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!