Carrie in Italy

Working at the campus International Services Center was a huge blessing for me in 2005. Not only did I love my job, but I was blessed with an amazing (and very small) network of colleagues. Every now and then, I'll receive periodical e-mails from a former coworker, Carrie, who is 4 years my senior, and quite possibly one of the kindest persons I've ever come to know. She studied abroad in Sienna, Italy during her undergrad studies at UCSB, and after graduating university in 2001, she found herself stuck in slump of substitute teaching and counseling gigs. She knew she wanted to return to Italy through a grad school program; and just a few short months later, she was boarding a plane to Syracuse, NY to begin her MA degree. She went on to school and work in Italy, and after being there for over one year, she sent out her much looked-forward to e-mail update. The way she writes is quite poetic, novelistic almost - and just reading about her adventures makes my eyes tear in longing.

I encourage you to read my favorite parts of her e-mail below. Especially for those of you who need some sort of encouragement. It's rather long... so use your imagination.

One day, I'll be back in Europe. Just you wait and see. *Deep breath*

[...] I feel that I should continue where I left off last time. I had just returned to Florence to begin work as a TA at Syracuse University. I began teaching two sections of an art history class on "Masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance" and sat in on an upper-level course on Michelangelo that I hoped to TA for in the fall. Being a TA was really an incredible experience, because each week I (along with fellow TA Anne) lectured on-site...meaning that we never lectured in a classroom. We met students at different locations around the city in front of the paintings, sculptures, and buildings that they were learning about. This was absolutely amazing. We also took students on a few overnight trips to other Italian cities (Rome, Mantua, Padua, Urbino, San Sepolcro, Monterchi, Arezzo, and Rimini) during which I lectured. It was wonderful getting to know our students and working with them was such a rewarding experience. We connected much more personally, because they were learning and navigating their way through a foreign country. I felt like TA/tour guide/translator/surrogate family to many of them. At the end of the semester when academic and volunteer awards were given at a ceremony, I was there in the audience cheering and waving like a proud parent.

[...]

Before I knew it, spring had sprung. Paola and I thought it was best to flee the mainland and head to Sardegna, an island just to the west of the mainland. It is actually commonly called "Barcelonetta" or "Little Barcelona," indicating the strong Spanish influence on this Italian island. As the photos will corroborate, we enjoyed tapas and sangria, saw Spanish-style buildings, and tried to cope with the unique local dialect. We spent five nights in the city of Alghero and traveled by bus to Sassari and Bosa. From Alghero we took a guided boat tour to Le Grotte di Nettuno (60 million year-old) caves. The hosts of our B&B also took us to a beautiful nature reserve that culminated at the edge of a spectacular cliff. The weather in Sardegna was thankfully warmer than on the mainland, but of course our final day on the island was the nicest. We returned to Florence relaxed and tan, ready to brave the second half of the semester. The semester progressed as normal and then we fled Florence again in early April...only this time to France and for work. The professor that I TA for takes students in his Leonardo da Vinci course to Paris for four days with day trips to Versailles and Chartres. Two TA's come along for the ride - the TA for the Leonardo course (Paola) and another TA (Anne) who organizes the trip and brings another 30 students. I got the best end of the deal by having no responsibilities whatsoever, because I was job shadowing Anne. I will be the organizer of the trip for fall semester. Unbelievably, I will lecture at the Louvre, the Palace of Versailles, and Chartres Cathedral. Me? At the Louvre? Seriously? We even had some free time to ourselves, especially in the evenings, to explore and get a taste of Parisian life. I had visited Paris nearly seven years ago when I first studied abroad. Thus, I did not climb the Eiffel Tower or visit other main attractions. Instead, I visited less-frequented museums, climbed up to Sacre Coeur at midnight, and wandered quaint streets. I am truly in awe of the opportunities that Syracuse University has afforded me. The work and stress is tremendous, but I love it.

[...]

The semester finished a few weeks later, but before I could pack up and head for California I had one more trip. Every semester my professor invites a few chosen TA's on a three-day trip to Le Marche, a gorgeous region southeast of Tuscany. Anne, Paola, and I went along for the ride. This was really the first time that we had been able to see Italy by car and it was breathtaking. To be honest, I cannot remember the number of or names of the cities we visited. It was a marathon of tiny town stops. What was most refreshing about the trip was the fact that none of the stops were crowded with tourists. We could enjoy the towns for what they were without any major plans or destinations. It was a welcomed change of pace. We stayed at a lovely countryside agritourismo (sort of a country villa where they grow and serve their own food). I was fortunate to spend my birthday while on this trip and delighted in a fabulous birthday dinner at the villa's restaurant.

We returned to Florence on a Tuesday night and I still had to say some goodbyes and pack before my flight home on Thursday morning. Some of my closest friends would not be in Florence when I came back, so there were a few tearful farewells.

[...]

I will be back in California for all of August for anyone and anything I missed. I am only going to Florence for work purposes. I am ecstatic to return to the company that I worked for last summer, this time as the Associate Director. I will spend five weeks and 24-hours a day with American high school students studying abroad in Florence. First, my company is flying me to New York to visit the headquarters. I will then fly with other staff members to Florence. When the program ends, it is back to California for August, then back to Florence for fall semester in early September. I will TA for Masterpieces again, Michelangelo, and coordinate and lecture for the Paris trip.

If you could not tell, I am torn between two continents. Or, rather, I am enjoying the most of two continents and hoping that by spending concentrated time in each that I will make the right decision of where to live once fall semester ends. I wish you all a fantastic summer and hope that you know that I carry you with me on all of my journeys.

With love,
Carrie