Solo quattro ore di più in questa casa...

You know that feeling when you're about to leave for a big trip and you think you left something important behind even though you know you grabbed everything?

Imagine that the thing you left behind is all of Italy. My bags feel too empty for this. Mom, can I have five more minutes? I'm not ready.

A domani

Tomorrow is my last day in Florence.

I have no idea when this happened, but now that it's here, I think I'm ready. I had such a difficult time becoming comfortable here, something my pride kept me from admitting for a while, but it was extremely hard. I didn't realize how long it had been since I was the "new kid", even though here we all were. It doesn't get any easier. That's the first thing I learned here: It's okay to suck at being the new kid.

Things got better though. I remembered how to make new friends. I went on trips and learned new things and saw the most amazing art, and I was finally happy here. It might have taken me two weeks, but I still had four weeks to make the most of it, and I'd like to think that I did. There were still times that I felt confused and unaccepted and pushed aside, but then I remember what I decided a long time ago: It's okay to not give a fuck what people think about you.

People told me I would "find myself" here, and I don't really think that's true. I found out a lot about myself, but it's nothing that wasn't there before. In order to find myself here I had to be lost in the first place, and I'd like to think I wasn't; but I still learned so very much about who I am and what I want out of life and the kind of people I want to keep share my life with. I learned about the world I live in and the country I'm from and how much it actually is a wonderful place to live and grow up. In light of how negative the world view of America has become in the last few years, I forgot why people initially loved it so much, and still do. I remembered that here.

I have about two pages to finish for my research paper, which went more smoothly than I thought it would, and then I have to finish studying for art history. I have that exam tomorrow morning and then I'm going to spend the day trying to squeeze in as much as possible. There's so much I didn't get to do here, and on the one hand it's frustrating, but on the other hand it leaves me more to do if, and when, i come back.

I'm ready for home, though. Calling a cab Wednesday morning is going to be so strange. I finished packing yesterday (kudos for my military parents for teaching me the art of packing well) and it's weird to see everything in my suitcase again. I'm going to have a hectic day of traveling, and I'm NOT looking forward to going through customs in Chicago. I've told myself in advance that I don't care if my luggage gets lost. I don't care if I miss a flight. I'm just going to deal with it as it comes and let everything work itself out. If I can do that in a foreign country I can sure as hell do that while traveling.

One day and a wake up. Here we go!

Athena

Solo una settimana piu'

I can't believe I'll be somewhere over the Atlantic ocean in exactly one week. Time really does fly. We've already taken our last group trip, to Rome (which was fantastic by the way, pictures are up) and I'm deep into my research paper. I gave my final presentation in my cuisine class today--by myself because my partner ended up in the hospital last night from binging (oh, tequila). It went well though, and all I have remaining in that class is my final exam on Monday.

I'm on page two out of seven for my final research paper in Art History. It's due Tuesday, which is also the day of the final, and I'm hoping to finish at least another page tonight, and hopefully two more tomorrow. I'll have the entire weekend to finish it up and study for my finals. It's a little frustrating that I'm only in this city for another week and I'm currently cooped up in the library. Not that I don't love libraries.

I'm going to miss this, as much as I'm ready to go home. I'm ready to go home and drive my car and not have to think so hard about what I'm ordering and to use American dollars again, but it will be weird not walking everywhere. It will be weird not having artisan sandwiches every other day. It will be weird not trying to weave my way through tourists on my way to class every morning. I'm going to miss crossing the river everyday, too.

I'm still excited to go home, though. I'm excited to see my family and to sleep in my own bed. I'm also really excited to go back to Tallahassee on the 9th for RA training. I miss work; I miss my routine. I'm also excited to go back to Tallahassee and impress Mike with my new Italian cooking skills. I'm just excited to see Mike in general (excited is an understatement).

With only six days left, I still have to go to the beach (which I'm probably doing with my roommates on Saturday), and I haven't taken a day trip to Pisa (which really needs to happen but I'm getting worried that I won't have enough time with this paper, although Friday is a possibility). I still need to buy some parmegiano at the market to vacuum pack and bring back home for my pops.

I still need to try to absorb as much of this as possible before it all melts away.

Ciao,

Athena

Solo due piu settimane!

Ciao amori,

Today marks my fourth week in Florence. I can't believe I only have two weeks left; it's quite surreal. I'm glad though, although I'll miss it a lot. Six weeks is a long time, and though I've finally grown accustomed to the way of life here, America is my home. America is where the people I love live and where my culture comes from.

It's strange really. Growing up in America I called myself Greek and Italian, and I came here to seek out a bit of my true culture. I had no idea I would come here only to recognize that my culture is at home. My culture is Coca-Cola, black eyed peas, going to New York for "real" Italian food, sweet tea, the Seminoles, backyards, sprinklers, and The Berenstein Bears. I grew up an American, and I will always remain one.

No matter how much America frustrates me with the Tea Party movement, obesity, and pop culture in general, it's still the land of the free and the home of the brave. America is still the place where Harry Gianakopoulos became Harry Young and paved the way for my Papou and five fabulous Aunts and Uncle; it's where where Rose Gusmano taught my father what it means to be a good person. My personal history is in the West, and I'm glad I've finally come to realize that it's something to be proud of.

I'll miss you, Italy, but in fourteen days it will be time to head home.

Baci,

Athena

Sono tornato dalla Svizzera!

Ciao Ragazzi,

I'm back in Florence today. We got in from Interlaken, Switzerland last night at about 11pm. It was the absolute most gorgeous place I'd ever been in my life. The mountains took my breath away. We took a bus with a group that runs trips from Rome and Florence and got into our hostel at about 4am on Friday. Friday afternoon I went Canyoning, which was one of the coolest experiences of my life. We wore wet suits and jumped off rocks and over waterfalls into the water in the canyons. It was so invigorating and I'm really proud of myself for doing it. I rappelled 25 feet down into the canyon to start, and then we did three jumps, another rappel, and a slide at the end. I walked behind two waterfalls. It was perfect.

The next day, my friend Mel and I took a train to a nearby town in the country. We took a lift up about a mile into the mountains and walked for an hour and a half along a trail at the top. The view was spectacular (pictures are on facebook). When we got to the end of the trail we took a lift down and landed in the Valley of the Waterfalls--which is exactly what it sounds like. We walked for another hour and a half back and saw about 6 waterfalls coming off the mountains to either side of us. There were creeks and streams near us and the water was so cold. The weather was perfect, a really nice break from the heat of Florence, and I absolutely have to go back to Switzerland.

I have a midterm due in Art History on Thursday that I should be able to finish today. We're going to Chianti for a wine tasting today, and then on Friday the study center is taking a trip to Rome. We're staying through Saturday, and we're only doing Ancient Rome so the Vatican is not on the agenda. Some people are staying an extra day to go to the Vatican on Sunday, and I want to, but I have to book a hostel and then get a train back so we'll see how that goes.

After Rome I only have a week and a half left. We have one week of classes after this weekend and then I have final exams. I'll be getting into Pensacola at 11pm on Wednesday, August 4th!

I'm so excited to see all of you and to be home again. I'm absolutely loving my experience here, even though it took me a while to get used to it, but nothing compares to family and friends. I'm excited to have a few days in Milton and then to ship off again to Tallahassee to attend RA training and start my Junior year. Time really does fly, but I'm loving every second of it.

Amore,

Athena

Una settimana fa

I haven't posted since about a week ago, I've been busy/lazy and didn't get around to it.

I've had a really great week. I took two day trips this weekend, one to Lucca and one to Siena. Both cities are here in Tuscany and only take about an hour and half to get to by train. I went to Lucca with one other girl and we got a delicious lunch and rode bikes around the old city walls. It was gorgeous, and it was such a nice change of pace from the crowded streets of Florence. Siena was also slower. We climbed the tower at their city hall and had an amazing view of the city--it was breathtaking. After we climbed the tower we walked around and visited adorable little shops that make handmade goods. I got a few souvenirs for the family ;)

Sunday night I watched the World Cup Final from a field near the Arno river. There were fans from both Spain and the Netherlands, but there were definitely more from Spain. Some idiot behind us kept blowing a vuvuzela and I wanted to grab it from him and hit him over the head with it.

I'm going to Interlaken, Switzerland with a group from the program. We're going through a tour group and I'll be white water rafting. I'm really excited about it, especially the prospect of not being in the heat all the time. FYI southern Europe is hot right now.

It's time for me to start working on my big research paper for Art History and my project on regional wines for my Culture & Cuisine class. I'm enjoying my classes but it's hard to make yourself sit down and work on things when there are so many other things to be doing. Time to buckle down!

I'll be home in 18 short days. It's flying by so fast!
Miss you all and see you all soon.

Baci,
Athena

Un buon giorno

I had a very good day today.

I needed it really badly.

I am very glad.

-arb