We left on a 5:25am flight on Southwest Airlines out of Chicago Midway Airport(MDW). We arrived at 3:30am knowing that Southwest would want to check passports and documentation for our 5:25am flight. The lines were long – but moved quickly. The agent carefully weighed and checked our bags to confirm we were not exceeding weight... Continue Reading →
ARUBA for the first time – but are we cheating on our true love!?!
ARUBA for the first time - but are we cheating on our true love? Writing this at 6am on a plane headed south from Chicago. Hubby and I woke up at 2:30am to head out and do one of our favorite things, which is quality time on a beach, snorkeling, exploring and disconnecting. We have... Continue Reading →
The world is yours Sweet Girl
She left Florence on Friday, there were tears, and laughter and hugs. The new friends she had met were going their own way too. She made a special trip to the API office for one more request, help with getting a taxi at 4am for her trip to the airport. She asked for a picture... Continue Reading →
La Spezia and Florence Explorations and Experiences
Well the halfway mark is here - my daughter has been in Italy and is thriving. I'm at home and looking forward to her daily posting of pictures to the ICloud folder. We are both hitting our stride. She has found some friends, gets along well with her roommates and is enjoying her time. She... Continue Reading →
Dear United Airlines Customer Service……….
Dear United,I was a passenger on United Flight #786 on July 13 from Atlanta to Chicago. I am writing to tell you about the flight crew on this flight. There was a medical emergency on this flight. The emergency was in my row just one seat away from me. The woman is fine but it... Continue Reading →
Making good choices and balancing mama emotions – Why API Study Abroad?
Daughter Alone in Italy ........My Sweet Girl is my youngest child. I have three other children that are in their 30's. They have jobs, homes and families. There was a twelve year gap between them. Each time I have watched one of them set off in to their life I have had those mother pangs... Continue Reading →
Survival Day – Walk around campus and Now we are cooking…..
She is organized, she takes comfort in having a plan and thinking through what she will do. And at times she over thinks things. Orientation week has a "survival day" a day that she was looking forward to attending. It was a way to get her bearings, understand her surroundings and mentally go through what... Continue Reading →
Morning coffee with my sweet girl
Did not hear from her yesterday. No Facetime - No texts - No email - and THAT is perfectly OK with me! The I-cloud photo sharing did bring me some beautiful gifts though. Take a minute and scroll through - have a walk through Siena Italy this morning through the eyes of a young woman... Continue Reading →
Exploring Florence and Italian Pizza
The first week is meant to help the students get to know each other. She and her 4 roommates moved in to their apartment. We got a Facetime tour first thing this morning. It is on the river and the apartment is not air conditioned, but the floors are marble and there are several electric... Continue Reading →
Crossing the globe on an award ticket in coach.
My sweet girl is traveling to Florence on a 33 day educational adventure through her travel abroad office at her university. For this program students pay tuition, room and board and travel separately. Booking flights was up to the student. We had some miles that had accumulated from travel and credit card points and we... Continue Reading →
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