I THINK I MIGHT BE IN HEAVEN

Good morning Italy, 


Thank you for being so picturesque, for making amazing coffee and serving steamed milk instead of ice cold cream that's being sitting out for hours. While your scrambled eggs at the continental breakfast were sitting in a pool of water (or maybe it was EVO–god I hope so), they still managed to be some of the most delicious things I've ever had. Thanks for serving sauteed veggies on the side with your eggs, for making tiny chocolate croissants so I wouldn't feel guilty. Thank you for literally having some of the the best, most ripe & flavorful fruit I think I've ever had. Your colors were amazing.


Now, I go explore you. Meet the group I'll be traveling with for the next few weeks and embark on a remarkable journey. I had fun, just you and me. 


All de best.

FROM KANSAS TO VENICE

Roma Termini

roaming - just outside of Roma Termini

Roma Termini

treno from Roma to Venezia

treno from Roma to Venezia

Some fine Italian behind.

One of the stops along the way. Pretty sure this guy was posing for me. 

The journey begins traveling solo from KC to Venice:

Friday 05:30 wake up prepare to head out. 07:50 flight departs KCI. 11:30 arrive in Dulles (Washington DC). 17:30 depart Dulles and head to Rome. Saturday 08:30 arrive in Rome. Go through customs, exchange money for euros, pick-up bag. Train from Fiumicino Aeroporti to Roma Termini to Venezia S. Lucia. Bus from Venezia to Venizia Aeroporti to catch shuttle to final destination, Marriott.

I made it, le sigh, completely and utterly exhausted. Only saw one attempted robbery along the way (not me) – damn Roma gypsy children.

2 Peronis and a sopressa panino were all I needed before I had some of the best sleep EVER.

and so the story begins...

A lot of you may be wondering how the heck I ended up in Venice of all places. Well, it's rooted in my traditional random ways – While reading through a blog post of one of the sites I frequent, Print magazines The Daily Heller, I see an ad on the side for an Italy workshop/masters study abroad program. It sounded beyond incredible... On a whim, I apply. What have I got to loose? I doubt I'll be accepted, but heck I'd punch myself if I didn't at least give it a whirl. Later that same day I receive a phone call from the program director, "we'd love to see your portfolio and set up a phone interview with Lita Talarico (chairperson & co-founder of the program)". I'll spare you all the unnecessary details, but I guess Lita and I hit it off. Next thing you know I've been accepted into the NYC School of Visual Arts, Masters Workshop.

So here I am. Venice. Wow. I did it, and to be honest can't quite believe it. I've been here for a day already and it still hasn't completely sunk in. I will be working with some of the most acclaimed designers. People I used to read about when I was in school. In fact, designers I still look up to today.

Ready. Set. Go. Begin major life adventure now.