You Never Know

Before I start talking about Arezzo, I should probably mention how I ended up here in the first place. After graduating with a degree in Letters (no, not calligraphy...history, philosophy, literature and linguistics), I decided to take a year off to really spend some time with music. It had always been a second or third priority and I was really looking forward to committing myself to writing. I know myself well enough that if I were to do only that, I would be a bit counterproductive, as I seem to need the perfect balance of 'busy' to keep myself moving forward. So, I began waitressing at a great little wine bar (in line with keeping this new indie-musician mentality) in Norman. I also wanted to continue working on my Italian, as the beauty of the language and the way it felt to communicate while I was abroad was too important to me to watch deteriorate. I made a phone call to OU's abroad offices and asked if there might be any Italian exchange students in Norman that semester who might need a friend, a guide....a car (Norman is not as pedestrian-friendly as most European towns!). I received an email thanking me for wanting to be a 'host mother' shortly after. Apparently there is a bit of a gap when it comes to the involvement in this program. While an undergrad, you are considered a 'cousin', and three months after school I had graduated to 'mother'. Maybe it's all just part of the southern mentality as to what exactly happens after graduation-the beginning of subliminal messages that are supposed to make me feel like it's time to get married, or at the very least, get engaged. Sidenote: This terrifies me. So, moving on, I was a host mother, and Anna became a wonderful friend of mine. I also got to know her roommate, Elisa (who was from Arezzo), and another girl from Florence, Elisabetta (Beba). Over the course of the semester, we all became very close. It was great to have that Italian spirit so close again. The girls were such genuine, kind friends, and I was very sad to see them go in December. One afternoon while I was getting ready for work and probably halfway writing a song and cleaning the living room, I got a phone call from a past Italian instructor, completely out of the blue. He said that a position had just been created with OU's abroad program in Arezzo, Italy, and my name had been mentioned several times. He asked if I was interested, and like a 12 year old I'm pretty sure I unprofessionally blurted out, 'are you serious?!'. I spent some time thinking about the opportunity, what it would mean to my family, and what it meant for my music. I usually play it fairly safe, but when I thought about the most rewarding things I had done over the past few years, and the literal hurt my heart used to feel when I thought about how much I missed Italy, I decided that this would be a once in a lifetime opportunity and I needed to say yes. I had this vision in my mind of thinking back later on in life to those moments when a big decision presented itself and one way or another could be completely life altering, and this felt like one of them. I don't believe in regret, which is convenient because every opportunity becomes a learning experience and there is nothing to lose! Lets be honest, I also was quite looking forward to saying that I lived in Italy (see blog Stuff White People Like #72, paragraph 3...though I'd like to think I am slightly above this). So, I moved to Arezzo in February. Elisa had gone home in December, and was waiting for me at the train station when I arrived. She has become like a sister to me and her family and friends have been the most incredible blessing. You never know when getting involved with the things that you love will lead to such amazing life experiences and opportunities. And that is exactly how I ended up back in Italy. Do what you love, love what you do!

Italy: Round 1

Two years ago, I studied abroad for a summer in Florence, Italy and completely fell in love with the people, wine, culture, wine, food, landscape, wine..you get the idea. Italy is exactly the dream you would expect it to be-I remember looking out of the plane's window and seeing these stunning green, rolling hills, dotted with hillside towns and small, sparkling lakes. I lived with my host mother, Filomena (I'm sure she will appear in later stories), who treated me like a daughter and taught me so much about the beauty of the Italian lifestyle in just a little over two months. Within hours of meeting one another, we sat down for a meal that lasted several hours and included more food than I thought I was capable of eating in a week. There will be an entire blog dedicated to meal time in Italy, as it always leads to the best company and the best memories. To be abroad as a student is truly incredible-you have so much freedom with so little responsibility, and it really feels as if the world is at your fingertips. I knew it was the beginning of a traveling addiction, which contradicted my usual attachment to home. When I landed in Texas in August, I felt completely refreshed and ready to finish my senior year of college-excited about what was to come. I began to pro-actively seek out opportunities to pursue the things that I loved, which at the time, included music as the priority. I began writing with a local musician in Norman, which resulted in a 6 song EP that was released in November of 2009. You can find my music at katelearymusic.com or on iTunes-I hope that you enjoy it! Though I have been writing for some time, Blessings in Disguise was the first song I actually completed-which at some points felt like this blog...difficult to begin as there was just too much to say. However, once I began sorting out some of my thoughts, this song held a special meaning to me, as it really captured my feelings at the time. I hope that when I can finish gushing about everything in the past that has gotten me to this particular point in my life, this blog will turn into a fun journal documenting my present experiences. Most just funny, like the time I was looking for clothes pins and instead bought two packaged hot plates that were just designed to look like clothes pins, or the time(s) I believed the Italian boys telling me their girlfriends were at home were just kidding. I have also grown in ways that I don't think would have been possible without Italy, and for that I will be eternally grateful. Well, I thought a little recap would be nice, but now I am off to the grocery store to pick up a few things for dinner. I am cooking for one of my very best friends are her family this evening-wish me luck...it's never as good as theirs!

Introduction

Hi! My name is Kate Leary and I graduated with the class of 2009 from the University of Oklahoma. I have always been passionate about too many things to count, so I thought I would begin writing about my experiences regarding what exactly happens after graduation, and everything I have learned outside of the classroom in the 'real world'. I have pursued a number of different passions this past year, including recording a CD of original songs that I had written my senior year of college, and beginning my first job in Arezzo, Italy. I am not sure what the next step will be, but I am looking forward to finding out and enjoying this chapter of life. If you are friends or family, I hope this serves as a better way to keep up with me and what I am doing day to day across the pond-if you are a stranger who happens to find this blog, I hope that it is encouraging and enjoyable! And above all, I hope that it serves as an example that life is what we make of it, and anything is possible. So, Peace, Love & Music/Travel/Wine/Family/Friends/Etc. Not necessarily in that order.