On the 10th day left abroading, Europe gave to me...
#17- GELATO
#16- ABROAD SONGS
#15- PERSISTENT HAWKERS
#14- ITALIAN WEATHER
#13- ABROAD CONSTANTS
#12- #STUDYABROADPROBLEMS
#11- OLD STOVE PORCELLINO
#10- 3,991 MILES
That is the approximate distance between Firenze, Italia and Easton, MA. Now why would a distance of space impact my abroad experience? It's because I'm so far from a comfort zone. Well, duh obviously. I needed the space. I needed to get back to and figure out more of me. That's pretty much the whole point of studying abroad aside from getting classes you can't get back home, living in a foreign city to experience culture, and to travel casually at the perfect time in you life to do so.
Aside from the obvious, the distance did me right for so many reasons. I feel like college is a great life springboard to finally be whoever the frig you want to be, you can start fresh and be friends with who you want to be without reservations.. and being abroad is only a even more speedier version. It helps you realize who is really there for you, who will put in the effort to keep in touch or visit you or even spend a month and a half lying to you to only surprise you (Hal & Julie still thankful for that weekend). Whether it be replying to a fb message or randomly skyping you to randomly chatting you up on the book, it matters when you are gone for almost 4 months in somewhere you have never experienced. The 3,991 miles should not get in the way of keeping in touch with the people you care about and the people who care about you.
To quote Meredith Grey..
"At some point, you have to make a decision. Boundaries don't keep other people out. They fence you in. Life is messy. That's how we're made. So, you can waste your lives drawing lines or you can live your life crossing them."
The distance has only made friendships more obvious and stronger if nothing else. My group of Sem friends have still remained close despite our inability to communicate well with each other (and that will always continue). It has been particularly hard without being with Molly for what will be almost 5 months, but knowing how much her experiences in South Africa have impacted her I couldn't care less about the length of time with our distance, i'm proud of her grown and so glad to have her as one of my best friends.
The Peer Mentor group has had such a profound effect on me as a person for being able to get to know 60ish very different amazing people in their own right has enabled me to be a stronger person. This group of people is so perfectly ridiculous. We're all obsessed with each other in ways I know irk non PMs, but I personally couldn't care less because that group of people means the world to me sometimes. When I was absolutely hating Italy, some of them were the ones that were there for me without question. The majority of that group are just beyond all around good people. They care and always tried to stay in touch with me, some of whom I wasn't even really close friends with til before I left.
I think the main point to sparknote this all is that, I know who my real friends are and who I want to put the effort into seeing and talking to when I get back to America.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
AS FOR ME I'D LIKE TO THANK MY LUCKY STARS THAT I'M ALIVE AND WELL.
damn Orientation for giving me the capacity to have these emotions now. I can't even imagine how it is at Stonehill right now.
HEY YOU ALWAYS ON THE RUN, GOTTA SLOW IT DOWN BABY GOTTA HAVE SOME FUN
On the 11th day left abroading, Europe gave to me...?
#17- GELATO
#16- ABROAD SONGS
#15- PERSISTENT HAWKERS
#14- ITALIAN WEATHER
#13- ABROAD CONSTANTS
#12- #STUDYABROADPROBLEMS
#11- OLD STOVE PORCELLINO
Pretty much any of our absolutely killer fun nights at one point involved us chilling pre full blown night adventures at the Old Stove Porcellino. The Old Stove is 3 Irish pubs in Firenze, one right by the Duomo, one in Piazza Signoria, and our usual hotspot the Old Stove Porcellino near the wild boar statue hence the name. Jade happened to be the one to find the under the radar hangout bar that barely any study abroad students frequent or even visit. Students tend to always go to Naima or the Lion's Fountain (I like both places though) but Old Stove is where it is at because barely anyone goes there, and because Antonio the ridiculous bartender works there who loves us and gives us discounted drinks and is hilarious. Not the best with English but that doesn't stop Antonio from making it great. We for the most part avoid the other bartenders because they charge us full price, but recently we think Antonio got in trouble because he's been stiffing us a little. Regardless, becoming regulars successfully at a place was beneficially and we love that place. Not to mention got the nickname "sexymotherfucker" by Antonio thanks to ordering that drink. ASIDE: ordered a long island iced tea at Naima last week and that bartender tried to call me long iced.... that was just weird and not a good drink nickname, learn from Old Stove clearly. Now if only the Old Stove shirts were plain and boring I would totally be rocking one back in America all the time.
#17- GELATO
#16- ABROAD SONGS
#15- PERSISTENT HAWKERS
#14- ITALIAN WEATHER
#13- ABROAD CONSTANTS
#12- #STUDYABROADPROBLEMS
#11- OLD STOVE PORCELLINO
Pretty much any of our absolutely killer fun nights at one point involved us chilling pre full blown night adventures at the Old Stove Porcellino. The Old Stove is 3 Irish pubs in Firenze, one right by the Duomo, one in Piazza Signoria, and our usual hotspot the Old Stove Porcellino near the wild boar statue hence the name. Jade happened to be the one to find the under the radar hangout bar that barely any study abroad students frequent or even visit. Students tend to always go to Naima or the Lion's Fountain (I like both places though) but Old Stove is where it is at because barely anyone goes there, and because Antonio the ridiculous bartender works there who loves us and gives us discounted drinks and is hilarious. Not the best with English but that doesn't stop Antonio from making it great. We for the most part avoid the other bartenders because they charge us full price, but recently we think Antonio got in trouble because he's been stiffing us a little. Regardless, becoming regulars successfully at a place was beneficially and we love that place. Not to mention got the nickname "sexymotherfucker" by Antonio thanks to ordering that drink. ASIDE: ordered a long island iced tea at Naima last week and that bartender tried to call me long iced.... that was just weird and not a good drink nickname, learn from Old Stove clearly. Now if only the Old Stove shirts were plain and boring I would totally be rocking one back in America all the time.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
CLOSING TIME, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO HOME BUT YOU CAN'T STAY HERE
On the 12th day left abroading, Europe gave to me...?
#17- GELATO
#16- ABROAD SONGS
#15- PERSISTENT HAWKERS
#14- ITALIAN WEATHER
#13- ABROAD CONSTANTS
#12- #STUDYABROADPROBLEMS
If you are among this generation you cannot avoid the hashtag. I hated the fad hoping it would die out when random people started using it in their statuses on the book. Facebook is not twitter, cut the shit. But inevitably the fad turned into a trend and people actually started using twitter enough for it to become a legitimate marketing ploy to make money only spiraling it to appear on facebook and in average daily talk more and more frequently.
So what's an abroad student to talk about while abroad aside from how unrealistic and amazing it is? Complain about things that they only have to deal with because they are abroad. Hence the culmination of #studyabroadproblems. Everything can relate to its use. Anything that involves Ryan Air = #studyabroadproblems. Having to choose which European city to casually visit for a weekend = #studyabroadproblems. Loosing all motivation to do work while abroad = #studyabroadproblems. Complaining about it raining and being cold at 65 in December = #studyabroadproblems. The lists can go on and on, pretty much there are a lot of unreal life problems that happen while studying abroad. They are usual not a real problem whatsoever but it's a way to cope with the ridiculousness that is abroad sometimes.
#studyabroadproblems is a good way to keep things in check with life abroad and life back home. I am aware of the fact practically nothing about abroad life is the real world, but despite that it makes you grow so exponentially in a fast manner that life back home is on pause and I know when I come back it will feel as if nothing has changed, but me.
#17- GELATO
#16- ABROAD SONGS
#15- PERSISTENT HAWKERS
#14- ITALIAN WEATHER
#13- ABROAD CONSTANTS
#12- #STUDYABROADPROBLEMS
If you are among this generation you cannot avoid the hashtag. I hated the fad hoping it would die out when random people started using it in their statuses on the book. Facebook is not twitter, cut the shit. But inevitably the fad turned into a trend and people actually started using twitter enough for it to become a legitimate marketing ploy to make money only spiraling it to appear on facebook and in average daily talk more and more frequently.
So what's an abroad student to talk about while abroad aside from how unrealistic and amazing it is? Complain about things that they only have to deal with because they are abroad. Hence the culmination of #studyabroadproblems. Everything can relate to its use. Anything that involves Ryan Air = #studyabroadproblems. Having to choose which European city to casually visit for a weekend = #studyabroadproblems. Loosing all motivation to do work while abroad = #studyabroadproblems. Complaining about it raining and being cold at 65 in December = #studyabroadproblems. The lists can go on and on, pretty much there are a lot of unreal life problems that happen while studying abroad. They are usual not a real problem whatsoever but it's a way to cope with the ridiculousness that is abroad sometimes.
#studyabroadproblems is a good way to keep things in check with life abroad and life back home. I am aware of the fact practically nothing about abroad life is the real world, but despite that it makes you grow so exponentially in a fast manner that life back home is on pause and I know when I come back it will feel as if nothing has changed, but me.
ROMA
This past weekend was my last excursion, last trip with GSE, last time casually traveling to another city in Europe. I was happy it was Rome that was my last European city (aside from 2 weeks left in Firenze) because it was the one city in Italy I wanted to visit more than any other. People were dying to go to Cinque Terre or Venice or the Wine Tasting day in Chianti, but I wanted to go to Roma. After visiting it, it definitely did not disappoint. Hands down, I could have studied abroad in Rome. Easily. It was similar to Paris being very open (nature included far more) and despite the lies my sister and mother spewed about them hating Rome and how dirty it was, I thought it was clean and super refreshing. The mix of modern next to ruins was perfect, I loved it. If I studied there instead, I know I would have a different perspective on Italy without a doubt. Florence is pretty much repulsively dirty compared to Rome, but I've grown used to it until I visited Rome and instantly thought wait why didn't I look into Rome more??
After a speedy train ride (that definitely couldn't have been cheap seeing as Firenze SMN is a bitch too expensive and we got there in an hour and a half as opposed to 6) we arrive and stop at our 4 star hotel... yeah GRAZIE GSE I'll take a free night in a 4 star hotel in Rome.
I was dreading the walking tours in Rome as they were the last and I've lost all patience for them as is, but thankfully our tour guide was really good. Comical, informative without blurting on and on, just enough. After a nice walk through some security I am in the 8th country I've ever visited, the Vatican City.
Vatican walls
Vatican Museo grounds, giant bronze ball that I have no clue what it represents
Our guide talking about the Sistine Chapel, no photos are allowed of it but DAMN it was so much bigger and not as high up as I expected.
Going thru the museum passing through the Room of Maps. A giant hallway dedicated to maps of Italian cities and regions
Heyyyy St Peter's Basilica
Pope John Paul II's grave
No one seemed to get my Angels & Demons reference here
Brunelleschi makes things other than the Duomo dome
the famous square in the Vatican
Lengel says, "guys I checked the weather for Rome not the Vatican" as it starts to downpour on us
THE TREVI FOUNTAIN! So beautiful in real life
Typical Trevi fountain wish throwing
At at a BOMB gelato place right by the fountain, it was apparently in Eat Pray Love. Damn good gelato, Horrid movie.
The Spanish Steps (which are not near the Trevi Fountain like I visioned in my mind)
Don't really know what is going on here, but yet another successful and fun free dinner night with the program. After which I we had plans to go to the ice bar, but with it raining we thought it best to not, so I met up with Tara's friend Sean who is studying in Rome. Then hailed down a taxi after because I was not about to get lost again in Rome, it was worth paying for.
Ciao Colosseum
Jumper movie reference? Anyone...?
But is taking rocks from the ruins forbidden....
Katie and I pretending to be warriors in the Colosseum, you can only smile in front of national monuments for so long.
Ancient ruins? Check
THE PANTHEON (which I was most excited to see, I dont know why but I was)
Oculus? check
The "Wedding Cake" that was built a hundred years ago and Romans apparently hate because it doesnt fit with the rest of the city, but I thought it was grand.
Finally added another outfit to the abroad photos, found an Italia shirt without it reeking tourist.
Rome was amazing I loved it. It was a perfect last trip.
Monday, December 5, 2011
NOW AND THEN I GET TO WONDERING, WHAT WOULD'VE HAPPENED IF WE NEVER MET
On the 13th day abroading, Europe gave to me... (making up for my weekend in Rome)
[also too boring to continue same blog post titles so yeah I'm gonna be that person that put lyrics in places that make no utter sense for being, trying to stop doing my statuses that way so im compensating here]
#17- GELATO
#16- ABROAD SONGS
#15- PERSISTENT HAWKERS
#14- ITALIAN WEATHER
#13- ABROAD CONSTANTS
What is the Desmond to my Penny while studying abroad? Without a doubt churches and views from the top of the world. Yes, I know that's two constants but seriously my life has involved and been revolved around these two things.
Any place I have visited or practically every two streets in Firenze there is an old church with a huge importance or some famous artist that painted in it or helped construct it or some sculpture of theirs is inside. Whether it's the Duomo, San Miniato, Santa Croce, San Lorenzo, Medici Chapels, ancient Celtic ones in Ireland, St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, the Notre Dame, St Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel or insert any of the many other random churches I visited with my lost symbolism art history class. Churches are everywhere. So many damn old religious people in Europe that need to build monstrous and ornate buildings. I can appreciate them for their artistic value and how ridiculous the art is in the churches inside or out. For someone who is an atheist being drowned in church visits should be a frustrating thing, but it surprisingly hasn't been. I can bypass the whole God subject to truly enjoy these places as something greater than myself, places that represent the coming of time for humanity and how it evolved in these time periods. I think my favorite church that I have seen is the San Lorenzo Church, it's completely ugly as a brick wall on the outside as it was the first Renaissance church in Florence and never had a facade made for it so I was surprised to enter in and it be so enormous and marbled fantastically. It was one of the earlier churches I visited and it's one I pass by frequently at least 3 times a week so it was nice to be put in my place at the spot without expecting it.
Almost every place I go to there seems to be a unreal view where you feel as if you are on top of the world. This moment is epitomized when I climbed the Eiffel Tower about a mile off the Earth's ground to the top. If you have figured anything out from my blogging the fact that I love France shouldn't be shocking, so to have a life goal completed and actually see the world on the top of the tower before it was even 10:00 AM that day? Unbelievable. From seeing the world in Paris, to seeing the very green Ireland on top of the Blarney Castle, to seeing Florence at the Piazzale Michelangelo (Piza Mike as I like to call it), to seeing Florence on top of Giotto's Bell Tower, to seeing Florence on the top of the Duomo, top seeing Florence on top of a swanky hotel we sort of snuck into, to seeing Lucca on top of a tower with garden (still one of my favorite moments abroad), to seeing Nice from the top of a mountain, to seeing the Mediterranean and beaches while hiking across the mountains of Cinque Terre, to seeing London view the London Eye, to seeing the hills of Tuscany at Castello di Verrazzano, to seeing the city of Perugia via "Lovers Lane" it pretty much goes on and on. I've seen a whole damn lot of the places I have visited. Abroad with a view is definitely a common theme.
The constants of these two things have made my appreciate the simplicity that life offers. How nature can be untouched by man or how man can completely take over an area of nature but no matter what the beauty of it all still exists. Life is too short to not bust your ass walking up a mountain. Exert the effort and the outcome makes it worth it all. Let this lesson I have realized resonate with me in my life after abroad and apply to other things. Take the time to enjoy the view life has to offer.
[also too boring to continue same blog post titles so yeah I'm gonna be that person that put lyrics in places that make no utter sense for being, trying to stop doing my statuses that way so im compensating here]
#17- GELATO
#16- ABROAD SONGS
#15- PERSISTENT HAWKERS
#14- ITALIAN WEATHER
#13- ABROAD CONSTANTS
What is the Desmond to my Penny while studying abroad? Without a doubt churches and views from the top of the world. Yes, I know that's two constants but seriously my life has involved and been revolved around these two things.
Any place I have visited or practically every two streets in Firenze there is an old church with a huge importance or some famous artist that painted in it or helped construct it or some sculpture of theirs is inside. Whether it's the Duomo, San Miniato, Santa Croce, San Lorenzo, Medici Chapels, ancient Celtic ones in Ireland, St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, the Notre Dame, St Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel or insert any of the many other random churches I visited with my lost symbolism art history class. Churches are everywhere. So many damn old religious people in Europe that need to build monstrous and ornate buildings. I can appreciate them for their artistic value and how ridiculous the art is in the churches inside or out. For someone who is an atheist being drowned in church visits should be a frustrating thing, but it surprisingly hasn't been. I can bypass the whole God subject to truly enjoy these places as something greater than myself, places that represent the coming of time for humanity and how it evolved in these time periods. I think my favorite church that I have seen is the San Lorenzo Church, it's completely ugly as a brick wall on the outside as it was the first Renaissance church in Florence and never had a facade made for it so I was surprised to enter in and it be so enormous and marbled fantastically. It was one of the earlier churches I visited and it's one I pass by frequently at least 3 times a week so it was nice to be put in my place at the spot without expecting it.
Almost every place I go to there seems to be a unreal view where you feel as if you are on top of the world. This moment is epitomized when I climbed the Eiffel Tower about a mile off the Earth's ground to the top. If you have figured anything out from my blogging the fact that I love France shouldn't be shocking, so to have a life goal completed and actually see the world on the top of the tower before it was even 10:00 AM that day? Unbelievable. From seeing the world in Paris, to seeing the very green Ireland on top of the Blarney Castle, to seeing Florence at the Piazzale Michelangelo (Piza Mike as I like to call it), to seeing Florence on top of Giotto's Bell Tower, to seeing Florence on the top of the Duomo, top seeing Florence on top of a swanky hotel we sort of snuck into, to seeing Lucca on top of a tower with garden (still one of my favorite moments abroad), to seeing Nice from the top of a mountain, to seeing the Mediterranean and beaches while hiking across the mountains of Cinque Terre, to seeing London view the London Eye, to seeing the hills of Tuscany at Castello di Verrazzano, to seeing the city of Perugia via "Lovers Lane" it pretty much goes on and on. I've seen a whole damn lot of the places I have visited. Abroad with a view is definitely a common theme.
The constants of these two things have made my appreciate the simplicity that life offers. How nature can be untouched by man or how man can completely take over an area of nature but no matter what the beauty of it all still exists. Life is too short to not bust your ass walking up a mountain. Exert the effort and the outcome makes it worth it all. Let this lesson I have realized resonate with me in my life after abroad and apply to other things. Take the time to enjoy the view life has to offer.
PUT YOUR NUMBER TWOS IN THE AIR IF YOU DID IT ON 'EM
On the 14th day abroading, Europe gave to me...
#17- GELATO
#16- ABROAD SONGS
#15- PERSISTENT HAWKERS
#14- ITALIAN WEATHER
Okay why would weather really effect your life for 4 months? Well were born and raised in New England like I have, Italy is a breath of 85 and sunny fresh air. No humidity exists, it's the best. The first month I don't even think it reached below 85, mostly 90s. The second month was a constant flow of 85 and sunny. The entire time I have been abroad it has rained on me in Florence 5 times, and the 4th time was yesterday and 5th today (And stop complaining Ireland abroaders, you could have came to Italy). Florence is pretty much is the center of Italy and yet it has been ridiculous weather this semester. Multiple times my professors have talked about how this past few months has been the longest Italy has stayed hot in over 100 years. Well I got a pocketful of sunshine and it's name is Mother Nature in Italy (or global warming). Regardless, the weather has without a doubt had an impact on my emotions while abroad. Do I love rain, YES and I'm glad I finally get some in Italy this week, but sun has scientific proof to get a person in a better mood. Could I have been even more frustrated and hating Italy the first month I was here if it was cold or wet or stuffy? Hell yes, but I don't even recall seeing a single cloud in September. New England I love for its 4 seasons, I like the change and I know time is passing by thanks to the weather, but time in Italy has FLOWN by without me even really feeling as if it did and I think that is because the weather has barely changed in 3 months. I feel as if Italy has not changed really (at surface level, can't say the same for the economy BUT would have been nice if the exchange rate is what it is now 3 months ago) at all despite me maturing and changing in Italy tremendously. It will be a harsh and abrupt homecoming to Boston. I probably will have a mini hissy fit the second I exit the doors of Logan and feel the cold Massachusetts air than complain about how it no way compares to Italy. Who would have thought weather could be a factor to make me love a country? I don't even want to think about the fact I will be seeing snow so soon from now. No thanks, I'll take my windless and perfect sweatshirt and jeans without sweating profusely weather.
#17- GELATO
#16- ABROAD SONGS
#15- PERSISTENT HAWKERS
#14- ITALIAN WEATHER
Okay why would weather really effect your life for 4 months? Well were born and raised in New England like I have, Italy is a breath of 85 and sunny fresh air. No humidity exists, it's the best. The first month I don't even think it reached below 85, mostly 90s. The second month was a constant flow of 85 and sunny. The entire time I have been abroad it has rained on me in Florence 5 times, and the 4th time was yesterday and 5th today (And stop complaining Ireland abroaders, you could have came to Italy). Florence is pretty much is the center of Italy and yet it has been ridiculous weather this semester. Multiple times my professors have talked about how this past few months has been the longest Italy has stayed hot in over 100 years. Well I got a pocketful of sunshine and it's name is Mother Nature in Italy (or global warming). Regardless, the weather has without a doubt had an impact on my emotions while abroad. Do I love rain, YES and I'm glad I finally get some in Italy this week, but sun has scientific proof to get a person in a better mood. Could I have been even more frustrated and hating Italy the first month I was here if it was cold or wet or stuffy? Hell yes, but I don't even recall seeing a single cloud in September. New England I love for its 4 seasons, I like the change and I know time is passing by thanks to the weather, but time in Italy has FLOWN by without me even really feeling as if it did and I think that is because the weather has barely changed in 3 months. I feel as if Italy has not changed really (at surface level, can't say the same for the economy BUT would have been nice if the exchange rate is what it is now 3 months ago) at all despite me maturing and changing in Italy tremendously. It will be a harsh and abrupt homecoming to Boston. I probably will have a mini hissy fit the second I exit the doors of Logan and feel the cold Massachusetts air than complain about how it no way compares to Italy. Who would have thought weather could be a factor to make me love a country? I don't even want to think about the fact I will be seeing snow so soon from now. No thanks, I'll take my windless and perfect sweatshirt and jeans without sweating profusely weather.
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