I bet you would all love to see pictures of Ireland, and
perhaps the stories I have to tell, and know about all the wonderful
leprechauns I caught, the gold I found, and the redheads I…
Well, we can save that for later… ;-) just kidding…
Anyways,
I’ve been coming back to my computer over and over again
attempting to write about my experience in Ireland, but nothing to my
satisfaction was ever scribbled upon these stubborn white pages.
So here I am, in my cold unheated bedroom, etching up not
my final goodbye, but a soon to be farewell to all my fellow readers. I guess if you are wondering why I am
biding goodbye to, I must relate to you that I am to return home within the next
week and a half. I am to cross
over the Atlantic Ocean by plane, on the cold and blustery evening of December
21st. And really, the
fact of this didn’t really hit me until a few days ago. I was staring at my calendar, and
realizing I still had yet to visit a few places in Viterbo, I went in panic
mode etching in little side trips in all my empty days.
But really, as much as I can say traveling has been the mere highlight of everything, there has been so much more to it than the surface level.
Coming into this, I didn’t really know what to expect. It was such a big change that I just
kind of went with the flow of things, not really having anything in mind of
what my life would be like here.
Well, I knew it would include bouts of pizza, lots of pasta, and the
occasional gelato, but I didn’t really know what else my life here would
entail. I was excited yet nervous
about the language aspect and I was very excited to get to know Italy on a more
personal level by staying with a host family. Also, having signed up for 15 credits, I expected lots of
studying, occasional nights out, and I was crossing my fingers to perhaps
travel beyond the borders of Italy.
And looking back now, these were all reasonable
expectations. They were all
concrete manifestation of life: food, people, the changing of seasons, and the
occasional trip outside the country.
They were things I could count, take pictures of, and remember in
concrete form forever.
But… all that I’ve taken from my experience here can’t
exclusively fit within the boundaries of a photo frame, within the consoles of
my cuisine cookbook, or the small souvenir pennies I pocket from each country I
visit. Most of what I’ve taken is
sleeping within the pages of my journal, every word, every feeling, and every
moment, a pulsation of life that has changed me and altered me into the person
that I am today. It’s hard to put
into words how living abroad releases yourself from a certain singularity, a
certain perspective lacking so many aspects of peripheral vision. I feel like I’ve truly come to know an
entirely new way of life, new way of being, and new way of seeing the
world. Since peering through my
bedroom window by night within the contours of Boise, Idaho, admiring the
sauntering mountains wandering away into the distant horizon, I have grown and
changed so much, and alas, taken one more step forward becoming the best
version of myself, and reaching my goals and tackling challenges that I hadn’t
even realized existed.
I really can’t say just how much I have fallen in love with
Italy. I truly hadn’t realized how
starkly different the culture was not only from America, but from the rest of
Europe, until I visited Austria, France, and Ireland. I was almost in shock, realizing how much I’ve had to adjust
and how truly different the culture is here. From the language, to the people, to the dress… the concept
of time, the way of life… everything has been so outside of my realm of
experience and knowledge. But
there is no better way to get to know a people and culture than to just pack up
your backs and move in right alongside them. From meeting Italian friends to tutoring a group of chatty
fourth grade girls to teaching at the local high school, I’ve definitely done a
lot in order to really understand and come to know this life here beyond the
confines of a normal vacation or weekend getaway.
Though I’ve learned a lot, there are probably mountains and
mountains of stories, information, and experiences that I will have never yet
to have experienced. I humble
myself to the four months I’ve been here, though I’ve appreciated and cherished
every moment. This culture that
once seemed so distant has become so alive and now is sewn into my memories and
experiences that I’ll cherish forever.
Even from the cold confines of my small bedroom in Piazza della Morte,
my frozen snowballed cheeks are still etching up a smile, reminiscing of all
the sweet moments that will now be a part of the person I am as I continue on
in this great journey we call life.
And as for my lovely weekend adventure to the Emerald Isle,
I will get this up as soon as I can find the moment of day when all my
roommates agree to turn the heater on.
For, of this moment, as of 20 minutes ago, it was turned off, and my
fingers are now becoming numb as each one wanders about these keys, and no
longer am I provided with such luster and inspiration of thought. Anyhow, I hope you have enjoyed my
somewhat premature goodbyes, and check back soon to read about my wonderful
adventures in Ireland.
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