Whoa, hello there, blog! I’ve been in Italy for about a week now, and I’m getting used to the spotty Internet situation. As I begin posting my writings, I apologize for the significant delay. Below is something I penned on my last flight. Enjoy!
It’s been a long day: from waking up at 5:15 a.m. to shower, dress and eat breakfast; my parents and Cameron dropping me off at the airport (which seems like a million years ago, naturally); catching two connection flights (one with a significant delay); and - perhaps this should be the money shot - doing all of the flight stuff on my own, for the very first time.
I’m already very proud of myself.
The whole trip has been a maelstrom of emotions. As my parents drove me to the airport, the sun was peeking over the valleys and cornfields with an eager and reassuring face. Sunlight in pinks and dawn peaches spilled in through the car windows.
And then there was the radio. Like a cheesy movie from the mid-90’s, Coldplay’s “Paradise” ended up making me happy-weepy in the backseat.
Here I was, going to that place I’d dreamed of, fulfilling my wanderlust.Going to Italy, not just seeing pictures in a textbook or online or my dreams - going.
Maybe it’s just because I’m a huge softie-smushball, but I had a similar reaction on my second flight this afternoon. As we touched down in Chicago, I was making mental notes of where my next flight gate would be in relation to our destination. Then it hit me: the flight I’m taking in Chicago is taking me to Italy.
Why is this so hard for me to believe? I have no idea.
I’m a pretty big believer of most things - aliens, chakras, palm readings, luck and superstition. Not Italy, obviously.
I kid.
But honestly, I cannot wrap my mind-space around the idea that in eight and a half hours I’ll be sitting in one of the world’s oldest cities and eating breakfast.
Toodles for now, lovelies. There’s no Internet signal up here in the air - although there is tea and fantastic istruzioni in Italiano - so this will probably be posted after I land. Follow me on Twitter @hellosole to see more current updates.
Obviously I made to Italy, but what now? I’ll be posting more frequently, stay tuned for pictures and updates. Hope everyone’s enjoying their summer!
It’s officially less than four days until I’ll be in Italy.
Maybe it’s because I’m endlessly sappy and have a habit of romanticizing damn near everything, but something about this trip begged for an intention. When you begin yoga practice, most instructors will invite the class - warm, vulnerable, committed - to devote the moment to something or someone.
Honestly, most aspects of planning this study abroad venture have been terrible. I don’t know how I did well in my classes while making such a spectacular amount of phone calls, emails and trips to the (off campus) International Office.
The whole thing was a bit of a fiasco. It continues to be so.
And then I listened - really listened - to this song on the radio.
When she was just a girl, she expected the world but it flew away from her reach, so she ran away in her sleep - and dreamed of paradise, paradise, paradise every time she closed her eyes.
My intention? Finally realizing that place that I’ve been running away to - finally seeing il paradiso mio.
I’ve officially finished everything for the semester, and I’m so excited to start off my summer with a Mother Falcon / Speak show tomorrow night. Kayla and I will be going, so if you’re there, be sure to say hey!
Want to read more about these guys? Check out this review. Also: stay tuned for a Mother Falcon viddy tomorrow!
As I was playing my ukulele (Clementine!) earlier, I had a horrifying realization: today is the eighth of May, which means I’m leaving for Italy in ten days.
Which means tomorrow the countdown is going to be in the single digits.
As I described in my Good Things post, I’ve never traveled internationally alone. Hell, I’ve never driven across the state alone.
But in ten days, I’ll be getting on a plane (several, really) and flying to Rome, from which I’ll be driven to Perugia to take classes on creative writing and photography.
This summer I’m running away. Or, at least, I think so.
To be honest, the whole thing seems like some fantasy dream that’s going to dissipate the night before. Maybe it’s because I’ve daydreamed of this scenario so many times: walking on sun drenched cobblestone streets, ordering un gelato, per favore, hearing the flapping of sweetly drying laundry above my head. How about seeing the Trevi fountain where Sylvia and Marcello held each other? Or fields of sunflowers?
Or the churches, or the art, or - God, help me - the food.
It’s all I can do to go to sleep at night out of excitement.
It’s Doosday Tuesday yet again! This picture cracks me up because Doo’s hiding beneath the camera lens the way she usually would with any cuddle-worthy blanket.
