Sono Arrivata!

Well, I’m finally here, sitting in an Italian coffee shop, sipping on an Italian espresso, resisting the plethora of decadent Nutella-filled cornetti, and finding the inspiration to write to all of you.

When I studied abroad in the Fall of 2015, I attempted to keep up with a blog. In short “Wilder Wanderer” did not take off as I had originally planned. I was too focused on soaking up every moment that was presented to me. Although I have every intension to “live in the moment” while I am here, I do believe that this experience is different. While in Bologna, I was learning much more about my comfort zone, boundaries, and how to survive in a foreign country. Today, I am in Italy to educate, not only myself but also those who are around me and who are back home.

The journey here was one of exhaustion, adventure and variety, including four plane rides as well as one ride on the metro, the train, a bus, a taxi, and countless miles a piedi. Before arriving in Brindisi, I enjoyed 24-hours in Milano, which was a fast-track introduction and readjustment to the Italian lifestyle. Carrying a 35-pound pack, I navigated through the lively streets of Milano with a paper map; having no access to Wi-Fi presents many challenges, but it forces one to look up and embrace the city.

By 11 AM, I arrived at my apartment, which was around the corner from Piazza Sant’Ambrogio. In complete honesty, I was overwhelmed and didn’t think that I had made the right decision in coming to Italy. After relieving myself from the sun, having a nap, a shot of espresso, and some food, I realized that these thoughts formulated out of exhaustion, not rational thought.

I reminded myself of the following basic logic:

I am not in Italy to travel; I am here with the purpose of an internship.

I am not escaping and running away from something (i.e., ‘adulting’); I am running towards something (discerning my life path and purpose).

I am not alone in this process; I am here to make connections with rifiugati (refugees), Italians, and the other four women in my group.

In times of stress, our mind can get the best of us. At those times, perspective is imperative for one’s sanity and happiness; therefore, don’t let the little voices cloud out your bigger reasoning for doing something. And, more importantly, don’t let fear run your life.

For the rest of the day, I explored the beautiful streets of Milano.

Le strade di Milano

Il Duomo

Il Duomo

Ciao dal Duomo

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Castello Sforzesco

Sempione Park

Sempione Park

Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio

Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio

After several miles, I knew a 9 PM bed time was calling my name. I rested in my piccolo apartamento, finished my panini from lunch, and watched “Friends” in Italian.

The following morning, I took the metro, a bus, two plane rides, and taxi to Brindisi. With so many forms of transportation, one would expect the accompaniment of John Candy and Steve Martin. Instead, I settled for the exceptional trade of meeting with one of my partners from my internship in Rome before our flight to Brindisi. It was all becoming to fruition.

Alessandra and I met with Graziella at our apartment in the middle of the afternoon. We explored the city and enjoyed some gelato on the steps that once let to Virgil’s house. Looking out onto the water, we expressed our hopes, fears, and goals for the internship and life beyond. Graziella mentioned one of her favorite quotes from the book Tattoos on the Heart by Gregory Boyle, which will fuel much of the emotional toil that will come with this internship.

“Just assume the answer to every question is compassion.”

It’s very reassuring to hear from other women their passions to “go out and set the world on fire,” something that was taught and rooted in my Jesuit education. In short, I believe this will be a very insightful and successful summer.

Il mio primo gelato in Italia

La prima cena a Brindisi

La prima cena a Brindisi con Alessandra (pictured) e Graziella

If you have made it to the end of this article, thank you for taking time out of your day to read my blog. I hope to write these articles more frequently, so they can be shorter.

If you have any questions or topics of interest you would like to read about, please do not hesitate to reach out to me! I want to do my best to write what interests you, while professing and documenting my summer.

A domani!