So now that I'm all finished with school, I really have no excuses for my lack of commitment to this blog. This year has been the best and most exciting of my life thus far. I have grown as a person, i think mainly because I was really pushed out of my element here. Coming, not knowing hardly a word of Italian was a daunting thought alone. Within a month I was signing a lease completely in italian (although I hardly understood anything it was saying). It took me a long time to be comfortable speaking like a 4 year old, but the only way you can get better is to keep trying... I also found a bottle of wine would do the trick :)
Then there was the part about getting used to the culture. Sure i regularly would slip into an italian food coma with tremendous splendor and ease, and you might say how hard could it be to be calm and relaxed. Well, as beautiful as it is to sit by the canal and drink a bottle of wine, it did take me 5 months to get real internet, my freezer was never fixed, opening a bank account took about 2 weeks, and I have to hang dry all of my clothes. But i have to say, it doesn't really bother me anymore. I think most of my anxiety from these kind of things came from fear of not having enough time get things done. But since the rest of italy seems to be moving on a slower clock, I found when I just 'let go', I was able to enjoy the simple joys of life.
Sooo I have decided to stay another year here because I really do love it that much. I promise I will come back to America but I have this chance to live abroad again and I know I have to take it because I won't have this opportunity again. There are so many things I have yet to learn and discover!
Here is a recap of sorts from the last 5 months...
My entire group plus some children at our goodbye dinner. I love them all!
Catherine and I sitting on the docks on the Canal by our apartment.. Bottle of wine √
This is where i had my cappuccino and brioche every morning
Another shot of the duomo..
A street by my apartment in Milan
Cinque Terre Sunset
Cinque terre
Geoff and I in Cinque Terre with the town of Vernazza in the background. Che bella!
Catherine and I in paris in January
A Grand View of Barcelona!
Twins..Gaudi Park in Barcelona
my 1000th gelato (just kidding.. I hope!)
My mom has been taken over by italy.. obviously
Firenze
La citta di firenze
My dad lookin cool in Rome
Rome
Old and New
Lauren and I had a sweet little picnic with a bottle of wine, cranberry encrusted goat cheese, a baguette, and olives.. so lovely
just making a collect call
Lauren and I in some royal park
I got the whole bit! Big ben and the double decker! √
London Eye and Lauren
These aren't in order really so im sorry about that, but its really hot now and I am off to get some gelato :)
