Benvenuto a mia casa!

Coming home has been a whirlwind of thoughts and faces. But in the midst of my array of feelings, there is one place i found to be home here in Toledo, Ella P. Stewart Academy for Girls. Last fall I started visiting the classroom once or twice a week. I went into mentoring, but i came out of it just gaining beautiful unique friendships. Unique in every smile. These girls make me smile no matter what, I have never felt so loved. In my two weeks home, i went to see them twice, and the first time was a surprise for the girls. That was great, full of tears and joy. One of the more confirming moments in my life.

Thank you Mrs. Hixon and the girls for everything. You have really brought me to a new level of happiness in being home in Toledo. Spending time with you guys is always the highlight of my week, and i have learned so much more about education than i could have ever imagined. I miss you girls already!

Ti amo.

riflessioni invisibile

[Unseen Reflections]

Mirrors reflect what is seen ;What can reflect what is unseen and lost in memory?

Trying to trace back through the past five months, I can’t find the words or actions to grasp the journey my heart has endeavored. Gratitude exceeds most emotions, still engaged in a bit of awe crawling towards the realization of my life’s education. This education exceeded any thoughts expectation. Pursuing life again back to paved roads my feet are searching for the uneven cobblestones, where is the language? Why can I understand what everyone is saying… Things became so familiar, now I’m emerged again in what I used to find comfortable. I miss the challenge of the unknown. Going a day pursuing things unseen. My eyes are searching for the colors, those maroon shutters and roofs clashed against the worm yellow walls, fighting the ancient brick bleeding from the doors. Even listening to the same music sounds different here, it’s like my life is back to a blank canvas, those colors previously created can never be re-fashioned. But this makes me forever grateful, leaving those colors, hues, shades, faces in their own specific context. A collaboration of created life. Once experience once lived , now only reflected.

Friends, each of you allowed me to grow and branch out in so many new directions. My roots have grown deeper and stronger due to your love and compassion. Living with you, seeing Italy with you and just coming together, ignoring all differences, I would never change a thing. My mind highlights each of you in a new light, a new color and new perspective for me to appreciate in this journey of life and creating what mine appears to be leading to. Your steps have imprinted my heart and with your influence I can only hope to recreate the same to others.

amicizia

Friendship. This simple term has elaborated into a new concept for my travels abroad here in Italy. Back home friends are those we have spent years of our life with, while here I have formed such dynamic bonds with those who were merely strangers a few months ago, I now see them like siblings. We travel together, this entitles one to a plethora of situations good and bad. We know each other like the back of our hands. Mannerisms, voices, characteristics, I could write biographies on each one of them. It’s though this labyrinth of travel, of leaving what is common and comfortable that you create a whole new meaning to the appreciation of friendship. The start of a relationship by the luck of our plane tickets to the unclaimed smile given in a moment of frustration. I have learned to piece these elements to find the genuine friendship that I will cherish. This labyrinth had no end like most other mazes, I only hope to continue to be lost in a sea of others for the rest of my life.

le impronte digitali

[fingerprints]

‘Nowadays many people seem to believe their lives are entirely a matter of choice; but in my day we viewed ourselves as pieces of clay that forever show the fingerprints of everyone who has touched them.’