Settling

I have been back in the States for a little over 2 weeks now. The 10-hour flight nearly killed me....err...my legs, rather. My legs and butt can't stand being sedentary for that long, unless I am sleeping...in a bed (not on an airplane).

Before we even got to the Fuimicino airport in Rome (there were 7 of us on the same flight: Rome-Philadelphia), I was already wishing that an invention was in existence that allowed me to teleport myself over the Atlantic and directly to my house. Not the case. Sadly we all had to suck-it-up and be patient.

I bid the other girls farewell in the Philadelphia airport before walking to my gate for my Philly-Hartford flight. Just a hop-skip-jump and I was in Hartford about 35 minutes later.


~~~~

Before leaving Siena, the IES Study Abroad program required us to attend a "Re-Entry Session" which went into depth about returning to the United States. Sometimes they make such a big deal out of things.

I have not found it hard to adjust to the United States. I mean, c'mon, I have lived here for 21 years. I'm right back in the swing of things. I've been pretty darn busy between socializing, making new dance costumes, going out dancing, taking care of academic, photography & ballroom business and traveling. Yes. I am still traveling. Unlike Italy, I actually am in charge of all facets of my traveling in the United States...AKA: driving my own car and not having to deal with delays, missing a train/bus, or incessantly pulling luggage behind me. Funny....because now traveling feels too easy. Every once in a while maybe I kind of like the challenge and stress of missing a train and having to reschedule my travels. haha.


I will admit that I have felt kind of "out of it" since returning to the U.S. of A. I think it's just because I came back and had to hit-the-ground-running. I already have so many things to think about, that I feel as though I haven't really had time to process my whole "Italian experience".

And, I am getting ready to change scenery yet again. Day after tomorrow I am beginning my road trip out to Santa Fe, New Mexico where I will be working at The Santa Fe Workshops for the summer. So when am I going to get to really understand, analyze & reminisce about my time in Italy? Well. Doesn't look like it's going to be any time soon.

So, I guess this is the end of this chapter (blog) of my life. Onto a new one.... http://dancingacrossamerica.blogspot.com/


It's been such an amazing experience.....and thank you to those who actually read this - I am finding out more people read it than I thought. I hope you maybe learned something useful about Italy through all my ranting and Italian/European experiences. :)

Abbracci & baci,


Katie

Nevermind

I changed my mind. I'm not ready to go back to the United States.

I only have 4 days left in Italy. :(

- K

Still in Love

Italians are full of amore, and have no shame in expressing it through Public Display of Affection. You can't walk down the street without seeing at least one couple pressed up against the wall making out. I have seen instances where they just, to put it bluntly, needed to keep it in the bedroom.

The thing about Italian PDA is that it isn't just the young-uns, it's everyone .

I have never seen so many elderly couples so visibly still in love as I have while in Italy. As would be expected, they have different ways of showing their affection rather than playing tonsil-hockey like the teenagers and 20-somethings.

I can't even begin to put into words how heartwarming it is to see 80 & 90-year old couples walking down the street, arms linked, or holding hands (Note: From my observations in the United States, it seems as though holding hands is a lost art among couples...even the teen & 20-year olds). I have seen elderly couples help each other put on coats, hold something for the other...just little things that let you know they are still in love.

It makes me wish I had an honorary set of Italian grandparents. :)

Smiles,

Katie

Home

I was thinking the other day about which locale I consider home.

Born and raised in Belchertown
Attending college in Ithaca
Studying abroad in Siena

I consider them all home.

The location is different. The way of living is different. The people who surround me are different.

How can I define "home"?

There is really no need to define it, but for my sanity and to better understand myself....I wanted to.

I've decided that my family and friends, the ones who truly love and care about me, will be there and keep in contact no matter where I am. With that, knowing I am supported and loved, I can live peacefully no matter where in the world I choose to reside.

To my family, friends and loved ones: Thank you for your love, support, and words of encouragement. They mean the world to me...no matter how far apart we are.

I will see you all soon.

With love,

Katie

You Know that Feeling. . .

. . .when you achieve something you have wanted for a really long time?

I am happy to say that, although this does not often happen to me, it did last week.

Last week, I received an international phone call from The Santa Fe Workshops . While in Iceland, I had a phone interview for the Work/Study position with the Operations Assistant at the SFW. Renie, the Director of Operations was the one calling this time. After a few questions making sure that I completely understood the obligations of the Work/Study position, she asked:

So you will be driving your car out to Santa Fe from....Belchertown?

Holding back my excitement, I answered a few more questions about housing and such before straight-up asking, "So is this official? Do I have the Work/Study position?"

YES. I DID.

I couldn't help but hold back a smile and an excited bounce on my bed. I have wanted this position since I took a workshop with famed National Geographic photographer, Joe McNally, during the summer of 2006 - right before entering my freshman year at Ithaca College. I applied last year and was a finalist out of over 30 applicants, but was not selected for either of the 2 Work/Study positions offered.

I tend not to be a quitter, so this year I submitted a re-vamped application. I am one year older, one year wiser (I like to think...), and maybe that made a difference.

Regardless, this is an opportunity of a lifetime . The Work/Study position is, essentially, a scholarship to take workshops with world-renowned photographers for the entire summer....FOR FREE. I mean, I am "working" (setting up breakfast, taking out recycling, cleaning classrooms, etc.), but that's nothing out of the ordinary from my life in Siena right now (minus cleaning classrooms).

This has been my top-choice summer internship/job since last year. To finally make it a reality is, as cliche as it sounds, a dream-come-true. This is the last summer before I graduate from college (Grad school = no thanks, not a necessity for my major, anyway) and I can think of no better place to spend a summer than at The Santa Fe Workshops!

I will need to have my car out in SF, so on June 1, I will set out on a three generation road trip from Massachusetts to New Mexico with my Mom and Granny. When else would I have the opportunity for some quality girl/3-generation time?

Opportunities abound if only you are willing to search for and pursue them.

Take chances and follow your heart,

Katie

ICELAND: "I AM A VIKING!"

Father-daughter trip to Iceland!


Dancing around the world! :) - At the Blue Lagoon -


The lonely highway in Akureyri, Iceland


Lovely Icelandic road through the mountains and glaciers...


The beautiful, photogenic, unicorn-like horse. :)


Sunsets look this good very few places on earth.


********************************************************************

Ho incontrato mio padre in Islanda una settimana fa per la mia vacanza di primavera! Non visto mio padre per 3 mesi!

Ok, time for English.

Leaving 70º and sunny weather in Italy for freezing (and below!) temperatures in Iceland was not exactly the easiest thing I have ever done in my life, but I managed. For those of you who know me well, you know that I am typically pretty cold-blooded.

My first thought upon departing the aircraft at 10:30 p.m. local time in Keflavik, Iceland?
I am not going to be warm for the next seven days of my life.

To my surprise (thank goodness!) this proved not to be the case. Yeah, the first few days were freaking cold. The wind blowing mercilessly off the Atlantic Ocean did not exactly make things easier. Once Dad and I started to drive inland early-mid week, things started to warm up.

Enough about the temperatures. ICELAND! My goodness! GORGEOUS!!!!!!! It's not quite as green as both my Dad and I thought it would be, but we also had to remind ourselves that they are still in their springtime, which does not necessarily = green grass.

Most every type of landscape you can imagine existed in Iceland. We saw: snow-capped mountains, glaciers, caves, fjords, volcanoes, lakes, geysers....pretty much everything except a desert and a rainforest. Speaking of forest - Did you know that Iceland doesn't have any trees? It's one of the weirdest things I have ever encountered. It makes me appreciate trees that much more! I mean, they did have trees, but they were only there if someone planted them. And other forms of flora? Forget about it. Grass and maybe a few scrubby little bushes. That's it.

It's okay though, because the pristine beauty of the island makes up for the fact that trees are very very few and far between.

Animals. Yeah. About those. Dad and I discovered that.... wait . They don't have those either ! Well...they have birds and domesticated animals, like: horses, cows, sheep and goats.

Speaking of horses - Iceland has the MOST gorgeous horses that I have EVER seen! (I was in 4-H and went to county fairs...believe me....I have seen a lot of horses...). These things had coats like velvet, and their manes blew in the wind....ah. Just gorgeous. :) Dad and I stopped by a field that had two brown and two white horses. One of the white horses was especially photogenic with me. All you had to do was add a horn to her forehead and she would have looked exactly like a unicorn.

In terms of the people, Icelanders are SUPER friendly! Not only are they friendly, but the guys I saw were pretty darn attractive - amazzzzing blue eyes. Sorry. Tangent. Anyway....everyone is really nice, and most all know at least some English, which is great, because Dad and I sure as HECK didn't know any Icelandic.

Well, I knew one phrase.

"Er et Vikingur!" ....In case you don't know, that means "I am a Viking!" in Icelandic.

On several occasions Dad dared me to stand in crowded places: restaurants, in front of a soccer game in a bar full of men, gas stations, tourist areas, and yell this phrase in front of everyone....for 100 kronur. 100 kronur = less than $1 in English. Needless to say, I would not be screaming my little bit of Icelandic at anyone. haha.

The night before I flew back to Italy, Dad and I went to the famous Blue Lagoon. This is a geothermal pool which contains a mix of salt and fresh water. It is naturally extremely blue, and the minerals in the water have great healing potential. Basically it was a huge hot tub with mineral water, yet I could float on my back and look at the lava & moss covered mountains, and watch the seagulls flying overhead as the sun set. And, guess what? It was a place where I was really, truly warm in Iceland.

I guess I proved myself wrong....you CAN be warm in Iceland. :)

Love & warmth,

Katie

BULGARIA: Harbor View Reunion!

22 pages from my journal condensed into this....

As expected, my weekend in Bulgaria was CR-A-ZY!! Anna picked me up at the airport in Sofia, and we hopped in the taxi for a 2-hour ride to Blagoevgrad.

Bulgarian towns seem to be few and far between. The architecture is very different than that of Italy. Most of the buildings were made during the years of the Soviet Union, and appear to be somewhat run-down. They appear to exist solely with the intent of living, not aesthetic appeal, which is different from Italy. I am used to walking down the street and seeing elaborately and intricately decorated buildings, that, while hundreds of years old, still have a charming, welcoming look about them.

The landscape was beautiful, though. Most towns are nestled in the valleys. Donkeys, goats, horses and sheep graze while forsythia and apple trees burst into bloom around them - all with this perfect backdrop: snow-capped mountains. I had great weather the whole weekend, too: 75º and sunny! :)

FRIDAY

Friday night, Anna and I hit The Piano Bar around 1:00 a.m. There was some great live music, and I got to meet some of her friends while sipping on my vanilla vodka. It's a cozy little place, I can see why she enjoys going there for the music and atmosphere of it all.

Next up: The Sand Bar. This reminded me more of an American club - but with better music and dancing. While dancing, Anna and I ran into Shpat, a guy I worked with on the Vineyard. He did a double-take before asking, "What are you doing in Bulgaria?!" To which my response was, "Visiting Anna and surprising people." :)

Last on Anna's itinerary for our night: Underground....a dance club that was just that: underground. before entering, the only thing Anna had told me was, "It's better if you're drunk." I wasn't, but that was okay. The dancing was great! I could have done without all the smoke in my face (you're allowed to smoke in there) but hey, it's Europe. I think it's one thing I can never get used to though....

After dancing until 6:00 a.m., on the way back to my hotel, we stopped and bought some traditional Bulgarian bread which was basically the equivalent of home-baked rolls with some sort of Bulgarian cheese on top (Bulgarians sure do love their cheese!). On the walk home, the sky was already starting to lighten with the anticipation of sunrise....but I managed to hop into bed before the sun actually hit the horizon.

SATURDAY

Anna showed me the "Old Town" which reminded me of Old Sturbridge Village or Williamsburg, y'know the places where they recreate past settlements? The only difference was, this was the original town - not some recreation. Off to lunch, and then did some shopping while Anna was in play rehearsal. The exchange rate was in my favor, both for euros and USD, so I didn't feel too bad buying a dress and 3 cute shirts. :)

I met Anna at her play rehearsal. Nadiya, who also worked on the Vineyard, was in the cast. Anna said, "Look who's here!" to Nadiya. A double-take and jaw drop later, she ran over and hugged me exclaiming, "Katie!!!! What are you doing here??!!"

Next surprise: dinner with Laila. Anna made a dinner-date with Laila for Saturday night, saying it was about something important, but not mentioning anything further. We were a little late, so Laila was already sitting at the table. Anna first walked around the corner, Laila already starting to greet her. Then I walked around the corner and Laila's jaw dropped and eyes got wide: "KATIE!!! I can't believe my eyes!" haha. I enjoy surprising people. :) We caught up on the last 8 months of our lives - Laila will be going to Georgetown for grad school with a full-ride scholarship. Smart, talented and motivated girl.

Then it was back to Underground for a 2nd night....complete with an invitation for drinks. VERY fun and crazy night....we're just gonna leave it at that. ;)

SUNDAY

Unfortunately I had to leave Bulgaria. At the beginning of the weekend, I was missing Italy. But, at the end - I had fallen in love with Bulgaria, or at least the night-life, and craziness of the college town of Blagoevgrad. :)

A bus to Sofia, a taxi to the airport, and a plane over the Adriatic Sea, and I was back on Italian soil. All too quickly, things turned to chaos when I realized I had gotten off at the wrong train station to catch the last bus from Rome to Siena for the night.

My options were limited. By 8:00 a.m. Monday morning I was finally in my apartment in Siena - just in time for my 9:00 a.m. Italian class. Missing my bus resulted in me traveling either by plane, bus, taxi or train OR being in an airport, bus station, or train station for over 18 straight hours . And, "travel sleep" (sleeping on the plane or train) just doesn't cut it....especially after 2 late nights in a row. I was warned about the sketchiness of the Pisa train station when a group of girls from our program were stuck there for the night, so before I even got off the train, I had devised a game-plan in the event of sketchy people/situations. I've found that traveling by myself is dependent on having problem-solving skills, good common sense, and a humor to get you through it all when things go awry.

In addition, traveling alone as a young, college-aged woman has taught me:

** If you walk confidently and with conviction no one has a reason to hassle you. Meaning: I always try to look like I know where I'm going, even if I don't . If I appear lost, unalert, unaware, or unconfident, I know I could easily become a target/victim.

** Young women traveling alone did not appear to be a common occurrence in my travels to Dublin or Bulgaria. All the more reason to heed the prior bullet-point. However, it does turns heads and cause guys to whisper on the plane, thinking you don't notice. haha. :)

** I've learned that my problem-solving skills are good, and getting better with every trip. I have been able to alter travel arrangements (both domestic and international) at a moment's notice. And, I am learning that, in fact, I am very capable of that.

** Patience is a necessity when traveling. I always have a book, my journal and things to ponder about life whenever I travel.

** Traveling alone also grants me the opportunity of meeting new and interesting people. In the last two weekends I have met and talked with people from Texas, New Zealand, and a woman from Portugal who was hosting a high school student from Argentina...they were traveling abroad in Italy for the weekend. I like being approachable - even by Italians. I may have limited Italian language skills, but I am still answer why I am journaling in a train station in Pisa at 3:00 a.m. in the morning.

I am looking forward to my future travels and learning more about myself, other people, and the world in general.

Next trip: Meeting Dad in ICELAND for Spring Break on Saturday!