A letter to My Floronian Friends!

hey hey!
I'm in copenhagen!! Everything felt very rushed after I left florence, I still feel like I haven't had enough of Italy though! I feel like I need to for at least a couple  more weeks just to feel that i've done the big things that people do When In Rome!

So what happened that night is that I checked the hotel you guys dropped me at, there was no one at the reception for so long and no bells or anything to ring! and I was so bored of waiting, so i went on their computer to check the details of my booking, turns out you have to cross the bridge that has all the gold shops on it and then turn left and its right there! so I did so..

I got to the hostel i booked and it was very very... very bad! I can't tell you how bad iit was, I was the only person there, with rooms that were super old, and washroom that was so dirty and the whole place was so cold! but of course I didn't know till after i checked in, so I looked at the room and was like.. NO! so I left, and somebody told me earlier that night that cabs after 11 pm take women around for a discounted rate, so I got a cab, asked him to take me to hotels near the station (it came to 7 euros) and checked myself into a nice hotel that was super super awesome, specially after what i saw!

The next day i had to check out at 12 01  pm, but I actually woke up at 12 30 pm, but the hotel people were very nice and didnt say anything, when i walked out there was a tour bus infront of me, hopping on and off was 20 euros for the day but I told them i'm not staying for that long so they gave me a ticket for 12 euros! so I got to see everything~ without all the walking~ and i'm uploading pictures as we speak so feel free to check those out~

sorry for writing a lot lol,, i just owed you a big explanation, even though we only met for a short time, I really enjoyed your company! and I hope that I get to return the favor when you come visit me in toronto!

<3 Love
Noha

Its Time!

▓░▓: 10
€$£: 10
OAP: 10


enough said.

*~Bridesmaids~* * 0 Week - 1 Day - 18 hours - 54 minutes - 4 seconds *

▓░▓: 9.5
€$£: 10
OAP: 9


Hello Ladies!


First of all I want to say Thank You for offering to accompany me on my trip to the airport! And for being so awesome and so supportive through out this whole Mission! You've made my life so much easier, wether you're letting me use your space or your external hard drive for storage! It means a lot and I wouldn't have wanted to share this with anyone else!


Just so you're all caught up! Things so far are great and smooth! The apartment is almost ready, everything in there is either staying in the apartment or getting packed to go with me! One thing on my mind though is this essay that needs to be done that just doesn't want to be done! Hopefully it will be done by tomorrow afternoon! My Sunday evening will be dedicated towards some more arranging and packing things!


Comes Monday, the big day, That's when I'll really need your help! As my official bridesmaids, I've made a list of errands and tasks that I'm going to ask you take on! :-) (please keep in mind that you have full authority of declining your tasks and without having to provide any explanations!). Please feel free to drop by Anytime, I'm sure I'll need your help somehow, but whatever you do, please don't be later than 4:00 pm!! gives us enough time to zip up the bags and head to the airport!


A common task between all of you is to Please keep an eye on me all Monday, I might change my mind, i might get a nervous break down, or i might just simply be so unrealisticly calm! either one of those is not good! If i'm in any of these moods, use your discretion to figure out what to do! hehe!

I also have some personal tasks for each one of you (again, feel free to say no)


S***, your task is to stop by shoppers drug mart and pick me up 2 packs of Sudafed, for sinus relief. lets say 2 packs or whatever is equivelant to 20 pills, (if these are different strength, the maximum is preferred).

T****, Your task is to stop by Payless, across the street from the eaton center on Yonge st and if possible pick me up 2 bottles of repellent spray for shoes!!










A***, your task is to stop by the hardware store, and get me a copy of my door key, the main door key and the laundry room key!

Please be sure that you will be reimbursed for the purchases on Monday and that you can totally refuse the job, I just thought I really won't be able to do this all before I go and I'd really, really appriciate the help! and I hope its not asking for much!


Beautiful People! I'm the luckiest person alive! You Rock My World and I hope that one day I can repay you!


Lots of love
NWT


p.s. if any of you want to take the task of writing my essay, that's also up on the list, just please don't fight over it!

* 1 Week - 0 Days - 13 hours - 47 minutes - 37 seconds *

▓░▓: 7
€$£: 10
OAP: 8

Few hours left till my first exam. For some reason, I’m ready to just go get it done and over with! Not that I’ve studied for it, but not that it matters!! I just feel like I have so much more to worry about and I also feel like I can make up things on the exam!

Alright so one week is left and things are finally getting together! In a way I have so much left to do, but in a way, they’re all small things that I’ve got organized according to importance and the days in which I will do them! On my “to do list” are things like Buying Gum! For some reason I really love chewing gum from different parts of the world. I had this idea that I want to buy a lot of gum for people who share my passion!

I also need to get some euros, arrange my pick up with an airport limo, buy a couple of things, arrange my makeup and accessories, make sure my camera and the chargers are ready, and most importantly, update the music on my iPhone!

I tried to not leave any tasks for the day that I leave, except for one. Pedicures and Manicures! In a perfect world, that’s all I would have to do the day that I’m actually leaving! So I’m gonna try and make sure that it works that way!

I’ve downloaded some Italian Language apps that are helping me a lot with picking up phrases, and learning small words here and there!

Finally, I just want to say Thanks to all the amazing people who showed up (and those of you who didn’t as well) for my good bye get together last Friday for being so awesome and being there! I really do feel like the luckiest girl in the world! And for those of you who did or made plans to take me out for our private good bye outings!

Lots of Love

NWT

* 2 Weeks - 0 Days - 17 hours - 35 minutes - 37 seconds *

▓░▓: 5
€$£: 8
OAP: 7


Seriously people! 2 weeks are left, I remember when I first started this and there was 10 weeks left, I did not think time would pass by so quickly!

Some things did not change, for one, I’m still as excited and I still get my little worry times which I soon wash off with excitement and amazement. Even though I’ve done a lot to prepare I still don’t feel like I’m seriously getting things ready to go, but I guess I won’t feel that way till I start packing! That won’t happen till about another week, because I’m hoping that in a week from today I’ll be done everything school-related and I’ll hopefully have a week of nothing but to actually get things together and pack. Or that’s my plan at least and how it will actually go might look very, very different.

So let’s talk Italy. So far, all the flashing neon signs are pointing towards Florence as a second destination to Rome. I met with a friend who really made me feel like I can’t miss on Florence and talked to another friend who told me she can give me names and numbers of people who are willing to show me around! It sounds really exciting, so Florence is on my mind now but I still need to sort things like where I would stay and transportation!

Where I’m staying in Rome is still not settled, there are potential SC’ers but nothing certain yet! That part I think is the hardest because I just want to make sure I will be able to meet people who I can go out with and can show me around and if they can host me, well, that would be the icing on the cake! And would make my trip complete.

As for how learning Italian is going, I need to shake the dust off of the 5 learn Italian books I have right in front of me! I sometimes wish I took more time to practice but at the same time I really don’t think I have had the time, plus, it’s more fun when you learn firsthand by Italian people! But that also reminds me, I need to figure out which books I’m taking with me and which ones to keep behind!

Other good news, Norway got sorted out on the weekend, so now I know the name of the city I’m going to and who with and all!!

It is true that there are two weeks left and I’m dying for them to just pass, but at the same time I feel like I really need every hour in these two weeks. I don’t think I’m ready and I don’t know if I will be before I leave, but the point isn’t to be ready, the point is to be willing to jump into it and enjoy the free fall!

Seriously people, 2 weeks!!!!!!

NWT

* 4 Weeks - 0 Days - 9 hours - 46 minutes - 23 seconds *

▓░▓: 4
€$£: 9.5
OAP: 5


Now it’s Italy's turn. Now that the trip to Montreal is over, my focus is on nothing by the trip to Italy. (ok, maybe assignments for a bit too) but seriously, how can you think about assignments when Italy is around the corner. 4 weeks are left. I feel like time is crucial and knowing that I still have to do all my assignments, attend classes, etc. I need to divide the work and make sure I don’t leave everything for the last minute.


So the trip to Montreal was awesome. I got to see my sister and brother which were amazing, we went out every night or had people over and the weather was awesome so I can't complain. I’m also really happy that I got to pick up gifts for the trip, whether it is for people I’m couch surfing with in Italy or in the other countries I’m going to. I did tons of shopping, but I still need to... actually still want to do a bit more before I go. This totally adds to my OAP (overall preparation) points.


What also adds to these points is the gift I got my sis in Montreal and that is my Italy make up set. No, that doesn’t mean it’s all green white and red, it means that it has everything I could possible need on my trip and more, including a tanning blush powder, eyeliners and mascaras, lipsticks and lip glosses, lip balms, make up removers, deodorants and Best of All: My Italy Perfume which took time and a lot of smelling to get it right. My official Italy perfume is Weekend by Burberry.


School is going great; things have calmed down for the weekend however they’re promised to pick up again in a few days. I’m up for it, and I just want this month to pass and I know doing my work will only make it pass by faster.


Last thing on my mind (which is the most exciting news to me right now) Place has officially been rented for part of the time while I’m away. I need to thank Lellibies for this as his offer to make use of his apartment as a temporary storage for my stuff really made this possible. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been easy. This totally adds to my €$£ points


I also can’t deny that I’ve been getting a lot of family support, a lot of it from Mommy which has been awesome throughout this whole process. It is like she keeps me on top of things sometimes and makes sure I’m taking care of things that I forget here and there! Thanks Mommy <3


Things are going out well so far, elhamdillah, I can’t complain.


NWT

*6 WEEKS*

▓░▓: 3
€$£: 6
OAP: 4


It is like everytime I realize that my departure date is approaching, my heart skips a beat. I can’t pay attention to class right now simply because there is so much on my mind.

These two weeks are absolutely insane! I have so much work, so much school work, and so many trips to prepare for since I’m going to Montreal, and don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining, in a way I’m liking the rush and I feel I’m doing well under pressure. Or maybe I’m not since I haven’t been able to study as much as I would’ve liked.

That might explain why not much work has been directed toward the trip in the last few days. However, in a week from today, I will def. have to get on messaging couch surfers, and then figure out exactly what I want to take and what clothing items and all. Also, Sarah is putting together my make up kit for when I’m gone so I’m so excited to see what she’s coming up with, and I will this weekend when I go to montreal!

Generally speaking, everything’s excellent, and I can’t complain!

NWT

* 8 weeks *

▓░▓:3
€$£: 6
OAP: 3.5


The exciting tones of Chicane’s Poppiholla (recommended by Tillo) adds hope to my thoughts which have been leaning more towards the “worry” end of the meter for the last few days. Not that I have much to worry about, I just can’t help but think that things might not go as planned. Even though talking to my sister Sarah has reassured me that it’s absolutely normal to worry, and that the second I realize I’m downtown Rome, nothing will matter!


The last week has been interesting in terms of couchsurfing. I haven’t yet found a host, however, a couple of amazing potential hosts have asked me to re-write to them again a little closer to my leaving time because it is too early for them to figure out what their plans are for December yet. They also attached their phone numbers so that I call them anyway once I’m there and hopefully we’ll get to hang out!


Over the weekend, I’ve officially picked the 2 pieces of luggage I will be travelling with; I have my Denmark luggage and my Italy Luggage. I’m allowed to have 20 KGs in each. Believe it or not, the Denmark luggage already has 15 KGs in it because the plan is that I take a Barbie doll house for my niece (this Barbie doll house was my sister’s and I when we were growing up and now we feel it is time to pass it on) the other 5 KGs will definitely be spend on gifts for the other niece and nephew, my sister and her husband.


As per the Italy bag, I have a general idea of what I want to take but it is all things that I’m still using, closer to my travel date, I will look into everything and decide what I need to do in terms of electronics and such (because their system is different than ours). My sister Sarah said she’ll put together my travel make up set, so that takes one thing off of my load!


I’m just terribly excited because 8 weeks from this moment, I’ll be on –inshallah- on an airplane, on my way. I don’t know how to describe the feeling, other than I really hope each and every one of you can one day feel this way about something they love and been wanting to do.


Thanks for reading,
I’m out
NWT


p.s: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC40_p9eG8w

9 WEEKS

▓░▓: 3 

€$£: 7 

OAP: 2.5

9 weeks till departure... feels like a long time from now, yet I know that it will come too soon, which kind of worries me.

I feel like there are so many little details that have not yet been figured out but at the same time, it might be too early to decide, for example, what purses should I take with me and what shoes will I have and how much clothing , But I guess I can worry about that later.

For now, I’m still searching for a couch to stay on, however, if that doesn’t work out soon, I will start looking into alternative solutions, maybe hostels or hotels if I can afford that on my student-budget travels.

Mainly for the last week I’ve been looking into what cities I want to visit and what places I want to see. So far Rome and Florence sound like my 2 sensible destinations because I’m going to land in Rome and I definitely want to spend most of my time there, and Florence is a close by city that’s supposed to be very different than Rome. I feel like I might end up staying in Rome the whole week but for now, I’m keeping my options open. Venice, which was on my list of places to go, turned out to be a lot harder to get to.

Some of the top touristy things that I wouldn’t want to miss out on are (click on names to see pictures)

-          Coliseum

-          Trevi Fountain

-          Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Steps)

-          Leaning Tower of Pisa

-          St Peter’s Square, Vatican City

 If I get to do all of those, I’ll be very very happy!

Good news, exam schedule comes out the first week of November, which gives me enough time to figure out whether or  not my exam need to be moved and that makes me very happy.

As part of my preparation for the trip, I’ve been making very small purchases on things that I know I will need, (i.e: new socks) just because I don’t want to have to start  buying everything last minute and feel like I spent a lot towards the end I’m trying to divide the purchases over a longer period of time.

Also as part of my preparation, I’ve been reviewing some of Italian that I memorized and also have been having Peter and Nadia teach me some words, lol ! Basically peter said, whenever you’re mad just say “ST ANTOONY!” with a nice Italian accent, hehe

I feel good, a little worried, but you may not be able to tell because I cover it well with all the happiness I’m feeling.

I’m out

NWT

 P.S: I need some good Italian music to listen to while I'm preparing for this :-) any ideas

Making sense of it all!

▓░▓:2

€$£: 7

OAP: 2

I’m constantly thinking about things to do or to check out and its getting really hard to keep track of my thoughts. I really hope this helps.

In order to keep sense of this, at the beginning of each blog, I will put a quick reference to how I’m feeling about three major aspects of this trip. In these references, 10 is best and 1 is... let’s just say not good at all

#1) Getting to Know Italy: I know in 10 weeks I won’t be fluent in Italian, nor will I have learned everything I wish to know before I go.  But I'm going to try to take in the best I can before its time to go. Learning Italian (out of Italian for Dummies book) and watching documentaries or reading books about Italy will increase this measure.

#2) it’s a five letter word. €$£: this is all about the savings and the spending and how I feel I’m doing with that. There is an estimated budget that I’d like to have when I start my trip. A good level to be at is 7 or 8. The more I feel I’m steering away from the budget, the less the reference number for me. So if I’m at 5, then I must’ve dug into my Italy budget. If I’m at 10 however (which I hope to be) then I’ve actually gone beyond my expectations!

#3) over all preparation: by the night I leave. This Must Be a 10. This includes things such as purchasing gifts, finding a place to stay (hopefully couchsurf), buying winter coat and winter boots, and just how mentally prepared I am to go. Right now, I might be at a 2, and that better be a 10 in 10 weeks :-)

So please keep up with me, and why I’m doing this publically is because I would really appreciate your input. I want to know what you think, I also want any advice, tips or hints to things I should pay attention to and start working on.

Signing off for now

NWT