Hello and Goodbye

These past few days have been full of hellos and goodbyes. I said, "Sayanara" to Filippo and Anya, who each went on vacations to in opposite directions, a bit over a week ago and those departures started the cycle. The first hello is to one of my new favorite spaces in the city to which Lucia and Elizabeth introduced me. And the make a great coffee creme, right ladies? Here are a few shots from il balcone nel Piazza del Campo.
 

Try telling me this isn't the most beautiful cities in the world. I won't believe you.

Another hello goes to American dinner in Italy and new friends. Elizabeth and I hosted a great feast for some of her Italian friends, but since we didn't want to risk a culinary embarrassment, these guys suggested we try something "American." And, let me ask you, fine reader, do you know anything more American than chili cheese dogs and fries? Guys, if you're reading this and would like to give some honest feedback it's welcomed, but I'm guessing that the 2 rounds of hot dogs and empty pot of homemade chili says we did pretty well. How do they look to you?

It's really me. Making chili. Thanks for the recipe, Filippo! :)

It was their first chili cheese dog. Excuse them for putting the cheese on first.

They wanted to submit it, but this meal's got nothing on one of these!

Goodbye to some fine shoes that I've loved very much. These sandals were all I wore the first time I came to Siena two years ago and I've been on some fun adventures in my trusty Chuck Taylors. You will be missed terribly. But a warm welcome to my snazzy new All-Stars. A bit more stream-lined, but they're wearing in nicely. The extra support is great for all the walking I've been doing lately. Also, you'll notice they look very similar. World traveler tip: pack as light as possible with things that you love and work well with everything. :)

Because I refuse to say goodbye to this gem, a cheery "See ya' later" to my lovely Elizabeth. Siena's not the same without your "effervescent" self, but she'll see you in May. In bocca al lupo in Minnesota! You're gonna kick some butt in grad school and return a smarter and wiser.

Buon tornata to Scottie! I met her for about 20 minutes a year ago and she was kind enough to sit through an interview for my Italian presentation for Celebrating Student Achievement, but we've been getting to know each other. She lives in the apartment, too, and just came back from an awesome trip to Korea. She's on her way to catch up with Filippo so I have just a few more days of the place to myself.

With pleasure, I watch cooking-dependency's departure. There's a joke in my family that starts something like, "Did you hear about the time Sam tried to make a salad?" (Don't even ask.) Aside from monetary dependency--which I have to the controlled to the smallest extent I can as an unemployed student, I am most clueless when it comes to the kitchen. I get overwhelmed with anxiety just thinking about walking into a kitchen for anything other than eating, but since I'm determined to learn...you've gotta read about it. I'd say sorry, but I'm celebrating! I'm trying to remember, but thinking back, the pictures below may be records of the first meal I bought and prepared myself with absolutely no supervision. It tasted pretty good and doesn't look too bad either, right?

 

Goodbyes and hellos are funny things. Either can be much anticipated, exciting, difficult, stressful, overwhelming, and so on...but I've realized we can always decide what to do with those feelings in how we act. An intriguing part of these past days has been being the constant. Not often do I find myself resting while everything else around me seems to be moving at super sonic speeds. Honestly, it might be more exhausting.

Today I found myself feeling homesick for important people in my life, which rarely ever happens when I'm in Siena and completely occupied with the glories of living here. After passing the morning and part of the afternoon of moping, I was lucky enough to have a talk with Scottie who made me realize some things. The most important being that I have the power to choose how to respond to the changes that are happening around me. Now, this isn't a new revelation, but it sincerely needed to be reconfirmed. So, readers, I promise to (re)commit myself to experiencing my emotions, but actively deciding to respond in the most positive way I can. And I'm sure that has some benefits for you, too.