Something that I wasn’t quite expecting to happen here has to do with my faith. I was born Catholic and of course my faith has always been important to me, but this period in my life I’ve found myself practicing it more frequently and with a deeper meaning. About a week or two leading up to leaving for Europe, I began praying the rosary daily. This was partially because of the uncertainty of the (now lost) teaching position in Milan….
This weekend has been my best weekend yet in Italy. I have that feeling… You know, that adventure feeling you get when you’re traveling. After tensions between roommates at the apartment in Siena, I decided to go away for the weekend. And it was the best decision I’ve made so far here. After my weekend in Cinque Terre, I finally feel like I’m traveling. I woke up Friday morning feeling a tad bit depressed. The vibe of the apartment was…
I can’t remember the last time I was so much at peace than the weekend I spend in Cinque Terre. The beauty that is there is unmatched. Everything you see and experience you want to preserve on a camera, but after a while you stop trying because there’s little point; no one can ever relive what you are experiencing right now. No photo, no video will do it justice. It was my moment. I loved that. And along with the…
Rome. What a beautiful city… A close friend and I decided to take a train to Rome for a quick break and to treat ourselves after our first week of classes. The trip was a bit spontaneous! It took one glance at each other at 7:30AM while getting ready for class… With the same adventurous look in each other’s eyes, we decided last minute to skip the Friday class, quickly pack a weekend’s worth of clothes, and hop on…
I am in love. Truly, I fall in love every day. Every day is a gift here. I’ve been in this city for a little over a week now, and I’ve come to realize just how lucky and thankful I am to be living in Siena. This medieval city is so small and charming. I find myself wandering in the evenings and happily getting lost through it’s labyrinth of streets and alleys (But you can almost never get completely lost;…
My arrival in Italy first brought me to Bologna. Bologna was a pleasant introduction to this wonderful country. It’s a little late but here’s a few photos from those few days. Enjoy!
I’ve been in Siena for 3 days now, but I have yet to actually experience the city. Yes I’ve walked the labyrinth of streets, with it’s medieval architecture and steep alleys. Yes I’ve laid on the slopping Piazza del Campo at night and gazed at the stars. But still, class started yesterday and I. AM. EXHAUSTED. We made plans to explore il Duomo today, but when we got back from class we could barely make it out to get groceries…
It happened while I was eating tortellini con ragù alla bolognese at a restaurant along a narrow side street. Sipping red wine and listening to the sounds of an old man’s guitar at the corner. I look at the buildings surrounding me; the old stone a bright orange with the shine of the street lights. I look up and see the night sky an unfamiliar color. The contrast of the orange buildings against the sky creates a dark purplish color…
It’s day 3 over here. Wait 3, is that right? Ah yes, day 3! My biological clock has been so off that I need to look back and count my days; they all seem to run together at this point. But nonetheless, I’ve been in Europe for 3 days! I first arrived in Berlin, after a quick layover in Paris. I must say, the flight over wasn’t my best work… Everyone told me bring things to help sleep on the…
Well… It’s here. The day is finally here. Today is the first day of my travels. Today is the day that I’ve been waiting for maybe four months now, ever since I was generously awarded a scholarship from the UofH Italian department to study in Siena for the month of August, then later accepted into a year-long internship program in Milan as a teaching assistant beginning in October. Unfortunately, as I found out just a few days ago, the internship…