Jump over the pond

August 25th, 2009

Well, you wouldn’t believe it, but I have arrived back in Italy. I spent a hard day of goodbyes at home, hugging teary grandparents and parents, and it is just very difficult to say those words! I get very sad at the thought of leaving my family, but I know that I spent a quality five weeks at home, and most girls my age with a job never have that much time available for “quality time.” I was very involved, and I loved every minute of my time spent at home. Nonetheless, parting is such sweet sorrow!

When I mention, “hard day”, I am talking about my emotions from over a day ago. I left at 3:00pm from my home, and I arrived in my apartment in Milan at approximately 2:00pm the next day in the New York time zone. Put simply, I spent a hell of a ton of time in transit: four airports, three currencies, three layovers, one ocean, and tons of flying miles later, I arrived exhausted in Malpensa airport. My flight was from Pittsburgh-Chicago-London-Milan! Luckily, there were no delays! I also considered myself fortunate that British airways has amazingly spacious transatlantic airplanes, and I was shocked how much room I had sitting in coach! I have never been more comfortable in a plane!! Added to the Dramamine that I conveniently consumed, I am happy to say that I had pleasant dreams the whole way! As I slept, I covered my head, in ghost fashion, in my large purple scarf—I know I looked awesome!

My recent crush, Matteo, came to the airport to pick me up! I am so happy that I was able to successfully arrange this much-needed trip detail. He had offered to retrieve me the day before I left, and I willingly took him up on the proposal because I knew that after so much travel time, my tired ass would be capable of very little—especially a hauling luggage on a 40 minute train and then into a taxi to my apartment. The third miracle of the day (besides no flight delays, and
Matteo’s retrieval) was the successful arrival of my luggage at Malpensa! I almost danced when both luggage pieces plopped onto the conveyor belt, and I sang “Alleluia” out loud! I pranced happily to unlock a luggage cart, and I headed out to the terminal with a new found spring in my step! Who cares about travel time, I am here!

I couldn’t have been happier to see Matteo smiling as I emerged from the baggage doors, and I shyly waved to him. All of my little travel stresses had lifted—he gave me a huge hug and a lovely kiss as a form of greeting. Welcome back to Italy, Cara!!

Of course we played around in the airport for a while because he forgot how arrive at the parking lot from the airport; however, I was just happy to be with good company. He presented me with a huge bouquet of beautiful flowers when we got to his car; he got them for me because he knew how hard it must have been to leave my family. How thoughtful!!!

Well, to put the rest of the day simply: we had a lovely conversation on our way back into Milan—I moved my suitcases back to my 3rd floor apartment—I carefully placed my flowers into a pretty vase—we took a passeggiata (stroll) along the Navigli waterways in Milan, arm in arm—and of course, we both ate Margherita Pizzas! I am obsessed with pizza, and I could eat it most days of the week. It was very strange being back in Milan because my two lives are so completely separate and so very different. Do you remember the chalk drawings from the movie, “Mary Poppins”? Well, I felt as if I just jumped back into a beautiful chalk drawing, finding my self on the arm of an Italian beau, crossing bridges over yellowy lit waterways, and strolling with my purple scarf off to eat a yummy classic pizza. I guess it is important that this girl enjoys her chalk-drawing adventures---I will make a list of “goals to accomplish, places to visit” for my first real autumn spent in Italy.

I have to go to bed now—I have a big day tomorrow. I will be returning to the Children’s hospital as early as possible to continue with my mural painting. So much to do , so little time. Goodnight.