep anymore!
Sooo waking up, Ma and I met her boyyyyfraaaan Donnie at Cracker Barrel which was a bad idea. A. Because I was too anxious to even think about eating and B. Cracker Barrel was not the most appetizing thing at the moment. Afterwards, the chaos began. 1. Go to dad's office to give him back his credit card from the day before. 2. Go to ma's house to get laptop, take it back to dad's office to download software like Microsoft office and Photoshop. 3. Go to Buffalo Exchange to trade in BUNDLES and PATCHES of clothes, which in exchange I got some great new jeans, a dress for the host family luncheon and a lovely birthday gift for Audrey. 3.5. Stopping at the downtown Wells Fargo Bank to get Euros! Me + exchange rate = not too happy! I also picked up my debit card justtttt in the nick of time! Three cheers for being prepared. 4. Go to New Mexico Dancewear to get me some new ballet shoes, and spandex. Kindof nervous because my pointe shoes are almost toast and getting new ones miiiight be tricky, especially since my feet have hit a random growth spurt, does this mean I'm taller? I hope so. 5. Going to the Apple store to get my sweet computer case, we're talking hot pink with fuzzy interior, ah my little baby will be so happy wrapped up inside. 6. To Sadie's to pick up HOT salsa to give as a homecoming gift to mah new family, which I hope they like, especially since mom was not too happy about getting it, thinking it would explode in my suitcase but due to my awesome wrapping skillz I'm sure I'll be set :]
7. Back home to get my car, to go to pick up and cash checks for dad, and heading to his house to pick up more things to pack, as if my room wasn't messy enough. Done with the numbers-hahaha-I stopped by Keshet again to say bye and kisses to Jamie and Kristy, then sped on down to Levi's house. Oh Levi, I will miss you more than you know. I got him a replacement Zoso (RIP) stuffed aminal, a kick bootay CD and a picture frame tht flips and has many many pictures of us, being happy and looking ridiculously good together. Best part of visiting Levi-
Zoë: HEY Ari guess what!
Ari: I DON'T CARE
Oh, I'll miss that.
Let's see, then I rolled over to McKinnon's house and she gave me a Republica CD which I loveeee so far, oh Mickey, so thoughtful :] She always has the most pleasent surprises.
Well gotta to go board my plane to Boston from Chicago, I'll update sooooon!
xoxo

Ooops, weeks later, a second post...

Hahah my bad.
SOO much has happened in preparation for Friday morning, when I finally, oh my gosh emphasis on FINALLY depart Albuquerque for Boston -> ITALY!!!
Let's see...
A while back I worked really hard on cleaning my beautiful Land Rover Discovery, olive green, and my dad and I put in up on Craig's List only to sell it 2 days later for $500 MORE than we originally bought it for! Go us! Haha but mainly me, because I made it look so nice :D
Next, a couple days later, dad sent me with his co-worker James to the UNM bookstore (James is a student there) and we bought my laptop, Macbook Pro 13" baby! James had a student discount annnnd we also snagged a free iPod touch, sweet! I ALSO paid in cash, cuz I'm a G like that, but also because the cash came from selling my car, or macchina in Italian! Yes I'm going to miss my car but I think it'll be worth it. It was a good first car, I'll never forget you disco!

Okay so then there was the next big event, the going away party for Ericka, Denali and I. Denali designed the cutest invites with French and Italian flags and vocab on it, they were perfect. Then Ericka and I addressed, stamped and sent them away to about 85 people, only to send out about 80-100 MORE invites via text, facebook, or word of mouth. We shopped and began food prep on the Friday before hand and got right to work Saturday morning. Denali's house was the perfect spot for the party, with a huge yard, complete with jungle gym, trampoline, pool, firepit/patio, indoor dancing living room, tree for a hanging disco ball, zipline (yeah, you heard that, a zipline!), an entertainment room with pool, and a huge lot for about 20-30 cars to park in, which, of course, of course no one used. Kind of a disaster but hey we'll just skip over that part :] Audrey and I made some cute Italian themed cupcakes and Ericka's sister made the most fantastic triple layer french cake, my mom made some caprese and her world famous carrot cake, Denali's parents made pizza and got all the drinks together, and Ericka's mom made adorable cheese plates and grape baskets.

The food was definitely perfect, the music, supplied by Denali, consisted of a mix of mandolins, Italian opera, and Italian pop, it was sooo good. We set out address books for all our friends to leave address and notes of farewell. We even got some adorable cards and gifts from close friends! Ah, the part was so great, everything was a success, I really could not be more pleased with how many people turned out and how much fun everyone seemed to be having, it was a great closing to the summer.


Then, school started at AA for everyone that Thursday.

Denali, Ericka and I showed up to mingle for the beginning. We met up with our class and ended up sitting with the foreign exchange students from Germany and Vietnam (?). They were so nice!! I'm sad we won't get to know eachother but I really enjoyed getting to meet them, at least. Later that afternoon we had a talk with out exchange supervisor, Ms Lydon, and she told us how Europe is not like Vegas-"What happens there, doesn't stay there. If you mess up, it'll come back for you" Naturally, this was a little frightening but all I could think of was the Hangover when she said that, so I couldn't help but laugh. Saturday, we celebrated Audrey's birthday party at her house, big 17! God we're all getting so old :/

That was also so so so much fun, it's great getting to see everyone getting along and having such a good time together, nothing makes me happier. I've also been spending a lot of time with the little Taylor, my dad's girlfriend's daughter, who I treat as my little sister. She's so loving and funny, she says the most random things sometimes but they are always interesting, she can always keep me entertained and keeps me feeling young again :D
This week has been sooooo crazy, oh my gosh. I thought it was gonna go by slow but actually I can't seem to slow it down. I got my luggage, a 29" black bag w/ 360 degree wheels, pretty nifty, and a brown plaid duffle with wheels for independent/weekend travel. I also got a new backpack @ PacSun which I'm not too fond of but it's growing on me. It has a nice handy case for my laptop which is mainly why I got it hehe.
Yesterday, I got a new memory card for my camera and a case for my ipod. Today I got some new makeup, and got my Visa/passport in the mail, FINALLY. The pictures in it are just as awful as ever! Bahaha. I packed 95% of my stuff which kills, especially since I'm 100% sure I busted the weight limit...

Tomorrow I've got so many plans to see people, say goodbye, make more last minute purchases, visit school and work work work. Cashing too many checks and saying too many goodbyes. I don't even like the word goodbye, I prefer "See you later," or just a casual "love you!" I've said bye to too many people, I'm pretty immune to it now. I feel bad about it, but honestly, 9 months isn't that long....
right?
:D
until tomorrow!!
xoxoxoxooxox
teehee, video chatting with Sara and her mom who were in the same house, testing it out. We talked about underwear, Latin dictionaries, and who knows what else.


PS-I'm totally and udderly addicted to this song. All this cloudy weather in NM has me listening to thought provoking music, I hate it!
Love it, for me.

First post!

Wow, okay, introductions?!
I'm Zoë and this blog is mainly for me to keep everyone I know and love so dearly up to date on my life as it takes an oh so drastic turn into the foreign land of Italia in about t-minus 28 days, yikess!
So rewind some more, I live in Albuquerque and when I was about 8 or so I found out about the rumored "Junior year abroad" in high school tradition and decided I was GOING to Italy. I've got such an Italian based family that really made me even more determined to make this dream a reality. Well the years past and I even spent some time in Italy traveling around the common places and KNEW that it was meant to be.
Finally, as freshman year ended, I began the process of looking into exchange, as well as a few of my best friends. Of course, everything was just fantasizing, different countries, programs, languages, everything, it was just a crazy idea to move somewhere else and experience an entirely new life. Well easing into sophomore year, a couple of my best friends and I dove into the exchange process, a neverending challenge of always being up to date, filling out paperwork, and going to Ms Lydon's classroom. Honestly.
The first day of winter vacation, I remember standing in the quad screaming at the top of my lungs with Sara, Denali, and Ericka, as we had all found out we had been accepted by the school to study abroad, and although this wasn't the first time we would be notified of our acceptance, and it wasn't certain for sure either, but in the end, it was, and not only us girls but also Drew had been accepted to study abroad. My other best friends had taken an interest in leaving as well, Alisa, to Israel, Sonia to Puerto Rico and Levi to Loomis Chaffee, probably the person I'll miss the most. However, knowing that Denali would be studying in Italy with me was the most reassuring thing ever. Denali is my best best best friend, my soul sister, my numba 1, and even the thought of not being with her for a year ate me alive. But she is one of the most determined people I know and she made a point to get accepted and wow has she blown me away with all of her hardwork!
This summer has been filled with paperwork, getting my Italian visa, fighting over a day to leave ABQ and yet only a little bit of Italian. It's been a rough summer, I mean everyday I try to enjoy every second with everyone I'm with, which isn't too out of the ordinary for me, but it's a struggle to not push away the people who I will miss the most. On Friday, Sonia left for NYC and then Puerto Rico and I won't see her for a whole nother year! I was devasted but knew it wouldn't be too hard, I'm just not looking forward to that preplanned 3-330 time slot where I say goodbye to my parents at the Boston airport.
Anyways, Denali has been kicking butt at Italian and gives me pointers as I try and learn from some tapes and books my Grandma lent me! That has all been incredibly helpful. Also, I spent a lot of time last week cleaning my beloved Land Rover Discovery inside and out to get ready to sell and put it on craigslist and in NO TIME we sold it, and as sad as I was to see my first baby go, it supplied me with enough money to get a new Macbook, the one thing that I needed more than anything else for school abroad. It's really nice, and today my Uncle Paulo came in to visit the family in ABQ and all 4 of us sat down with our Macbooks and traded tricks and tips hahaha.
I also talked to my new Italian cousin Simona today and asked her about a housewarming gift, I suggested hot hot New Mexican chile and based on her English it sounded like a good suggestion haha.
Goals for this week are to stock up on all the other things I need for next year, like you know bath products, tennis/pointe shoes, suitcases, Mac skin, etc. It's going to be a very long but speedy next 4 weeks.
And as for my life in ABQ, no complaints, successfully closing up a nice weekend with my best friends, working on planning Denali, Ericka and I's going away party and squeezing in some quality time with my beautiful family. Also, I walked in a fashion show on Friday to benefit a New Day Youth which assists homeless youth and families in NM, which was fantastic. I met a lot of people at and after the show and I can't wait to go to fashion week in Milan next year :D
Yeah, I'll be in Italy in less than a month...
for nine months...
Aw yeah :]
Off for now, until next time!