Unexpectedly

Today was the first time I ventured off on my own. Surprisingly, I warmed up to it a lot more quickly than I imagined. It's interesting the amount of confidence and security you force upon yourself when you know you have no one to protect you at a given moment. Random people I encountered did not scare me, even if a couple creepers tried to talk to me. I also found myself tuning out the outside world and forgetting every useless thought that I might have had since I got here. I suppose it makes sense that to find inner peace you have to rid your mind of the outside noise, even if that includes good company. I will make a habit out of having my own time.

To recap the past weekend, a few girls on my program and I took a train to Venizia for a mini-visit to the famous city. On Sunday, several students on our program decided to cross the Arno River and hike up different hills to take pictures. People really need to make time to travel the world and see the sites photographed so often.. the places visitors try so desperately to recapture through movies, pictures, songs, and stories. Every experience attempts to be unique, but in reality we all see the same things. I took dozens of photos, and when I share them with people at home they will probably make positive comments. However, it probably is only special to me. To some people, photos are merely proof that someone once visited something worth seeing. To others, photos evoke memories of the moments that change their lives. I think what professional artists (photographers, writers, painters, etc.) strive to do is capture the moment and invite the audience to empathize so that they too can experience, without actually experiencing.

I still miss a lot of people and things from home, but I promise I am not homesick. I am enjoying my time away from the convenience of constant communication and transportation, but I am also counting down the days until I reunite with you and In-n-Out: only 29 days.

First Week in Florence

Catherine,
Higher education or philosophical contacts could have a part in making good things happen. This is the perfect time for you to appreciate the beauty that surrounds you. You have much more going for you than you may realize. An impulse buy you make today could pay off as an asset down the road.

Perfect introduction to my post... This isn't going to be terribly long, but just to catch people up on my life so far.

-Rome was amazing. I could not believe that I was standing amidst thousands of years of history and culture.
-Florence is more beautiful than I imagined. Immediately I felt a sense of comfort being here. I will have no problem living here for four more weeks. (Can you believe I only have that much time left?)
-I've had Italian food for every meal since I got here.. until Tuesday when I had McDonald's at the train station. Whoops!
-My apartment is really nice, airy, sunny, and inspiring. If you want to see pictures, message me.
-There are gypsies all over. Everyone has learned to take caution with them and the crazy rude men who try to holler on the streets.
-I had gelato for the first time last night. On the walk home as I was furiously trying to eat it while it melted all over my hand, I tripped on the street and fell on my ass. In front of everyone.
-Don't blame me. All the streets and sidewalks here are made of cobblestone. There are plenty of loose stones, and it was bound to happen to one of us. How did I know it would be me?
-A bird flew at my face one afternoon. Italian pigeons are vicious.
-I have 2 mosquito bites.
-It's scorching hot over here. I am only presentable in the morning.
-Did I forget to mention that I saw the Colisseum, the Sistine Chapel, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa?

I miss boba. I miss my laptop. I miss all of you lovelies at home. Keep messaging me..

I Took No Pictures Today

Catherine,
Romance and other things that tug at the heart strings come your way as a new cycle begins. Disputes could escalate today unless you make a concerted effort to avoid them.

It is weird how scarily accurate my horoscopes have been... It sounds promising enough. My journey to Italy begins in less than four hours. I am nervous/scared/excited. I know no Italian. I know nothing about the area. I know that I've underplanned, but I hope that does not take away from the experience.

The last two weeks have made me more weary about leaving. I miss everyone already, and I do not know how I will get through that time without speaking to my friends regularly.

In less than four hours, I will be without my phone for six weeks... Wish me luck. No doubt I'll need it.

Leavin'... Never to Come Back Again

Catherine,
Fondness and appreciation for the past and for your roots in life take on greater importance for you now. Home and family matters will require special attention. Extra time spent with those who mean the most to you will lead to tremendous satisfaction. Your family's personal growth, as well as your own, should take precedence over your career.



I'm leaving the day after tomorrow and won't see my friends and most of my family for almost six weeks. I have not spent more than four and a half weeks away from home since the second semester of my freshmen year of college. In the span of six months, my life has changed dramatically. I'm almost certain it will be different when I return as well. The only thing guaranteed in life is change, and I'm hoping that my past experience with change will help me through this.

I'm not sure what to expect of this trip. I will admit that I have not properly prepared for it. I do know that it couldn't have come at a better time. And I hope I use the time to grow and move away from everything that has been plaguing me, rather than letting it take me back to square one.

My Greatest Fear

I've developed a fascination with capturing moments in my life, creating memories almost instead of living them. I hope they aren't passing me by...

Twenty-One

Catherine,
Romance, the arts, and other of life's pleasures seem to take center stage.




I'm still learning how to balance everything in my life to prevent the lows. Nonetheless, this past academic year has been everything I wanted it to be. I met new people. I rekindled old friendships. I got involved. I stayed focused. I went out. I learned new things. I made so many memories...

At this point, I've realized that no matter what happens or who walks out of my life, I will continue to have a whole network of fun, wonderful friends who prove time and again to be my backbone, the shoulders to cry on, my partners in crime, the reason I step back once in a while and realize just how lucky I am.

Dear Void

I know our friendship has changed for good, and I am not sure how it can function in a different way. You have been one of my best friends, and it's weird not turning to you. Even the few times we have talked, it felt different. I'm not sure if you noticed it, but I did. Despite what anyone says, it probably is better this way. I pretend I don't care, because somehow I think it makes me stronger. I miss you. But I hope you're happier without the drama.