Here it Goes...

Cynthia and I finally moved into our apartment today!  It feels so nice to finally have my clothes out of my suitcases.  The cupboards are still bare, and my tummy is rumbling, but grocery shopping is an involved process when you live in the city.  Tomorrow is another day.

Speaking of tomorrow...
Tomorrow is the start of a week "full" of auditions.  For the experienced New York auditioner I think that means around 6-8 auditions, but for me, it means 3.  Here's the line up:

Monday, 9/10, 11:30 am - White Christmas, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Little Rock, AR
Tuesday, 9/11, 2:00 pm - Music Man, Maltz Jupiter Theatre, Jupiter, FL
Friday, 9/14, 3:00 pm - Music Man, Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia, PA

These are all dancer calls.  If I'm asked to stay, they will hear me sing.  Please pray for ease of nerves!

Back in Business

This is not in keeping with the theme of this blog, but maybe I will revamp it to keep up with my changing life and adventures.  Last big thing in my life was living in Italy for a school year.  Now it's the great big New York City.  As of now, I'm only here to get my feet wet and gain some confidence for the next two months, but it is still fun and exciting even if it is only short term.
I arrived at my friend's apartment Tuesday night, at 1:30am and she has been gracious enough to host me until Sunday, when I'll be moving into my beautiful sublet.  (Pictures to come next week)
Wednesday was spent paying rent, getting keys,  and people watching in Central Park.
I jumped right in on Thursday and had my first New York audition for Tokyo Disney.  I also did this audition in Hollywood last March, so it was great to go in knowing what to expect.  And I knew I wouldn't have to sing since it was for dancers only, which also put me at ease.  Following my audition, Cynthia (my soon-to-be-roommate and ex-cast mate from Anything Goes) and I headed over to Steps on Broadway, one of the two big dance studios in the city, to get some class info.  Well, I was there and dressed and with every type of shoe I might need after my audition, so I decided to take a class.  Why not?  Theater dance with Dana Moore.  A lot of conditioning and Fosse at its finest.  If you have no idea what that means, don't worry about it.
Last night?  No big deal...just a rooftop birthday party with a night-time view of the Empire State Building, the light pillars where the Twin Towers used to stand and other gorgeousness.  This was followed by an evening stroll down to the pier and what could make it better, but a view of a great fireworks show in the distance.  Just for me.

"So what's next?"

I returned to the United States June 2.  Since then, the number one question I have been asked is, “So what’s next?”

Long term, I have no answer for that question.  After I returned, here is “what has been next:”  In the past weeks I have been overwhelmed with the realization that so much will be changing in the next few years.  Over the past few weeks I have gone to the house of one of my best friends and her husband for their house warming party.  The next day I went to an officer commissioning ceremony for one of my friends who was becoming a lieutenant in the U.S. air force.  By the end of the next week I was across the country in Virginia, attending the wedding of one of my very good childhood friends.  And everyday more and more of my friends are getting engaged.

All of this to say, I am stuck in that awkward transitional stage between graduation and knowing what it is that I want to do with my life.  Being back in Virginia, the state I consider to be the place I “grew up,” I remembered, just as I have when I have returned to North Carolina, how much I love the East Coast and particularly the South.  I miss the beauty and the people so much and I know that I want to return there someday.  When is someday?  At this point, that is up to me and God.

But in the end, America and my life here really hasn’t changed that much.  The severe culture shock that I was warned about and worried about really hasn’t hit at all.  After only 9 months out of 21 years of life, the switch back to my culture wasn’t a hard one.  There are many things of the American culture and Americans that I now see in a new light, but the ease of not needing to think about how to act or what is normal is a wonderful feeling.

On to business matters…I am not sure if I will be continuing my blog now that I am home in the United States.  Since I started this blog for my year overseas, I’m not sure that I would have anything interesting to say now that I am back.  We’ll see how it goes.  Thank you all for giving me a reason to write this past year!

"I told you so."

Before I left I was repeatedly told by everyone how much I would change and how much I'd learn from a year away from my culture, language, family and home.  Here are a few things I've learned, significant and insignificant...

~I've learned another language and with that how profoundly language influences our relationships but at the same time how it is still possible to surpass language barriers in so many ways.  Dancing is the same in every language, Jesus is the same in every language, and people and their feelings are the same as well.

~I've learned to be less materialistic.  I have an entire closet full of clothes at home that I haven't seen in a year, yet I've had absolutely no need for them.  I haven't bought "stuff" this year because of the lack of means to get it home.  I have made do without a kitchen stocked full of the finest cooking utensils.  Even those of us who "aren't materialistic" to the U.S. standards have room to grow here.

~I've learned how to be myself instead of always "the girls" or "Victoria and Caroline."  This change has been long and coming since we began school at separate universities, but I feel like it really solidified this year.  I don't always enjoy the separation, but I've always wondered how I would be able to live without her.  I suppose we can do almost anything when life makes us.

~I've learned to toughen up, get thicker skin, and let it go.  Sarcasm and little jabs that people intentionally or unintentionally throw out, whether it be about past-times, eating, looks, studying, upbringing or other things, can sting, but there are usually bigger issues to worry about.  Dwelling on it will only hurt you.  They have already forgotten what they said.

~I've learned how to dive in 100% and just live. A lifetime of moving has already put me a step in the right direction, but I have continued to learn how to live in the present.  It is so easy to keep from investing in people, places and lifestyles because we know that it is only temporary.  It is also easy to look back at the past and long for things that were meant for a different season of life.

~I have learned how to light a stove and oven with a cigarette lighter without getting burned.
~I have learned how to pack for three weeks in a tiny duffel bag that is just bigger than a school backpack.
~I have learned how to "go out" - meaning go out to bars and go out dancing.
~I have learned to like wine.
~I have learned to be less freaked out about money.
~I have learned how to fly by the seat of my pants in traveling and in everyday life.

End of the line

I've been neglecting you, I know.  So much has happened in this past month and I haven't wanted to spend my last month on the computer.  Here are the cliff notes.

~ Hannah's Visit:  A friend of mine from high school who I haven't seen in 4 years (with the exception of a couple of hours), came to visit me!  We spent a LONG day of hiking (6 hours straight!) in Cinque Terre, toured Florence, took a field trip to Rosselle and San Galgano.  The hope of attending a Fiorentino soccer game was in the air, but the rain was stonger than our desire to be soaked by it.

Valentina and me on the road to Cortona!

~ A weekend home with Valentina in Castiglion Fiorentino:  I absolutely loved Valentina's family and her town.  It was the beautiful Tuscan countryside that all of our imaginations conjure up.  We spent time in Castiglion Fiorentino, Cortona, Arezzo and a day by the lake in Castiglion del Lago.  Unfortunately the vast fields of girasoli (sunflowers) don't bloom until late July and August.  It was a wonderful way to spend one of our last weekends in Italia and brought us closer with Valentina.

~ Lately?:  Finals just finished on Thursday and for me that means FOREVER!  I am officially finished with my college career!  In fact, my entire life of education as I have always known it!  Now I just wait and keep my fingers crossed that San Jose State University doesn't do anything stupid between now and the time they process my diploma next December.

Becca, Lauren and me.  A night out on the town after graduating!

The rest of my time has been filled with dinner parties, gelato, restaurants, birthday parties, water balloons, parks, movie nights.....  I will most likely get sick by the time I arrive home after a week and a half of 6 hours of sleep (or less), exhaustion from my first bought ever with allergies, emotional hoola-hoops as I deal with moving, and a grand finale of a 14 hour layover through the night in the Paris, Charles De Gualle Airport.  My thought process in regards to running my body into the ground:  I only live once, and I only live in Italy for 5 more days.
Only a summary, but as my blog readers, you unfortunately are only privileged to "the game highlights." 

My latest reading material?  Don't worry, you aren't missing out on much but if you really want me to, I can forward you my just-short-of-100-slides from 20th Century and Renaissance Art History.  Oh wait...I deleted those cause I'M DONE!

The Last Hoorah

Rodos, Greece

Ok, well maybe that is a little mellowdramatic, but let's put it this way: I am home from my last trip outside of Italy before returning to the U.S.  I didn't tell you I was going to Greece?  Probably because it was a last minute trip for me as well and as you can see by the number of postings this month, April has been all go, go, go.  My Spring Break and Victoria's trip happened to match up so we, as well as three of her friends, were able to meet in Rhodes, Greece for a couple of days.  I arrived Monday and returned home Thursday.  Although it was a short trip and the weather conditions may not have been ideal for an island vacation, I was thrilled to be able to see my sister for a third time this year.

Haraki, where we stayed.

We were witness, once again, to the fact that traveling during the "off" season can be both a blessing and a curse.  Tourist season officially starts May 1st on the island of Rhodes and it was apparent in the shops, restaurants, buses and more.  On the bright side, our accommodations (2 little condos and Victoria and I got one to ourselves!) were extremely less than during tourist season.  On the other hand, restaurants weren't at their finest.
After our first dinner we learned that just because it is on the menu, that doesn't mean that they have it in the kitchen!  No traditional Greek food (!), no cheese for fried cheese balls, a make shift Greek salad because they ran out of ingredients and lastly, no bread for the tzatziki we already ordered!  We were generally good sports about it and laughed it off, but throughout the course of the trip we found this to be quite normal because of the time of year.

We took advantage of our first day by spending it on the beach of the tiny town of Haraki.  It turned out to be the only day with both sun and warm temperatures!  We were so thankful we spent it on the beach instead of missing our opportunity!  We rented a car the next day and took a scenic drive around the island and with a couple of stops, including the whitewashed, traditional, Greek city of Lindos.  This city is exactly what I have always pictured Greece to be and I can't wait to go back in a couple of years and see more of it on the island of Santorini!  Our last morning in Greece, Victoria and I got up in the hopes of driving up to a mountain view that is said to be the most beautiful in all of Greece.  Unfortunately, the sky was overcast and the mountains were covered in a thick layer of fog.  Instead we decided to hike to a castle on the hill within walking distance to where we were staying in Haraki.  Although it wasn't our original plan, we got a beautiful view nonetheless as well as a long walk together and more time for talking.

Haraki beach from the castle on the hill.

It was wonderful to have Victoria there in person to be able to discuss my future after graduation and what seems like an abyss of..."unknowness" and uncertainty.  With the last final of my entire education only a month away, this seems to be one of the most prominent things on my mind lately.  There is never a better person than your best friend to be able to talk about the future with.

The traditional, Greek whitewashed city of Lindos

Sister time in Lindos

Even though I wasn't with family this Easter, I was able to spend it with my new church family from Chiesa Logos.  After church we went to Rose's house for Easter lunch, and with the knowledge of going home in only five short weeks I was able to completely enjoy myself and leave melancholy and nostalgia behind.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay." Matthew 28:5-6
Happy Easter! Buona Pasqua!

Aprile e i Miei Genitori

A weekend at Fabio's grandparent's house in the Mountains.

What a whirlwind of a month April has been!  It began with an overnight trip to the mountains with my Italian friends from church for Rose’s birthday.  I was extremely nervous to step out and go on an overnight with a group of Italian friends, but at the same time I was so excited to finally be fitting myself into my own life and not just what I have been given by my school.  It is frustrating not to be able to express myself and jump into the conversations so that people can get to know me, but I can see my language skills (my comprehension at least) continue to grow each time I spend time with them.  It also frustrates me that I have just begun to get connected with a church and Italian friends only a few months before I will return to the United States, but I understand that this was all a part of God’s plan for me and I can see why as well.

The Monday began the peak of second semester midterm stress and culminated in five exams in a four day span and then my immediate departure for Rome after my last test.  My reward for the successful completion of my midterms was my reunion with my parents for a week and a half vacation after almost 8 months apart. 

Roma Highlight:  Spending Saturday in the Rome’s “Central Park,” Villa Borghese, laying on the grass reading, tanning and listening to music as blossoms floated from the trees.

Piccolo Abruzzo

This was followed by the best dinner of my parent’s visit at a restaurant called Piccolo Abruzzo, a restaurant I would highly suggest (as it was suggested to my parents) to anyone who ever spends any amount of time in Rome!

Solo antipasti!

We greatly appreciated the fact that the meal was a set menu after days of so many successive decisions. 

He loved it.

And so our two and a half hour meal commenced.  We began with Chianti wine that was funneled into the bottle from the barrel right next to our table and an antipasta course (appetizers) which was large enough to be our whole meal in and of itself.  This was followed by hot vegetables and then a round of pasta in which the chef placed the skillet in front of my dad as his serving.  (This was an event, not just dinner!) 

This was succeeded by a plate of gnocchi which in turn was followed by a course of meat with potato pieces.  By this point we were taking a bite here and there to be polite and taking more to make the serving plate contents look diminished.  Here we had a bit of a reprieve where we were offered another bottle of wine, which we declined and then in a few short minutes, dessert was served. 

After our delicious berry tart, we were brought an entire canister of biscotti (cookies) to eat to our liking, as well as a bottle of grappa.  My mom and I tasted of the grappa but opted for limoncello instead, both of which were firsts for her.  As my dad drank the café that was offered to us, there were Italian guests who were just arriving at 9:30 to begin this grand affair of a dinner!  Mamma mia!

Firenze Highlight:  Wine tasting at Castello Verrazzano in the Tuscan countryside of Chianti.

We were served a free lunch of meats, cheese, bread and olive oil and then began our tour of the wine cellar and finished with a leisurely wine tasting.  After two weeks of cities, my parents were elated to spend time in the quiet, picturesque wine-country.  More over, my dad was thrilled that the winery was once owned by the same Verrazzano’s of which the bridge in New York is named after; the same one that his father helped build.

The beach of Monterosso

Cinque Terre Hightlight:  Soaking up the sun on the beach in our bathing suits the moment we arrived followed by dinner on a cliff-top overlooking the ocean. 

Unfortunately, our only full day in the 5 towns was cold and blustery and eventually rainy.  We bought a ferry pass that morning to take us from town to town instead of taking the train but the sea was so rough that the service proved to be quite impractical that day.  Better luck next time.

My Italian got quite a workout as we discovered that night that there was to be a train strike the next day, when we had tickets to travel to Venice.  A few hours of stress that night and an early morning visit to the train station the next morning turned out to be in vain when the strike didn’t actually happen.

Venezia Highlight:  Well…some very rude people unfortunately, but I’d have to say…maybe our visit to the island of Burano.

"Color is like Music, It uses shorter way to come to our senses to awake our emotions."

This tiny island off of Venice doesn’t really have anything to do, but you feel like you have just stepped off a boat into Candy Land!  Each house lining the many canals is painted a different bright color from the next and it seems simply surreal that people actually live on this tiny story book illustration of an island!  The people here seemed to be the happiest of all who we met in the Venice area and we enjoyed the glimpse of this place where people paint their joy on their houses and plant it in their window boxes.

There were no tears as I left to come back to Firenze, knowing that six weeks is nothing compared to eight months.  I can’t wait to see my family and friends once I return, but I am finally beginning to adjust to my life here, just as we always do after about eight or nine months living in a new place.  Again, just as it always is with moving, my parting will be bittersweet, but there are always new adventures and experiences to be had.  After seeing my parents it seems to be coming quicker than I would have ever expected.  How strange it is that time can pass so slowly when we are longing for the future and conversely, how quickly it passes when we don’t want to let go of the present.

See you in less than two months my friends!  I will say, am definitely excited to be back in my culture where basically anything goes (even though that can be both good and bad) after eight months of committing or rather, trying to avoid committing cultural faux pas.

My Latest Reading Suggestion:  The Art of Racing in the Rain