So here it is, after 27 blog posts I've reached my final one. A post to end all posts if you will. So let it be known that I, Victoria Dell'Anno, of sound mind and average writing abilities swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. And what better way to share my private thoughts and feelings than to broadcast them on the internet...
Now, where to start. For those of you who don't know, or for those of you who were told but didn't really tune in (wink) let me explain what this course was about. Italianismo is a course we first heard about back in one of our lecture classes. A teacher interrupted the class to take a survey of how many students would be interested in this course. She described it as a course in May, lasting one month, worth two credits and it consists of studying and living in Italy.
My hand shot up faster than Daniel Clarke could get lost. But more on that later. I was sold.
It soon came time for the course to begin. We had our week of Italian lessons and it was the first time getting to know each other. Little did we know, what we were really in for.
The day of departure had me filled with excitement and nerves. I wasn't nervous to be away from home that long, I was nervous about spending a month with these people who on most levels were strangers to me. We boarded our plane and after a 2 hour delay we were off to Rome. I won't say much about the flight but with all flights some enjoyed it and some…well, not so much. So, if you're still with me, this brings us to our new found lives in Italia.
We called three places home during the month and our first humble abode was shared with nuns. Intimidating to say the least and we managed to break every rule they had but one. But in my defense, if I didn't blow-dry, flat iron, or do something using an electronic appliance on my hair it would look a little like a brilo pad. The no electronic devices rule was a little extreme but what were we supposed to do, we had to look good for the pope! Anyways, the places we stayed in were beautiful, once you walked up the 4 flights of stairs, and the areas they were in were amazing, once you walked down the 4 flights of stairs. We couldn't be more thankful for the locations we got to live in.
Each day we woke up and headed out to meet the rest of the group to begin our set schedule. There was walking, and walking and more walking. By the end of the trip our feet were so dirty we made use of the bides to clean them so our feet didn't look like they belonged to one of the Flinstones'. Not only was this an educational trip but it was the best damn workout I've ever experienced. Between the amount of walking and the insane amount of hills and stairs, my backside has never looked better! But that's besides the point.
Coming into this course I had no idea what to expect. I had no idea that was this was going to be my chance to get lost and in turn find out who I am. Don't worry this blog has never been a tale about finding my identity and I don't plan on it being now but I will say this. What I learned through everything I had the opportunity to experience couldn't have left a bigger footprint on my life. But back to chronicling the events that transpired.
We were each assigned to be a Tour Guide of the Day. We were given different art pieces, buildings and areas we were responsible for researching and presenting to the rest of the group. I went from rather listening to Rebecca Black's Friday on repeat (pause for song) than presenting to actually missing presenting to my fellow travellers everyday. There I said it , you win Doug, I actually miss presenting.
Anywho, with 10 students on the trip and each being responsible for 15-20 topics it added up to many many presentations. And many hours of homework, which we were all very responsible in doing.( clip of matt sleeping)
After about a week and a half of presenting we all settled nicely into our own presenting styles. Victoria's Blog fun fact # 23: I presented over 25 fun facts throughout the trip.
The art and history we had the fortune of learning and seeing has been mind-blowing. I have identified most of what we saw with just images in books and on T.V. for so long, I had forgotten these were real things. The wow factor you get from really seeing them from 2 feet away can't be compared with anything. The art we saw wasn't just in museums but they were also in all the churches. I think we can all say we are okay with not visiting another church for a while but they were beautiful. The one thing I won't miss is having to wear pants on very hot days because and apparently "the pope a don't like a the knees".
To be able to stand in historically rich venues is something I will never take for granted. You really start to comprehend just how incredible all the art is and I began to really understand the impact this history has had on my future.
Looking back, I never really understood—well I couldn't comprehend just how significant all this history was. I remember sitting in class and anytime the name Michelangelo was mentioned I would start daydreaming about a crime-fighting turtle. This trip has given me that. Almost like a re-do of all those times I didn't take it seriously. And I am thankful. I have learned more in the last 29 days than I have in most of my visual arts career.
Okay, it's time. We have come to the point that everyone wants to know about. The food. My 29-day-nothing-but-Italian-food diet. I still crave it. Each day I would wake-up and immediately start thinking about a cappuccino. Not just because of the heavenly taste but also because it was the only thing that could help me keep up with Doug's love for stairs. I would order my cappuccino and grab a proscuitto sandwich. And the food for the day only got better from there.
When I got to Italy I was a little apprehensive about ingesting a diet consisting of mainly starch and carbs but with the help of our marathon-like walking and activities my body had no problem metabolizing the meals.
Up until now our trip has seemed pretty well, seamless. But, we didn't ALWAYS have it together. There was one thing that kept happening to Daniel Clarke. We would be walking as a group and when it came time to make sure we all had our 'buddies' I would say the same thing. Um, Daniel?
We were still working the kinks out for the first week but after a while we all became so comfortable being with one another we really started to relax and show our new family our true colours shall I say? We all provided entertaining moments from dancing to falling off stairs, to wearing onesies and those were only Daniel's contributions.
The ten of us students needless to say, had a lot of time to bond. And bond we did. We presented together, we studied together, ate together, shopped together, and after exploring the nightlife together, we would wake up together. No, not like that. I mean we all bunked together. Alone time was limited but after getting to know my peers I wouldn't have had it any other way. We were required to do plenty of research and there were countless early mornings so when we had free time, we would make great use of it…
I was in Italy for 28 days. It only took 28 days to realize who I am. It took researching history, depending on myself to live everyday, being thrown out of my comfort zone and spending every waking moment with my amazing peers to understand. People often say that someone has not yet found themselves. For a long time I felt lost. But then I realized, the self is not something one finds, it is something one creates. And in this moment in time, I know who I am and have never been happier of the self I have created.
I have seen more than I can remember and I will remember more than I've seen. So here's my thank-you.
To Doug: Your passion inspires me. I'm in no way a morning person, but it wasn't hard waking up when I knew you had such an amazing day planned for us to experience. This trip has meant much more than you probably ever intended. Thank-you for following your dreams because in turn you helped us realize dreams we never knew we had. I will be forever grateful for what you have created. The learning experience of a lifetime, passion in who I am and what I'm doing, a course worth two credits, and the most amazing family I could ever ask for.
Also a big thank-you goes out to Lorraine. You were always there for us and filled in anything we needed. It meant so much to know that we could come to you with anything. You're passionate, genuine, supportive and became our friend. I couldn't picture this trip without you. Thank-you for everything.
And to my family. Who knew how close we would all become. Living with you all I had the opportunity to see characteristics you all possessed that I respected. You are my friends, my peers, my family but also my teachers. You taught me so much about myself. We were all on a journey to learn something about ourselves and I couldn't have picked better people to share that with.
What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us. This trip will always be a part of me. You will always be a part of me.
When we were at the Guggenheim, I saw this woman feeling every inch of a sculpture. Then I saw someone reading to her and talking to her about what she was feeling. It didn't take long for me to realize why this was happening. She was blind. A woman came to an art museum who couldn't see. But I guarantee she saw more than we did. She appreciated every little detail of that piece, every little thing that 3 foot statue had. She appreciated the smallest things in life and there I was taking the big for granted. No matter where you are right now, contentment is possible. And if you decide to try it, it will open up your eyes to thousands of amazing things and opportunities that are hiding right under your nose.
I've gotten so much out of this trip. So much more than what I could ever fathom coming into it. I've learned so much about myself. I have seen amazing things and met amazing people that have left an impact on my life. This truly has changed my life. Mentally, emotionally, oh and physically. I'm in the best shape of my life thanks to Doug and his never ending quest to find the route with the most stairs. Having had said that you can find me on escalators and elevators for while…
I have learned about culture and history, about friendship, about love and passion, and on the journey the biggest thing I learned about was myself.
And that is something I will remember for the rest of my life.
Thank-you to all my readers, it meant the world!
Love & Words,
V.
