This Blog

You can access my blog entries via any of these sites, and you can sign up to get an email every time I add an entry.
My Page: http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/lorien/
Short Link: www.mytb.org/lorien
RSS: http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/lorien/117037-rss.xml
I’ll update it as much as I can. My goal is once a week, but I can’t make any guarantees. I’ll try to include pictures, but that depends on the computer situation. Expect many pictures of food : )

Contacting Me

I’ll check my email (sara.r.hutton@gmail.com) and Facebook when I can. I’ll have my cell phone, but it will only work in Italy. It’s an Italian SIM card, so it will be a different number. I won’t know the number until I get to Italy, but I’ll let it be known as soon as I can, along with the instructions on how to dial. I can receive phone calls and texts at no charge to me, so if you have a phone card or some internet method, feel free to contact me that way.

Basic Itinerary

WWOOF: It stands for world wide opportunities on organic farms and means I will be working on farms in exchange for free room and

My Stuff

Everything for 4 months! I'm proud I fit it all because I packed a lot more than I should have. I've even got a tripod and umbrella in there.

board.
Study abroad: Italian food, from production to policy, through the college of agriculture and life sciences at UF.
Travel: Some solo travel in Italy between farms and the study abroad, and then to France, Spain, and Germany with my friend T.T.

The only things set in stone so far are my first 2 farms, the study abroad program, and the dates of my travel with T.T.

I’ll be going directly from Rome (when I get there tomorrow) to my first farm in the Abruzzo region. They have a variety of crops including fruit, vegetables, honey, and animals. Check it out: http://www.laperegina.com/
It’s surrounded by National Parks, so I imagine that’s where my free time will be spent.

If you want more details about where I’ll be when and what I’ll be doing check out this google doc: http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=rWbxsf6mttkZm0b7_ZxW1gA
There are still many blank spaces which I will be updating as I continue to plan the rest of my trip.

Parting Thoughts

I didn’t have any interest in traveling to Europe until recently because I didn’t associate it with nature and wildlife. But as my passion for food and sustainable agriculture grew, Italy and France increased in appeal. Sustainability is about people and culture, too, so maybe I should take some time away from the environment and give them a chance…

I know a little French and barely any Italian, but hopefully I’ll be able to get by and learn a lot more than I currently know.

I’m excited and worried, but I’m sure it will all work out and I’ll have a wonderful time 😊