Your story sounds exactly, and I do mean EXACTLY, like mine. Except (unfortunately) my boy didn't go abroad second semester. LOL.
Just stay positive and don't let loudmouth fellow rushees run roughshod over you. If a sorority member permits that during a conversation, it probably isn't a place where you want to be.
You actually might be better off than some people who go into rush with 3 or 4 of their superclose friends, making the sororities feel pressured to bid all of them (even if they don't want all of them) to get the one they REALLY want. Having been in this situation, it's really obnoxious. I would much rather see the girl who's open and making a fresh start on her own.
Also: quit talking about your shyness or identifying yourself as a shy person. It's a self fulfilling prophecy. You are ladylike, not shy.

Good luck!