italee: Time Flies

It's hard for me to believe just how fast everything is going now. This time last week I was on my way to the train station to meet my parents and go to Pisa with them. Now I'm sitting in my kitchen with the place to myself, watching it rain and contemplating cleaning….hmmm. I think I'll blog for now.

As I said, I met my parents once they got back from Venice and we all went to Pisa. They were staying there for a few nights because that's where they were flying out of and they wanted to see some of the towns around there. We got there on Sunday and stayed at this hotel that used to be a Convent. It was very simple and refreshing. Because they were so full that time I stayed in a single room to myself which looked more like a prison cell, but it worked out just great. Sunday afternoon we went to see the Leaning Tower and that area, we didn't go in anything but just got the pictures. It was pouring rain on our walk home and pretty cold. It stayed raining all that night and the next morning too. Originally on Monday we were planning to go to Cinque Terre but because of the rain we went to Lucca in the afternoon instead. By the time we got there the rain had stopped and the sun was attempting to shine again. We walked around for a while, climbed the tower with trees (one of the trees and my Dad didn't seem to get along too well), and then proceeded to meander to lunch and then shop for a bit. It was a nice day away. We went back to the hotel where I grabbed my stuff and then we headed towards the train station for some pizza and then goodbyes

My parents had the joy of meeting Giovanni, a guy I work with at the Creative Corner. He teaches the violin and was on his way to his once a month lesson in another town and we saw him at the train station that morning when we were leaving and then when my parents dropped me off again that night. In our down time those 2 days we amused ourselves with a bit of Poker, 31 (thank you Budkes), and Go Fish needless to say my parents were a bit rusty but still could kick my butt.

I never thought I'd be saying goodbye to my parents in Italy. It was crazy. I feel beyond blessed that I was able to share a part of this experience with them.

The rest of the week was a blur as well. I got back Monday night in time to work on a paper that was due. It was the first one I handed in thus far and let's just say that economics and I don't really understand each other so I don't have a great idea of what I actually ended up writing on. My roommates all left for their long weekends on Thursday so I've had the place to myself which I have really enjoyed. Friday I slept in, figured out some things back home, and went to dinner with a group of people and one girls aunt. It was a blast! Yesterday, Alyssa and I were going to go to San Gimignano to rent vespas for the day and then take them to Siena. Half way there on the bus we finally got a hold of the place and they told us they were closed that day. So instead we just went to Siena for the day and walked around, shopped and explored some places we didn't see before when we were there (Don't worry the vespa-ing will still happen before I come home). It was gorgeous this time of year! All the walking tuckered me out, plus the fact that I have been in a vicious battle with my health the past week, don't worry I think I'm starting to win.

As of today, the 31st, I have 33 days left in Italy before this adventure is over. I can't believe it. Some days I feel like I'll never get home and other days I feel like I won't have enough time here. Friday I figured out my schedule for the next quarter and that made me really excited. I love here, but I'm also excited to go home and back to Seattle. I'm thankful that I have things to look forward to. Hopefully when I'm back I can set up and start volunteering some time at Seattle Children's Hospital and try to work with their art therapy program, or just be there in general. Now that I'm in my junior year I really get to start zeroing on classes that I want to take and figuring it all out made me excited for school and class (I know that some of you may have just fainted when you read that, sorry). I also talked to some of my amazing roommates last night back in the rainy city, and once again I am looking forward to being a part of that house with those girls. I can't wait! And of course seeing that certain boy again will really complete the picture ; ) It's a bit overwhelming to think about how busy I'll be when I get back, compared to only having class and volunteering 3 hours a week and not having to go around and see lots of people here , I'll go to school, work, volunteering, and seeing all my friends/social life again. Before, looking at all this stuff for next quarter would make me homesick, and sometimes it still does, but mainly now it makes me really really excited for what I have waiting for me at home.

Life will be different when I get home and life will be a bit of the same. People will still be people no matter where they are in the world, and God will still God. Those are the main lessons I've learned so far. Life is incredible.