Now that the dust has settled, you realize that something in you has changed over the course of this journey. You're left with a yearning to learn, to encapsulate every cultural nuance and adapt it to the new you. Inside, there's a new love for travel, to be in a constant state of motion, not letting anything catch up until....well, now. And now you sit and reflect on what has happened and you see that you're different. Little changes, so minute that you hadn't realized them until today. And tomorrow, they'll become magnified. You've acquired strength, in being away from loved ones. You've gained independence unmatched to any you have yet to experience. You have become friends with people who will be with you throughout the rest of your life. But most of all, you have achieved an entirely new perspective on life, your eyes are fresh with new vision. After today, you’ll bring back with you more than luggage and souvenirs. The real souvenirs from this trip will be the memories. The memories of catching awfully early trains, of sleeping in airports, of trying eclectic foods, of Murphy’s, of Jumping Jesters, of late night kebab, of Erasmus nights. You’re full of them, memories. Like Venice and Verona, and eating at the vineyard, of learning how to use those weird public toilets, not to mention bidets (or how to avoid those), of learning a language and hearing the words roll off your tongue, of drinking cappuccinos, of sunny days in the park. These, memories, are what you’re made of. Go home, and hold these tight, and live on in the voracity that you have come to learn in these past four months. And thank you, for being a part of my memories and my experience here to learn each and every one of these things about myself.
Love always,
Brianna
Friday, May 7, 2010
Monday, May 3, 2010
The Final Countdown
The past week, I've been preparing myself. Preparing for finals, which are quite stressful; preparing to say goodbye, and preparing for life back home. They weren't joking when they tell you before leaving that you will have a period of time where you are absolutely unsure about coming home. It will be ground-shaking. My life will be rocked from under my feet.
Yes, I'm scared. But, I'm also strong.
This past weekend was full of fun. Saturday, I went to Cinque Terre REALLY early in the morning. Left on the train at 7:15 AM and arrived around 11. Cinque Terre is a series of five little villages along the sea that are connected by train. You can only have a car there if you are a citizen of the town! These towns are famous mostly for an 11km trail that connects them. The trail winds through the cliffs by the sea and connects to each town and is filled with gorgeous wildlife and lemon groves and vineyards. Beautiful does not even begin to describe it. The hiking part on the other hand, is a whole different story. Think of thousands of steps in 70 degree heat. Then add all the huge chunks of rocks that were poor attempts of steps in centuries past. I apparently started out at the hardest part of the hike at the town of Monterosso. That section took me over 2 hours to complete! And I'm not in bad shape. It included a lot of straight up hiking and letting people pass on the scary path. Halfway on the path, a old man was selling fresh lemons from the tree for 50c and you better believe I bought one! It was so sour but it tasted so good since I'd forgotten to bring water. :) The hike was great the rest of the way, by the end, it was all straight and no hills! I was pretty glad that I started out on the side that was hardest and then went to the easiest. Reminded me of cross country in high school! I took the train home and low and behold, the Italians were having another bus strike! So I had to take a 13 euro cab ride home, which was the bummer of my day.
Sunday, my roommate, Sarah, and I stayed in since it was raining. We had been planning to see the Pope, but it seemed like that was not to be. The buses weren't running again, since it was a huge holiday here. So for dinner, we got pizza's from the kebab shop 2 blocks down from our apartment. We had to run, the rain was so bad! We were missing the food of America so we decided to get french fries on our pizzas! She got hers with hot dogs (wurstel) and I got mine with spicy sausage (salame piccante). Horrid for us, but delicious!
And since then I've been preparing for finals and enjoying the rain. Italy is just preparing me for Oregon! :) 5 days.
Yes, I'm scared. But, I'm also strong.
This past weekend was full of fun. Saturday, I went to Cinque Terre REALLY early in the morning. Left on the train at 7:15 AM and arrived around 11. Cinque Terre is a series of five little villages along the sea that are connected by train. You can only have a car there if you are a citizen of the town! These towns are famous mostly for an 11km trail that connects them. The trail winds through the cliffs by the sea and connects to each town and is filled with gorgeous wildlife and lemon groves and vineyards. Beautiful does not even begin to describe it. The hiking part on the other hand, is a whole different story. Think of thousands of steps in 70 degree heat. Then add all the huge chunks of rocks that were poor attempts of steps in centuries past. I apparently started out at the hardest part of the hike at the town of Monterosso. That section took me over 2 hours to complete! And I'm not in bad shape. It included a lot of straight up hiking and letting people pass on the scary path. Halfway on the path, a old man was selling fresh lemons from the tree for 50c and you better believe I bought one! It was so sour but it tasted so good since I'd forgotten to bring water. :) The hike was great the rest of the way, by the end, it was all straight and no hills! I was pretty glad that I started out on the side that was hardest and then went to the easiest. Reminded me of cross country in high school! I took the train home and low and behold, the Italians were having another bus strike! So I had to take a 13 euro cab ride home, which was the bummer of my day.
Sunday, my roommate, Sarah, and I stayed in since it was raining. We had been planning to see the Pope, but it seemed like that was not to be. The buses weren't running again, since it was a huge holiday here. So for dinner, we got pizza's from the kebab shop 2 blocks down from our apartment. We had to run, the rain was so bad! We were missing the food of America so we decided to get french fries on our pizzas! She got hers with hot dogs (wurstel) and I got mine with spicy sausage (salame piccante). Horrid for us, but delicious!
And since then I've been preparing for finals and enjoying the rain. Italy is just preparing me for Oregon! :) 5 days.
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