I'm about to shamelessly promote myself.

My roommate Gabrielle and I have created a joint blog about the typical (and sometimes not so typical) PHC experience.

My Hair Is Dress Code

And it would make my life if you would read it!

OK! A real post.

It was my resolution that as soon as I got to 'real' college, I would start blogging on the regular. Well, that went down in flames when the crack on my computer screen spread, making the computer unusable. I've gone through a few weeks without it, and through many trials and tribulations as a result, but FINALLY, I have it back and have no excuses left not to blog besides my own laziness. SO HERE I GO OK??

I have no idea where to even start. The beginning already seems so long ago, and I sort of glanced over it, so there's really no point in repeating any of it.

OMG! One thing I've discovered here, ok not really discovered. I knew this already and expected it, but then it HIT me. Virginia is SO different than New Jersey, in ways I didn't even think of.

The most obvious: pumping gas. Yes, yes, I know New Jersey is the odd state out here. But to be sitting in the passenger seat , and having the driver get out of the car to put gas in it? SO WEIRD. Even better, is that I don't even know how to pump gas. I never have, and I'm not going to any time soon. (Although Gabby is convinced I should be losing my 'gas pumping virginity' soon.....)

Another obvious one: accents and dialect. I mean, everyone else is just so weird, and I'm normal. Of course. Like, doesn't EVERYONE in the world call pizzas pies? A pie of pizza? A slice of a pie? No...? APPARENTLY NOT. And all these people saying tour like 'tewr' and ya'll and that stuff. Too weird.

Mock trial. Those two words signify what has become my life and will continue to take over every aspect of it for the foreseeable future. Three weeks to prepare a 130pg case? Yeah, we're doing that.

And the professors! When I was at community college, I remember 'liking' professors. Maybe even thinking they were funny. POSSIBLY even going as far to say I learned something from them. Here is an entirely different story. Every single minute spent in class is a learning experience. It's impossible for me to sit through a lecture without my attention being completely monopolized. (Ok, I can think of one or two classes that I'm not entirely enthusiastic about, but whatever.) Two words: SPINNISMS and FAVELISMS.

And so we go.

Ahhhh!

Google FINALLY made an iPhone app for Blogger! My life has been made.

But go figure I only discover this the day I'm supposed to get my laptop back. Ah well. Typing long posts on an iPhone is NOT fun, which is why I'm going to save my REAL next post for tomorrow :)

And so we go.

Wait, going home?

On the one hand, it feels like this has been just one extended summer camp, and now it's time to go home.

But then it hits me. Home?

I'll be driving back to good old New Jersey tomorrow, which is now a mess of floods, lack of power, and downed electric lines. This is home. Yet I still have the feeling that I'm leaving home to go home.

Everyone always told me that college would become my new home quickly. I did not believe it. I was convinced that I would be counting the days until my trips back to NJ. I was so sure that I'd feel so detached here that going back home would feel like such a relief.

And I'm totally not downplaying the importance of my family. I can't wait to see everyone, and I so appreciate and love them. But I have family here now, too. My wing is the best I could ever ask for.

So thank God for family at home, and family at my home away from home.

<3

College.

Ok so I never actually thought I would get to a real college. It was always this far away idea in my head that I fantasized about, but I never really felt solidly about it. Now that I'm here, it feels so natural that I don't know why I ever felt weird about it.

As much as I miss home, I really like it here. I thought that I would hate the small town, and feel trapped because I was in the middle of nowhere...ish. But really, I can't imagine being any where else right now.

The Day Is Fast Approaching

August 16th, I will be moving into my dorm officially.

*insert small excited fit here*

I really have mixed feelings about this. I'm terribly excited to be moving out, on my own, and going to college. Then there's the cold feet. HOW THE HECK WILL I MANAGE WITHOUT LIVING WITH MOMMY AND DADDY??

As it gets closer, I realize how much of a child I still am. Two years ago, I was SO ready for this. (Mentally, at least.) Now I feel completely unprepared. I have so much growing up left to do!

This is all part of the making of me, though. This IS growing up.

Family Reunion

Not going to lie, the phrase up there in the title gets me nervous. And nervous is exactly how I felt on the drive up to Connecticut to see the Fortini/Forstl side for the first time in about 8-10 years. My feelings were somewhat calmed when my uncle offered to let me chauffeur him to the reunion. In the 2011 Dodge Charger that he rented for the weekend.

^__^

Not to go off on a tangent about a car, but it was fabulous.

Anyway. The reunion was EXTREMELY enjoyable! I got to see sooo many people I didn't even remember, and found out I'm related to someone who looks and talks EXACTLY like Stu from the Hangover. Needless to say, day made.

And then I got to spend a lovely Father's Day with mi padre, his two brothers, and my cousins. Altogether a laid back day, with tons of quality time spent. Come back to me my lovely Fortinis!