Fill in the Blank

I've been wanting to blog the last couple of days about being back, but I just was at a loss for words and didn't want to force it.  However, after three days of being back, it has not become any easier.  It already feels like an eternity that I have been away from my host family in Italy. I miss them greatly and have been emailing back and forth with them since I left, especially since I missed Anna's surprise birthday party and her and Fabrizio's anniversary. Adjusting back to life here has been, let's say, interesting and I have to admit that I have been putting it off in any way I can.  Aside from doing all my laundry and uploading pictures, I have yet to do anything majorly productive.  I have watched way too much t.v. and eaten more junk food than I want to admit.  I blame it on the rain...and technically I am still on vacation so it doesn't count, right??  Friday starts the beginning of summer classes. While I am looking forward to my classes this semester and getting back on a normal routine, I know I am not ready to get back to "real life."  My to-do list is never-ending and includes some big things like: find a job for the fall (and summer if I can), prepare to move in August :( and start putting together my exhibition portfolio, which I have majorly been avoiding.  I am stressed just thinking about it all, but I am taking it one day at a time and trusting Him that it will all work out as planned. For now I am off to enjoy this beautiful sunshine (finally) by taking Lexi for a long walk and then going to the pool.

Just a sample of my diet the last few days...note to self: add 'work out' to my to-do list!

Nothing Says Italy like...

....being in Italy.  Sorry Carrabba's.  You just don't compare.  Today is officially my last day in Italy.  I am going to try to make it through this whole post without crying.  Yesterday we found out that they were letting us stay with our families an extra day since we are not flying out until tomorrow afternoon.  However, we leave at 1am to go to the airport....we will be traveling for 26 hours between bus rides and lay overs.  Just keeps getting better, right?  My family has been great though.  They know I am distraught over the whole thing and since I never made it to Verona, they took a half day off and drove me there.  It was wonderful! We spent the whole day together walking the streets of beautiful Verona and just enjoying eachother's company.  Afterwards we had a family dinner and then met my group at Gelatto.  There was a lot of sadness in the air.  My family has told me a million times that I must come back...and I fully intend to!  They have become a huge part of my life and they will continue to be.  For my last day, I am biking with Cecilia to her school to get her book bag.  After the eaerthquake, they were not allowed to enter the building again.  After that I am going to stop by my school to take some pictures of the outside...its not much, but I want something to remember it by.  The whole family will be home for lunch, so afterwards, we are going to finally make the banana bread.  Anna and Fabrizio took half a day again and we will be going to a Greek restaurant for dinner.  I am happy to grateful to have this one last day with them....for now.

So, in honor of my last day in Italy, I have made a couple of lists (Me? Make lists? Shocking, I know.)  I figured they would be a quick way to sum up my feelings. Here they are:

Things I will miss about Italy:

·         -My family

·         -My students

·         -Wine for lunch and dinner

·         -Gelato

·         -The simple lifestyle: 2 hour lunch breaks, not TV, being able to walk, bike, or take a train everywhere, ect.

 Things I will NOT miss about Italy

·         -Weird toilets

·         -Plug adapters and converters

·         -The small tiny showers

·         -The million smokers everywhere

·         -The pushy tourists

·        - Paying for water or sitting fees

·        - The time difference

Things I am looking forward to seeing

·         -LEXI!! (Knowing I get to see her is the only thing that has kept me from cry more than I already have the last couple of days)

·        - My family

·        - My bed pillow

·         -A bathtub

·         -Nail salon…I desperately need a pedicure after the amount of walking I have done

·         -English menus

·         -Mexican food

·         -Salad dressing

·         -A pool
I  am sure there is a lot more I could add to each of the lists, but for now that is what comes to mind. Next time I write, I will be in the States.  Until then, arrivederci!