Ah, studying abroad. This is something that, if you are lucky, you will be able to do before you graduate. A lot of people talk about doing it, but actually going through with it is a whole other ball game.

I talked about wanting to study abroad since I was a senior in high school. It wasn't until I was a junior in college, last year, that I realized my hopes of studying abroad were slipping away. So I knew I had to act fast. Because students have to finish their last semester at UT before graduating, I only had the fall of semester of 2008 to make my dream of traveling to Italy a reality.

I remember walking into the abroad office, going to the information meeting and receiving all of the colorful sheets of paper filled with prices and words like ISEP and ISIC. Everyone in the office was really nice and helpful, which made it seem like such an easy process.

They helped me realize that the world was my oyster and all I had to do was pick a place to go. Well, I don't like oysters; let's say shrimp instead.

Luckily, the Programs Abroad Office gives students a lot of guidance in picking your place to study. I knew I wanted to go to Italy, but I did not know anything about the different programs. My abroad adviser asked me questions about what I liked and where I grew up. Together we found that Milan, Italy was a perfect fit for me. Then it was time to begin the process of applying.

I'm not going to lie. If you have your paperwork together, it is an easy process. You just have to have a TON of paperwork together. The important thing to know about preparing to study abroad is that no one is going to hold your hand.

You have to get your passport, visa and flight in a timely manner. The only person you have to rely on to do these things is yourself.

Yes, the people in the Programs Abroad Office are extremely helpful and enjoy doing it, but it is important to make sure that you have everything together. My biggest mistake was getting bogged down by all the paperwork and forgetting about the fantastic experience I am about to have.

Not only do potential abroad students have to prepare paperwork, but also students need to educate themselves on the environment they are about to interact with. I had to learn answers to questions like:

• What is the exchange rate in Italy?
• What kind of plug do I need for my computer?
• What will the weather be like while I'm in Italy?
• How much do I need to pack?
• How do I say, "where do I find the shoe sales" in Italian?
  

A big issue I had was packing. How on earth is someone supposed to fit four months worth of clothing in one suitcase? This was crazy talk. So, I decided to pack two weeks worth of clothing and create outfits with layers. This way I can make even more outfits with the different layers.

As my time draws near to leave this country, I feel a little nervous, but I have prepared as thoroughly as I could. Now, I won't know what else I need to do until I arrive in Milan. I leave Monday, September 8, which, as crazy as it sounds, still seems like a very long time away.

Once I am on the plane, I know my heart will be pumping very quickly and I'll be saying to myself, "This was such a terrible idea!" The important thing to focus on is when I get to my apartment in Italy for the first time and realize that the world truly is my shrimp.