Everyday here I’ve been so overwhelmed with the excitement of learning this language and culture, meeting new people, and my projects that I honestly haven’t had time to feel homesick. Of course I miss my family, best friends, Cassidy and Pepe, the Red Dragon and a 24-hour diner, living away in Ithaca has taught me that time flies and these things that I love so much will be waiting for me when I come home again and I should soak up every moment I have everywhere.
Well, with that said, Anthony and Renee were in Siena this weekend and left this morning and now I can honestly say I’m feeling pretty homesick. Friends here who’ve had family visit them said that the day right after people leave is pretty rough but I figured I could fight through it. I’m fine, but seeing my brother just made me realize how much I miss my family and friends, and even if I’m “too busy” to think about it from day to day, it’s still there.
Comunque, I had an amazing time with them…
Friday we went to this really chill restaurant called Le Trumbicche, which has all of about eight tables and is run by two brothers…I think. Well I’ll definitely be back there, so I’ll find out and report to you for sure. They fixed our wobbly tabled, served us a platter of fresh antipasto each, 2 liters of vino rosso, and had the vinyl covers of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pink Floyd, the Beatles and Bob Dylan, among others, on the walls so we were happy by the end of the night.
Saturday we went to Cortona, which is a little Tuscan hill town about an hour south of Siena where Renee studied art for a semester three years ago. We got back to Siena around 10pm and ate at this quaint little restaurant called Nonna Gina. We polished off another bottle of wine and listened to Italian’s sing rockabilly at the pub Barone Rosso, a local favorite here in Siena.
Renee and I on the steps where she used to have lunch everyday...
The view from the hill of Cortona...
Anthony and I...
On Sunday, Rosanna invited us over for dinner. Her son, daughter-in-law and grandaughter came over and even though Renee and Anthony can't speak much Italian, it was really funny to watch everyone try to communicate. After that, the three of us went back into the city.
Inside Siena's Duomo...
The Torre di Mangia...
2 comments:
laina!
i wanted to share something with you that i learned being away in Viet Nam.
it's not a bad thing at all to think about and miss the people you love while thinking to yourself that you should rather experience everything all full-will, breathing deeply with every step (i've felt the same way as you have, thinking i shouldnt be thinking about missing people at times when i should be enjoying myself so much- thinking i could accomplish this more without those thoughts). here's the thing, i realized that there's never a need to seperate the two.
it's hard to do at first, but youll feel your best when you can equally do both of those things at all times- it makes missing people not as hard and heart-breaking when you realize the actual reason why you miss people- its amazing, it means your in love with your life and you appreciate all the beautiful people in it so so much. and this way, it almost feels like your including them with all your unique experiences in a good way, not regarding it as sad memories that are taking over your brain- that are taking away from your experience. its hard to realize this to make this feeling's meaning change, but once you do itll make you feel so damn good.
missing people can be such a beneficial feeling to your well-being especially when traveling alone if you think about it wholly, it can sometimes be the only thing you have to keep you going. also, knowing that people also miss you just as much as you miss them is something you should always remember and feel so grateful for. were so lucky that we have this!
well, one year since st. patrick's day in chi-town... best spring break, seriously.
love and miss and hope that made a little bit of sense,
Hy
Elaina, the pics and comments are awesome!! What is up with Tony's chin hair???? I love you, miss you and wish I could be there!! We would rock Italy so bad they would think they were having an earthquake. How is going finding me a white gold cross?? Let me know what I owe you. Hugs and kisses to you, Rosanna, and Sophia!
Post a Comment