i just got back from my month long gita in florence, italy - and the only words i have for it can't possibly describe how mind-blowingly amazing it was.
stunning: it. was. GORGEOUS. everywhere we went, beauty was present. whether it was in the sparkling clearblue water of the mediterranean sea at cinque terra or the ruins of the coliseum in rome - i couldn't even begin to fully capture the breathtaking views either in memory or on camera. michelangelo's david literally took my breath away and the many churches with their mosaics, painted ceilings and ornate decorations were some of the most beautiful things i had ever seen. and the way the sun fell over the city around 6/7pm every evening made me stop and stare.
educational: i learned SO much. i sort-of learned italian... i can say hello and order food, but the best part was that my italian professor's name was luigi. win. the leadership class i took was awesome, i loved my professor and learned a lot about myself, my perception of others, and how both effect my leadership potential. i also learned a lot outside of class... like to ask how much something is before you commit to paying for it, just making eye contact encourages european men (hell, not making eye contact encourages them), you control your experience and how much fun you have and what you take away from any given situation, and so much more.
surreal: from the moment i boarded the plane in boston that took me 8.5 hours across the atlantic i kept thinking 'this is really happening' and then i kept thinking that until i got back home when it became 'that really happened.' i couldn't believe it. this little girl from walters was over 4,000 miles away from home in a country that she didn't speak the language or know how to navigate the city. i could hardly believe that it was happening - even though i was living it. walking through the sidestreets of florence, photographing everything, smiling to myself, closing my eyes, reveling in the experience.
life-changing: i learned so much on this trip - about art, about traveling, about italy, about european culture, about music, about italian, about friends, about myself, about life. i did things i never thought i would be able to do and learned things i never imagined learning. i've changed so much as a result of this trip. i like it :]
i went cliff jumping into the mediterranean sea. i danced with random boys. i ate ice cream and pasta every day for a month. i drank at a bar in a foreign country and flirted with the bartender (with a little coaching from my roommate). i sat under the stars on the steps of the uffizi at 4:00am. i saw the pantheon, and the sistine chapel, and climbed the duomo, and saw/did countless other things that millions of people will never have to opportunity to experience. i took over 3,500 pictures. I WORE A TWO PIECE BATHING SUIT - in front of people. i ate chicken liver. i learned how to 'properly' drink wine. i literally wore out a pair of shoes. i made new friends. i made mistakes. i made memories.
i couldn't have dreamed up a better way to kick off this summer.
summer 2010 - let's go!
