It’s strange to think that this time next week I will be back in the United States (not at home because we are moving my dad to Shreveport, but the States none the less). I am having trouble figuring out how I am going to adjust being back, even though I have only been here 2 and a half months, this has become normal for me. First off my house is going to be so empty (when I finally make it home) because my dad won’t be there, my brother will still be at debate camp, I won’t have the Sabatos. Even though my dogs tend have outbursts of barking fits, it won’t be the same as Roberto’s “MAAAAA!!!”, the blaring of Riccardo’s music, Maralia on the phone walking around the apartment, and Lello’s “CIAO Lindz!”. Second I will be able to understand everything that is said around me when I go to the mall or to a restaurant (can you say English overload?). Third I won’t have the sea, the Nicholson’s pool will have to do J. On the other hand I will get to have Pei Wei and Fantastic China again, lentil soup and hummus (from work), CHIPS AND SALSA. Oh and I guess it will be good to hangout with my family and friends again. J
And as my trip is winding down (seriously I feel like I am in like a vortex of time right now) I have been doing so much reflecting on this summer. It has definitely been a rollercoaster, but the kind that my uncle would take us on, at Silver Dollar City, over and over again if the line was short enough because we loved it that much. Today I have 5 days left, it feels like yesterday that I had just a week till I was supposed to arrive! It feels like yesterday that I got off the airplane in Naples and saw Maralia’s shining happy face waving at me. It seems like yesterday that I walked into the house to big hugs from Roberto and Riccardo. It seems like yesterday that I sat in the car with Lello talking about my Italian lessons for the summer. I am a major homebody, I love my family very much and I don’t like being away from them, but this summer that went away (for the most part) because an equally amazing family surrounded me. (I may or may not be bawling my eyes right now).
My whole life I grew up hearing stories about my “Italian family”. They were sort of like “rock stars” or mythical, magical beings in my mind. I just couldn’t wait til I finally got to meet them. Then in 2007 I finally met them and I loved them instantly. They maybe weren’t rock stars or mythical beings, but they were real and they were faces to put with all the stories. Now after spending the summer with them they really are family. I am so lucky to have them.
Roberto: I don’t know if everyone knows that my brother is my best friend. We do almost everything together. I think it was almost the hardest to be away from him this summer. He is the one that gives me new music, shows me the funny videos on you-tube, tells me how it is, (he never sugar coats anything for me). This was Roberto this summer. It’s hard to describe, but I just clicked with him. He made it easier for me to be away from William. I mean down to introducing me to new songs (some being American songs) that I hadn’t heard to the “no Lindsay…no” (usually that kind of honesty would hurt my feelings, but for some reason I could take it from him). So many beach trips, walks on the Villa, tuna fish and tomato sandwiches, “Lindsay make up your mind now”…”hurry up!”, the best bear hugs, and “saving” my life multiple times. When Zio Lello brought up the idea of Roberto coming home with me for a few weeks this summer, even though he didn’t want to (and I completely understand) I was pretty excited about the idea (that flight is too long for anyone to have to do by themselves, that’s really the only reason I wanted him to come ;)) Ti volgio bene sir :] I’ll miiiiiiiisssssss youuuuu!
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| Roberto and me :] |
Riccardo: I have found my best friend. Seriously. I don’t even know where to begin with all the things that he and I think are so funny that no one else would get. Such as walking down the street singing about what we were doing or using the “William Tell Overture” not only for the motorbike theme song, but also as a theme for just about everything we did. We made up “itinglish” which is what we spoke most of the time. There were so many times that I just needed a hug and I knew that I could go and get one from him. I have been to the library more in Castllammare with him than I have been to the library in Little Rock ever. I was introduced to the cappucione and Kung-fu Panda (two of my new favorite things). There were a few days in a row that I didn’t see him and my day felt incomplete, just meaning that every other day we were joined at the hips. I am going to save you all and not post all the inside jokes because there are so many. Your welcome. Kung-fu love and Kung-fu miss you already.
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| Riccaro and me at the Harry Potter movie (yes...in italian) |
Maralia: What and extrodinary lady! I have been so blessed to spend so much time with her. She has been my mom away from mom this summer, starting with helping me decide which dress to buy to trying to get a splinter out of my foot. We went on many walks, shopping together (she has a great style), we painted our nails together (we tried to paint one of my hands with stripes like on the American flag for the 4th of July), we went to the beach countless of times (she tans a lot easier than I do, like my mom), we studied together (she studied English and I studied Italian and we spoke to each other in those languages) we ate so much ice cream together (it is very hot here, you have to eat ice cream everyday to cool off ;]) we laughed together (again too many jokes to try and sum up here). I am going to miss her so much to say the least.
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| Me and Maralia! |
Zio Lello: I wouldn’t be here if Lello hadn’t of decided to study abroad all those years ago :] I can’t even begin to start thanking him for this experience. Non ci sono parole. I not only I learned some Italian this summer, I learned some English words (the one’s that only our grandparents still use hahaha!) and I learned where a lot of words come from (latin, greek). With the help of Zio Lello I spoke in front of group of people in (not great) Italian, but I didn’t back down (which was a big deal for me, because I don’t even like doing that in English). Really I was just plain lucky to be in the presence of such a remarkable man and be able to call him “zio”. Again thank you so much for this summer!
(I don't have a picture of Zio Lello yet)
I AM SO SAD, but I am trying to optimistic. I get to see my family, help my dad move into his new house. Spend a week with just my mom. WILLIAM WILL FINALLY GET HOME. I am just going to miss my Italian family and friends so much. This summer really has been the summer of my life! I have a wonderful time and been so blessed to get to spend it with all of these great people. :] Vi voglio bene!!
