One year down, one to go!
Readers, this week marks my one year anniversary with the city of Turin. I can hardly believe my time here is already halfway over! I can still feel the excitement that welled up in my chest as I was first driven through the streets of Torino, not knowing what to expect, who I would meet, or what I would experience. I can even remember writing my first blog post from Italy and wondering what I would be musing about a year into this adventure.
My first night in Turin!
Everything about this experience has exceeded my expectations. I completed a year of an international master's program with a 4.0 both semesters. I did 3 internships with local organizations. I made plenty of new friends from all over the world, a few of which became really close friends. I've explored more Italian cities than I can count. I traveled to three countries I'd never seen before and even couchsurfed on my own for the first time. I overcame several things I never thought I'd be able to accomplish, most notably Principles of Accounting and driving in Italy. (Oh, and being able to survive far from home sans family, friends and creature comforts.) I continued to learn a language I adore, albeit by making lots of mistakes, and as a result I made local friends with whom I only speak Italian. I completely expanded my world view. I redefined my capabilities and possibilities for the future. Above all, I lived my life.
Gran Paradiso National Park
As I said in a previous post, some things don't come into perspective until you put some distance between yourself and the question at hand. For instance, I never knew (I mean really knew) how much I need my friends. I never knew how much I cherish my family's support and approval. I never knew I could be fine on my own, that I could start from nothing and build a life for myself in a foreign land. I never
Lago Maggiore, Lombardia
This week I learned that even though I'm young and living dangerously (here the term is used fairly loosely) I don't always have it in me to be an on-the-go explorer extraordinaire. I had a ticket to Stockholm for this weekend. I purchased it several months ago when a friend told me I should join her and a few other girls for a weekend trip. I agreed, carped the diem, and when the time finally came I couldn't muster the spirit to clog around Sweden. That's not like me, is it? In my defense, I'd just returned from Puglia with an impending apartment transfer looming over my head. A week before departure I was informed I wouldn't return to my apartment from last year, but rather a new one more toward the center of the city. Meaning, of course, that I had to move out of 2 apartments, the one I'd inhabited this summer and the one in the south of Turin where most of my things still resided. Feeling the stress of this, plus the lack of a car and/or friends returned from vacation, my mind couldn't enter into "fun/travel" mode.
Solo trip to Berlin
I told myself, ahhh you can figure it out when you get back (the week school starts) and move your things in later. Sweden! When are you ever going to go again? You already have a ticket! But then lame-old-me thought: I really just want to be settled and have my things in one place (How old am I?!?) I struggled with this decision a few days. A friend told me, "it's like going running - at first you're not in the mood, but once you put your shoes on and get out there you're glad you went." Aside from the fact that running and I are arch nemeses, the theory made sense. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't get into the right frame of mind. In the end I'm glad I didn't try to go because the apartment they gave me is spartan at most and I was told yesterday I'll be moving again today for the 3rd time this week. Hooray! :/
On the beach in Trapani, Sicily
See folks, it's not all roses and tulips over here. This week I had the impression that not every day is worth seizing, nor is every diem worth carping. I don't believe this state of mind will affect any future travels, as there is something to be said for knowing you have a place to come home to after a small vacation, or even a place to come home to after 2 years abroad :) So I suppose this means that during this year I've learned something about responsibilities. No matter how much we'd like to run off and have fun, our problems won't resolve themselves upon our return. But that'd just be awesome, wouldn't it?
That shows a heck of a lot of responsibility Shultz! You sound like a rerun of Full House (ya know, if it took place in Italy and didn't involve a whole family) with all your intelligent decision making. Sure Sweden would have been fun, but probs not if you had to think about what was waiting for you back home.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with all your moving! I wish I could be there to help out, even if it involved carrying your stuff via bicycle across town! ;)