This is home for the next 4 months....

It is hard to believe that we are finally here, and that it has only been a week since some of us began moving in to the villa. This past week has being incredible. From flying in to Genoa and having a chance to see the Alps from the air, to moving into a villa that is located in the mountains with 21 people that you will be living with for the next four months. Our location couldn't get any better. The villa is nestled in the mountains and we have an incredible view of the city as well as the water (The picture is a view from the balcony outside my room.) But this location does come with its price. In order for us to reach the city to do any field work, shopping, or anything else, we have to scale down the mountain in the forms of stairs and ramps. We go up, down, and all around, on some of the steepest hills you will ever see. By the time we get back to the villa, we are all ready to pass out and go to sleep. In time though, I believe that we'll adjust and when we come back home, we're going to be in great shape. We begin our traveling across Italy and Europe soon, and some school work is ahead of us....so one thing is for sure....this semester is one that we will remember for the rest of our lives.