One week until the journey begins ...

So, one week from today, at about this time, I will be boarding a plane on my way to Genoa, Italy for an experience of a lifetime. I'll be living in a villa built in 1899 with around 20 of my classmates and closest friends. This villa will be where we live, work, and eat. It is our central hub for exploring as much of the world or Europe as we can possibly see within the 4 months that we will be living there. The Villa, purchased by the Clemson Architecture program in 1972 features living quarters on the top floor, studio space on the middle floor, and a kitchen and library on the lower floor. And if this life doesn't sound fabulous enough already, we have our own cook in the villa to feed us some of the most incredible Italian dishes.
Of course, I haven't seen it with my own two eyes quite yet, but from everything I understand, Genoa is a beautiful city filled with an incredible amount of art and architecture. It is a port city located on the coast of northern Italy. It is known, however to be incredibly hilly with lots and lots of stairs. This is probably a good thing though, considering the amound of pasta and bread we'll be consuming. A little excercise is not all bad.
Now back to packing. For a girl who loves her clothes, shoes, and accessories, 2 suitcases is quite a challenge to live out of for 4 months.
Please keep me and my family in your prayers as I embark on this incredible journey.