My Prize: Grazie Serenaaaaa!!

Right before leaving for Cambridge, I found out that I received a blogging prize, Punto d'Arte della Vita, thanks to the lovely Serena. The explanation and rules are here in Italian and English.




Si tratta del premio di qualita'di Punto d'Arte della Vita, creato tempo addietro per onorare e riconoscere il lavoro svolto dai bloggers,i loro blog motivano la "terapia d'arte":

Ecco le regole:
1)Indicare da chi si è ricevuto
2)Dire perché si è deciso di creare il blog:
3)Dire qual è la propria arte preferita.
4)Onorare altri blogs amici.

The Punto d'Arte della Vita award was created some time ago to honor and recognize the work of bloggers whose blogs inspire or motivate "art therapy".

The rules are:
1) Indicate who awarded you.
2) Explain why you created your blog.
3) Describe your favorite type of art.
4) Award other blogs.

I'll try to follow the rules!

As I wrote above, my friend Serena gave me this award.

I created my blog as a travel journal at the suggestion of one of my NYU professors, June Foley. I wanted a place to note down my impressions of Bologna and put up photographs. I knew that it would be a good way to motivate myself to do more than just write emails, since I'm not really a diary person. I think that June realized, when she made her suggestion, that the experience would be much more fulfilling than I expected. I've really come to see my blog as a sort of scrapbook or album of my experience over the past two years. I think that my readership has gone down with every moment, but I know and love everyone who comes here!

My favorite type of art - this is difficult. I will never stop loving photography, especially certain images, like those by Sally Mann (who inspired me to pick up a camera in the first place). And creating photographs is something that's a part of me.



But I think that I only manage to lose myself in music and the written word. I have a split vote.

For my blogging friends: Eva, so that she will START BLOGGING. (Evina Boema, e' ora di cominciare con quel blog!) And Giorgio, so that he'll start another blog, for example: Via Avesella 24!

Happy Feet

In three days I'm going home to Cambridge, where I'll be until the end of September. When I first planned this trip, I made the choice to travel home this month so that my coworkers could take vacations during August. Also, because I wanted to attend family events that would take place this month.

Things have changed since then - no more job (luckily, my ex-coworkers got to go on their vacations regardless), and nothing to attend when I go home. I've been looking for work here, but have had mixed results and I realize that the search is going to be a long one. Over the last week, my roommates Massimo and Francesca (of 2 years and 1 year, respectively) both left the house. Now I have two new roomies, Corinna and Giorgio (ciao, Giorgio!). I've been instructed to manage the household as if it were my own, something I have no idea how to do. I found out two days ago that my work permit, for which I applied almost a year ago, was accepted and then rejected on the basis of a bureaucratic error - something that could've been entirely avoided. My expectations had been low, but it was still a huge disappointment.



Since I just got back from a terrific vacation, I don't feel prepared to depart for what seems like an undeserved (second) vacation. But there's something about going home that recharges me in a special way. There's a unique combination of one-eyed cat, abundant kimchi, and sweaty yoga that I can't find in Italy. I think that it'll be good for me, even if I haven't really earned more relaxation time.



Despite the transitions of this summer, and certain stresses which are now weighing on me, something strange happened in Italy during the past few months. I feel as if I've found piece of security blanket in Bologna that wasn't here before. Maybe it's because over the past few months I learned a lot about relying on myself. It's helped me open my eyes to the good stuff within the people around me, many of whom have supplied me with a great deal of unexpected love and support. So I'm stressed and jobless and permitless, but really lucky, too. And grateful.