I have been having so many mixed emotions as the end of my experience here is coming to an end. I know the saying is when one door closes, another one opens. That's just hard to grasp right now with me returning with no idea what I want to do with my life after this. I know I'll land on my feet. As my dad told me yesterday, "You're a survivor" and with those words I can look back on how far I've come and be thankful for the opportunities afforded to me. I know that I am incredibly lucky to have been accepted into the program and had the courage to leave my family for an extended period of time. It was so hard at times, and I would love to say that it got easier with time (and some parts did) but there is always something going on where you feel pulled or tested in who you are and where you are. I know my journey is not done but this adventure is - as of Tuesday anyway.
But before its done I will tell you about some things I have done since my last blog. I can't quite remember where I left off, but I'm pretty sure I should start with the prosecco festival in Susegana. Its a town with a breath taking castle that boasts even more breath taking views. IOt hosts one of the largest prosecco festivals. My friend Roby said that if you are any one in the prosecco industry you are in this festival. It was nuts how many stands they had giving away free tastes! It was $15 at the door plus a 5$ deposit for your glass. Being there with so many locals and experiencing that was one of my favorite times in Italy. Direstly after the festival we had to go to the CIMBA BBQ where we met all the newbies (summer students) for the first time. This is like right after we had to move out. There are lots from Oklahoma... WAHOO!
Skipping some time and we land in Malta.... I'm sure there's a million things that went on between the prosecco festival and Malta but I dont have my planner with me to check. Oh well. Gen and I escaped to this beautiful, rocky island country where the movie Popeye was filmed. This place is dirt cheap, covered with people from all over Great Britain, and has ruins the predate Stonehenge. What more could you want?! We both burnt the first day on the tour bus, but we did lay out that day in the Golden Bay. It gets its name because it is one of the only sandy beaches in Malta. If you're there, take the blue lagoon ride from Charlie. They have the most turquoise beautiful water I have even seen. We also stumbled into a drag show that was really funny followed by equally comical karaoke. Our four star hotel left some ot the imagination but for just over $20 USD a night we weren't complaining, that badly. We ate seafood and and snails and all sorts of fun things. The people were so nice! We found a local pub that isn't very touristy and hung out nearly the whole of one night. Overall it was an amazing trip!
The following weekend I went to Florence with Stefano. We rented scooters and drove all through Tuscany. IT was the neatest thing being able to go on all these tiny roads that cars couldn't fit. I was on a scooter for like 15 hours. My poor legs were weak for days! Outside of San Gimignano we stopped at a little cantina where I bought two bottles of wine. One will be coming hone with me, the other didn't make it. I saw much more of Florence this time around so I feel like I can officially say I have visited it! We went to so many little towns and explored that I can't remember their names. Grrr. In Tuscany they don't salt their breads because of a tiff when there was still a salt trade and the tradition holds! OH and I have a rucola pesto gnocchi dish that was absolutely amazing in one little town. It was called Cantina de Nonna... grandpa's cantina. Loved it! Went to Fiesole to end that night with the fiortina steak. Better than the one I had with my dad. Fiesole is a suburb of Florence and it a must see. The little trattoria we ate at was lovely and we missed the sunset over the hills by all of five minutes, but we did get sneaky photos where it look like we made it! :D
Anyway, I've been on here too long and I need to go weigh my suitcases to see what else I need to give away to make weight. :(
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