From here on out I plan to begin new ventures-- I still want to blog, it is very therapeutic and allows my memories to stay alive for the one day I might forget. I'll admit I have a fear of forgetting the wonderful moments life has given me.
I may keep this blog for my more personal rants, and other travel experiences, but I want to start a new one for my more professional self. I'll write about design, my graphic projects, internships, jobs etc.
I also plan to be on Twitter soon. I had Twitter for about a second and I deleted it because I didn't like it, but now I'm starting to see the advantages so we'll see. After this post I'm going to check out Flickr because I have been putting that off for a while. It's not that I don't like the internet, I just prefer to live in my actual life--experiencing nature, reading books, catching up on my shows--and not my life on the internet. But inevitably, the lines between life and life on the internet have become an intersection, where your actual life is on the internet. For God's sake--my GRANDFATHER, who already uses the internet as his playground, is being cohersed into getting a Facebook page!
Unfortunately, life has come to this: if you're not on the net you do not exist.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
My Newfound Playground: Recap of my experience in Italy
I know this is about 2 months late, but I feel like this blog deserved a decent ending:
No matter what reason we have for going somewhere new—vacation, business, studies, volunteering—a little piece of our own personal world does not come back quite the same. Suddenly, consciously or unconsciously, our eyes and minds are looking at life from a new perspective. What we once recognized to be a beggar becomes a gypsy, or what we once called ice cream transforms into gelato.
By the end of my travels in Italy, I was not looking at the world through a pair of rose-colored glasses, I was looking at the world through a kaleidoscope. It was filled with colors, shapes, and details I never expected or thought of but was thrilled to find. People love to say expect the unexpected, but if something is unexpected, how can you expect it? The best thing to do is: not expect anything. Easier said than done, right? But on this trip, that is probably one of the most helpful tips I have learned. It does not set you up for disappointment, and best of all, when you do not have expectations your eyes are wide open for any possibilities.
For spring break my friend and I decided to go to southern Italy, exploring a little bit of the boot and then continuing to Sicily. The morning before leaving I had a lot to do. Sure, it was spring break, but as usual I left my responsibilities for the last minute. However, everything went smoothly and I got everything done. Then, things took a turn for the worst—I missed my train, and consequently, so did my travel partner waiting for me. So, we bought another train ticket, and after about an hour delay, we were off to Praia, a small beach town in Calabria*.
But for some reason, probably my newly gained patience, none of this seemed to bother me. I was finally going to the beach, to bask in the sun and finally not have to worry about wearing a jacket! Upon arriving, around 7 PM, we were in for our first surprise. Wind was blasting that night, comparable to a monsoon but without the rain. It was blowing so hard in fact, that we heard the wind knocked over a tow truck on the highway and fell on top of a passing car. Needless to say, I felt like I was going to be blown away!
When we arrived at the Praia train station, Martina, the owner of Onda Road Hostel, was there to pick us up. At first I had imagined an older woman, no younger than 35 at least, but when this beautiful, long haired, 20-something girl introduced herself in perfect English, after easily scoping us out from the other five people waiting, I no longer knew what to expect. We drove through town and turned onto a gravel road lined with private homes protected by barking dogs. Soon after, we stopped at one of the house’s front gate. Upon entering we were greeted by a massive, furry dog named Sylia, and we were confused to be standing in the middle of a family’s living room. It was cozily decorated with warm peach colored walls, an elegant floral print in one corner leading to the stairs, buddha paintings, and stone-textured floor tiles. Martina led us up to what she introduced as our bedroom, a private double perfectly situated next to a bathroom and her parent’s bedroom.
“There are two girls staying upstairs. Come and I’ll introduce you.” Thank goodness! We were relieved to not be the only ones staying in what felt to be an awkward situation. When we made our reservation for this hostel, we were not expecting a five star hotel, but we did expect a bed & breakfast type of place. We did not imagine that it would actually be someone’s home, but it ended up being a very positive experience despite our initial awkwardness. We saved a lot of money since we did not have to worry about food, and every day Martina would drive us around to see the local sites. Because it was low season and we were the only guests at the hostel, Martina and her family made us breakfast and lunch everyday, and we usually split dinner costs with the other two girls. It was especially beneficial for me because the two girls we met were going to be in Amsterdam the same days I was! I was originally going to be alone my first two days in the Netherlands, so I felt a little worried about being in a country I had planned very little for and where I could not speak the language. We all became good friends those three days in Praia, and unexpected vacation experiences transformed into lovely rewards.
Lack of expectations also allows you to keep an open mind. What you might have once thought to be trashy, might now feel to be artsy. For example, our second week in Rome, my girlfriends and I planned a day trip to Tivoli, a one-hour train ride from Rome. On my way to the train station, I had to transfer from line A to line B. I always used the A-line so for the 1st time I’d be taking the B-line, and I was surprised to find that the B-line is a whole other world entirely. It is a little darker and there are entire metro cars covered in graffiti, some tasteful and others not so much. I wondered how people cover BOTH sides of train? Do they sneak in at night and jump tracks? Many may think the B-line is trouble, vandalized by hoodlums, but I had a different take on it. I preferred to think of the graffiti as street art. As my friend Katie put it, it is, “ghetto fabulous.” People on B-line even dress differently. The A-line is upper east side NY—well put together, structured outfits, with stilettos—while the B-line is more Long Island—you see more colors, eccentricity, and has an 80’s hip-hop/rock edge. But, again, this depends on your perspective. Perspectives can even change regarding your style preferences.
I think one of the best ways to acclimate to a new culture, and also a great way to not get automatically pegged as a tourist (hence, to not get ripped off) is by dressing like the locals*. Although it is true that it is what’s on the inside that counts, I find that what’s on the outside counts just as much, especially in Italy, one of the world’s fashion hubs. In the beginning my friends would get weird stares as they walked to class in their sweats and t-shirts, and strange men would more frequently harass the girls when they looked obviously out of place. It is difficult to pinpoint what exactly the “American look” is, but it is obvious that this look is not made in Italy (unless accompanied by a tourist). Thus my personally style has also greatly changed. I still used all my old clothes, and of course bought some new pieces, but with lack of funds the newer purchases weren’t many. So, I had to reassemble my own.
The first thing to keep in mind is that lots of accessories and a pair of sunglasses is key. I never owned a bracelet until I lived in Italy, and now I have a collection I use almost every day. I bought a couple things from stores, but a lot of the most fun, unique things are found in markets or from street vendors*. Layering is also very popular no matter what season, and remember: black never goes out of style. One thing I learned to do, and had a lot of fun with, was mixing and matching my clothes. I’d put together pieces that I normally would have never paired, like a preppy skirt with tights, a metal-studded belt, hoop earrings, and heels. Speaking of heels, don’t try to be a hero—cobblestones are common in Rome and it seems like only Italian women are immune to them.
I love wearing heels, but I was forced to buy my first pair of sneakers in Rome. I was excited because Italian sneakers are so pimped out with patterns, colors, and textures, but I was also worried because metallics were in style this season, and I knew that that particular style was not for me…at least not for my first pair. I went to a lot of stores and found shoes I kind of liked, but I felt a lot of them were overpriced*. When I was about to give up I fell in love with a pair of orange, white and black, leopard-print glossy kicks that I could dress up or down for only 20 euros*. Putting together the “Italian look” does not have to mean a stack of bills; it just takes a little creativity and willingness to step out of your comfort zone. Do not be afraid to take because you never know how you might reinvent yourself, or how the people around you might bring about that transformation.
The final and possibly most important aspect of this trip was my encounter with religion. As a Catholic, I have always believed in God. I believed He existed and I believed that there must be some kind of greater power at work. However, I never knew what this meant or how to apply it. If anyone ever asked, yes, I believe in God. I am Catholic, right? However, only recently have I really learned what this meant.
As a child, I was never forced to go to church, and honestly I was never that interested. Sure, I knew certain stories from the Bible, and I had a somewhat broad overview of my religion. At one point in my sophomore year of high school, I started taking private bible study classes at home, feeling embarrassed for not knowing what everyone else seemingly “naturally” knew about the bible, God, and Christianity in general. From there I decided I wanted to make God a part of my life, but how?
To me, religion was always something very private; I never felt comfortable talking about it. I felt embarrassed about my ignorance, but I understood the basic gist of what being a good Christian meant, and I would occasionally pray. So, how could I, with no background, feel a strong connection with God? This was when my search for God began. I took Bible study classes and I applied to a Jesuit college, hoping to find God in a religiously affiliated institution. There, I took theology and philosophy courses, which were required but I really enjoyed. Yet none of these things helped me feel more connected. Why was my search not working? I certainly gained a little knowledge, but I felt that in order to really find God, I should feel some kind of passion within me. Shouldn’t I? It was no longer enough for me to believe for the sake of believing.
Finally I came to Rome—the Catholic hub of the world. As a student who would be spending an entire semester in a country with a foreign language, and had never been away and alone from home for more than a month, my search for God took a small pause. It remained in the back of my mind while I visited the cathedrals and churches, but I was mostly there to appreciate the art. Then, something unexpected happened: I was invited to lunch.
An old friend living in Rome invited me to lunch with, whom she likes to call, her second family. I met the lady of the house, Jane, her husband, Peppo, and their eleven-year-old daughter. I immediately felt so welcome and comfortable in a way I rarely felt at a stranger’s home. I learned that this family has a strong Christian faith, conducting bible studies at their house, and that Peppo, who was once an actor is now a missionary. We had lunch, jumped on their trampoline, talked, and watched a movie. Through this amazing family I learned that everything is possible through God. As we left their home to commute back to our own homes, I felt something I had never felt before—I felt a rush of happiness, appreciation, thankfulness, love, and the sudden urge to cry. I realized at that moment that I had finally found God. What was a fun and simple afternoon turned into a most unexpected and wonderful realization, confirming my view that everything happens for a reason. I searched for God in bible studies, I searched for God in a catholic university, I searched for Him in cathedrals and churches, but I finally found Him in people. This religious awakening has been the most personal and most influential piece of my travel experience.
My study abroad adventures in Italy have made me feel that the world could suddenly and literally become my playground. I have a greater understanding and appreciation for how the world works even though I only got a taste of a small piece of it. We can choose to change something about the world, but more often than not, the world changes us. It makes us a little stronger, a bit more self-sufficient, and if we’re lucky a bit more competent. On my three-month trip to Italy I was fortunate enough to gain all three.
No matter what reason we have for going somewhere new—vacation, business, studies, volunteering—a little piece of our own personal world does not come back quite the same. Suddenly, consciously or unconsciously, our eyes and minds are looking at life from a new perspective. What we once recognized to be a beggar becomes a gypsy, or what we once called ice cream transforms into gelato.
By the end of my travels in Italy, I was not looking at the world through a pair of rose-colored glasses, I was looking at the world through a kaleidoscope. It was filled with colors, shapes, and details I never expected or thought of but was thrilled to find. People love to say expect the unexpected, but if something is unexpected, how can you expect it? The best thing to do is: not expect anything. Easier said than done, right? But on this trip, that is probably one of the most helpful tips I have learned. It does not set you up for disappointment, and best of all, when you do not have expectations your eyes are wide open for any possibilities.
For spring break my friend and I decided to go to southern Italy, exploring a little bit of the boot and then continuing to Sicily. The morning before leaving I had a lot to do. Sure, it was spring break, but as usual I left my responsibilities for the last minute. However, everything went smoothly and I got everything done. Then, things took a turn for the worst—I missed my train, and consequently, so did my travel partner waiting for me. So, we bought another train ticket, and after about an hour delay, we were off to Praia, a small beach town in Calabria*.
But for some reason, probably my newly gained patience, none of this seemed to bother me. I was finally going to the beach, to bask in the sun and finally not have to worry about wearing a jacket! Upon arriving, around 7 PM, we were in for our first surprise. Wind was blasting that night, comparable to a monsoon but without the rain. It was blowing so hard in fact, that we heard the wind knocked over a tow truck on the highway and fell on top of a passing car. Needless to say, I felt like I was going to be blown away!
When we arrived at the Praia train station, Martina, the owner of Onda Road Hostel, was there to pick us up. At first I had imagined an older woman, no younger than 35 at least, but when this beautiful, long haired, 20-something girl introduced herself in perfect English, after easily scoping us out from the other five people waiting, I no longer knew what to expect. We drove through town and turned onto a gravel road lined with private homes protected by barking dogs. Soon after, we stopped at one of the house’s front gate. Upon entering we were greeted by a massive, furry dog named Sylia, and we were confused to be standing in the middle of a family’s living room. It was cozily decorated with warm peach colored walls, an elegant floral print in one corner leading to the stairs, buddha paintings, and stone-textured floor tiles. Martina led us up to what she introduced as our bedroom, a private double perfectly situated next to a bathroom and her parent’s bedroom.
“There are two girls staying upstairs. Come and I’ll introduce you.” Thank goodness! We were relieved to not be the only ones staying in what felt to be an awkward situation. When we made our reservation for this hostel, we were not expecting a five star hotel, but we did expect a bed & breakfast type of place. We did not imagine that it would actually be someone’s home, but it ended up being a very positive experience despite our initial awkwardness. We saved a lot of money since we did not have to worry about food, and every day Martina would drive us around to see the local sites. Because it was low season and we were the only guests at the hostel, Martina and her family made us breakfast and lunch everyday, and we usually split dinner costs with the other two girls. It was especially beneficial for me because the two girls we met were going to be in Amsterdam the same days I was! I was originally going to be alone my first two days in the Netherlands, so I felt a little worried about being in a country I had planned very little for and where I could not speak the language. We all became good friends those three days in Praia, and unexpected vacation experiences transformed into lovely rewards.
Lack of expectations also allows you to keep an open mind. What you might have once thought to be trashy, might now feel to be artsy. For example, our second week in Rome, my girlfriends and I planned a day trip to Tivoli, a one-hour train ride from Rome. On my way to the train station, I had to transfer from line A to line B. I always used the A-line so for the 1st time I’d be taking the B-line, and I was surprised to find that the B-line is a whole other world entirely. It is a little darker and there are entire metro cars covered in graffiti, some tasteful and others not so much. I wondered how people cover BOTH sides of train? Do they sneak in at night and jump tracks? Many may think the B-line is trouble, vandalized by hoodlums, but I had a different take on it. I preferred to think of the graffiti as street art. As my friend Katie put it, it is, “ghetto fabulous.” People on B-line even dress differently. The A-line is upper east side NY—well put together, structured outfits, with stilettos—while the B-line is more Long Island—you see more colors, eccentricity, and has an 80’s hip-hop/rock edge. But, again, this depends on your perspective. Perspectives can even change regarding your style preferences.
I think one of the best ways to acclimate to a new culture, and also a great way to not get automatically pegged as a tourist (hence, to not get ripped off) is by dressing like the locals*. Although it is true that it is what’s on the inside that counts, I find that what’s on the outside counts just as much, especially in Italy, one of the world’s fashion hubs. In the beginning my friends would get weird stares as they walked to class in their sweats and t-shirts, and strange men would more frequently harass the girls when they looked obviously out of place. It is difficult to pinpoint what exactly the “American look” is, but it is obvious that this look is not made in Italy (unless accompanied by a tourist). Thus my personally style has also greatly changed. I still used all my old clothes, and of course bought some new pieces, but with lack of funds the newer purchases weren’t many. So, I had to reassemble my own.
The first thing to keep in mind is that lots of accessories and a pair of sunglasses is key. I never owned a bracelet until I lived in Italy, and now I have a collection I use almost every day. I bought a couple things from stores, but a lot of the most fun, unique things are found in markets or from street vendors*. Layering is also very popular no matter what season, and remember: black never goes out of style. One thing I learned to do, and had a lot of fun with, was mixing and matching my clothes. I’d put together pieces that I normally would have never paired, like a preppy skirt with tights, a metal-studded belt, hoop earrings, and heels. Speaking of heels, don’t try to be a hero—cobblestones are common in Rome and it seems like only Italian women are immune to them.
I love wearing heels, but I was forced to buy my first pair of sneakers in Rome. I was excited because Italian sneakers are so pimped out with patterns, colors, and textures, but I was also worried because metallics were in style this season, and I knew that that particular style was not for me…at least not for my first pair. I went to a lot of stores and found shoes I kind of liked, but I felt a lot of them were overpriced*. When I was about to give up I fell in love with a pair of orange, white and black, leopard-print glossy kicks that I could dress up or down for only 20 euros*. Putting together the “Italian look” does not have to mean a stack of bills; it just takes a little creativity and willingness to step out of your comfort zone. Do not be afraid to take because you never know how you might reinvent yourself, or how the people around you might bring about that transformation.
The final and possibly most important aspect of this trip was my encounter with religion. As a Catholic, I have always believed in God. I believed He existed and I believed that there must be some kind of greater power at work. However, I never knew what this meant or how to apply it. If anyone ever asked, yes, I believe in God. I am Catholic, right? However, only recently have I really learned what this meant.
As a child, I was never forced to go to church, and honestly I was never that interested. Sure, I knew certain stories from the Bible, and I had a somewhat broad overview of my religion. At one point in my sophomore year of high school, I started taking private bible study classes at home, feeling embarrassed for not knowing what everyone else seemingly “naturally” knew about the bible, God, and Christianity in general. From there I decided I wanted to make God a part of my life, but how?
To me, religion was always something very private; I never felt comfortable talking about it. I felt embarrassed about my ignorance, but I understood the basic gist of what being a good Christian meant, and I would occasionally pray. So, how could I, with no background, feel a strong connection with God? This was when my search for God began. I took Bible study classes and I applied to a Jesuit college, hoping to find God in a religiously affiliated institution. There, I took theology and philosophy courses, which were required but I really enjoyed. Yet none of these things helped me feel more connected. Why was my search not working? I certainly gained a little knowledge, but I felt that in order to really find God, I should feel some kind of passion within me. Shouldn’t I? It was no longer enough for me to believe for the sake of believing.
Finally I came to Rome—the Catholic hub of the world. As a student who would be spending an entire semester in a country with a foreign language, and had never been away and alone from home for more than a month, my search for God took a small pause. It remained in the back of my mind while I visited the cathedrals and churches, but I was mostly there to appreciate the art. Then, something unexpected happened: I was invited to lunch.
An old friend living in Rome invited me to lunch with, whom she likes to call, her second family. I met the lady of the house, Jane, her husband, Peppo, and their eleven-year-old daughter. I immediately felt so welcome and comfortable in a way I rarely felt at a stranger’s home. I learned that this family has a strong Christian faith, conducting bible studies at their house, and that Peppo, who was once an actor is now a missionary. We had lunch, jumped on their trampoline, talked, and watched a movie. Through this amazing family I learned that everything is possible through God. As we left their home to commute back to our own homes, I felt something I had never felt before—I felt a rush of happiness, appreciation, thankfulness, love, and the sudden urge to cry. I realized at that moment that I had finally found God. What was a fun and simple afternoon turned into a most unexpected and wonderful realization, confirming my view that everything happens for a reason. I searched for God in bible studies, I searched for God in a catholic university, I searched for Him in cathedrals and churches, but I finally found Him in people. This religious awakening has been the most personal and most influential piece of my travel experience.
My study abroad adventures in Italy have made me feel that the world could suddenly and literally become my playground. I have a greater understanding and appreciation for how the world works even though I only got a taste of a small piece of it. We can choose to change something about the world, but more often than not, the world changes us. It makes us a little stronger, a bit more self-sufficient, and if we’re lucky a bit more competent. On my three-month trip to Italy I was fortunate enough to gain all three.
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