What You Learn: Choosing that Gap Year Life

"Red Barn in Ohio". Original acrylic on canvas. 11x14.

5 Thing Learned From the Gap Year (so far):

1. Learn about yourself more. 

All that self-discovery, thankfully, didn't stop with Italy. Right from the beginning, I realized that the gap year life is hugely based on self-motivation. What time you wake up, how you spend your day -- it's never been this flexible since high school summers, I think. You learn about your real work ethic (in a way outside academics, less tangible than an exam grade), how you work best, and end up doing a lot of self-refection.

2. Learn how to improvise. Repeat up to multiple times per day. I do this a lot. 

Improvise doesn't necessarily mean settling, or giving in. It means to work with what you've got -- now.  First example -- a job recruiter briefly interrogated me: If you just graduated, why are you looking to work only part-time? (Hint: The answer is not that you need time to develop your creative being, practice photography, paint, keep up with your Italian roots, that you have diverse interests, or that you don't want to work full-time yet because you'll be doing that the rest of your life anyway.) I improvised, and mentioned that I wanted time to develop my Etsy business. Nevermind that it may have come out as a stammer of, Well. . I paint. On the side.

3. Learn about your interests, and pursue with a commitment. 

Before, I always had the excuse of being a full-time student and working as well, so you could easily say things like, I don't have time to read or other similar phrases. I'm happy to say that I'm getting back into avid reading again. Creative business books, health care books, deep-thoughts-about-life books. Whenever I feel like I'm struggling with my unemployed lifestyle and uncertain future, books have a way of being a supportive companion, constantly cheering you on.

4. Learn that the universe can seem to work against you, which leads you back to number two on this list: Improvise. 

Example: I applied for a pharmacy tech position at Walgreen's. 'Twas a cloudy, rainy day. You had to finish the application in person at a local Walgreen's to be considered. After a non-existent security question, lost passwords, and ten minutes later, their skills assessment wouldn't load on the computer. They accounted to the thunderstorm outside and told me to come back another day. Not one to be easily deterred, I tried to improvise and went to the next Walgreen's, where a teenage boy in khaki shorts was being interviewed at the time. Long story short, it didn't work there, either. Sometimes, improvising a certain way only takes you so far.

5. Learn to take advantage of every opportunity. Embrace your strange, non-traditional lifestyle that is full of unknowns. And that it will be okay. 

3 weeks of living this up-in-the-air life has taught me that each day is truly a unique adventure. One day, I'll whip out 2 paintings to keep Italy real to me. Another day I chose to "take off" -- not getting anything done, like job applications or painting -- and that's the day I scheduled 2 job interviews and got my first PA school interview invite!

I wish I could say my life is a certain predictable way, but the most common phrase I find myself uttering is, "I don't know." Just taking it a day at a time, with unanticipated struggles and joys, all mixed with some frustration and hope at the same time.

I am tapping into a place in you that is unexplored, and very dangerous, but I think essential to the creative life of an artist.

Brandon Boyd

What's Your Art Attitude?

What are the beginning days like for a gap year student? (after the initial rush of sending out job applications)

Well, for this one, it consists of having breakfast and coffee, painting, looking through photos for inspiration, stalking Indeed and Careerbuilders for new job postings, and having my phone glued to my personal space in case of any important phone calls. I paint some more, take breaks, read a little, then keep working. Usually it's one or two job applications a day -- I've vowed not to commit to just any job.

Meanwhile, though, I've been wanting to do some great work. My art has turned into a greater priority for me, so I've been working on staying committed to revive my little art studio. It's going to take a lot, so I've only been applying for part-time jobs. Once I realized I needed to make this commitment work, I  toughened my attitude to make it more serious.

Here's what I realized:

A "professional" artist, versus an amateur. . . 

1. An amateur waits for inspiration, for the right mood to strike, whereas a professional will paint every day, despite lack of inspiration. 

I'm actually often guilty of this -- Italy became my inspiration, but I'm realizing that this is about work ethic. It's about being okay with every painting not turning out to be a musem-worthy miracle, and going after your art like it's worth it. Practice makes perfect.

2. An amateur doesn't have a work schedule, whereas a professional stays organized. 

Although we have a stereotypical, reckless artist who has a hippie viewpoint for just about everything in life, it's important to set a general schedule and goals. When starting out, I set a goal for how many paintings I wanted to have by the end of the week. I exceeded the goal, and although it was difficult at first -- to where I would have migraines in the afternoon, and my eyes felt like they would burn off from soreness -- I think I've been rewarded with a routine.

3. An amateur struggles with finishing artwork, whereas a professional is productive and continues to create new pieces. 

I can relate. Before Italy, I could stop painting whenever. If the struggle became too great, if it just didn't look right, I had the freedom to stop. It wasn't for a class, it wasn't going into a gallery, and if it wasn't a gift or commission for somebody, nobody cared -- including me. When I would finish a piece, it felt like I could constantly work on it to make it better. The truth is, art is a process, and nothing will be perfect. Usually, the goal is not to have one particular masterpiece, but to develop skills to use for the next piece -- since the aim is to simply keep creating.

The results? All these paintings you see on this post were painted within the last week.

By "professional", I don't necessarily mean making a living as an artist, doing this for a career, or living on ramen. In my purposes, I'm referring to a change in attitude -- which is essential for me to accomplish this artistic growth in my gap year, and to be taken more seriously.

I'm inadvertently learning (from these job recruiters and interviews) that people will only take your art as seriously as you do -- or less, but never more. It's been instinct for years to say, "Oh, I just paint. On the side. I sell them online." But now, I'm trying to get into the habit of responding with, "I have an art studio, and I sell my work." The facts are the same, but I think it makes a difference.

Hope you enjoy browsing and getting a glimpse of Italy. I should have my Etsy shop up and running soon, so if I owe you a painting, please bear with me. When I hit a certain number of paintings, you can choose from them or have your piece customized as you'll have a better idea of my painting style.

Intro: Reverse Culture Shock

Heading Home: 
Return. Rediscover. Readjust. 

My journey back seemed uninteresting to me until now. I'll be documenting it with these steps of return, rediscover, and readjust. Not every student will experience this to the same degree, and it doesn't affect everyone. I'm curious to see as to where I'll stand!

1. Return: the re-entry process back to home

The initial shock at this time can refer to the disorientation and perhaps frustration when you realize that 'home' isn't everything you remembered it to be. The basic stages are shock (I don't recognize this place anymore, everyone moves so fast), honeymoon (it's great -- my dog recognizes me, I can have Chipotle again), homelessness (for Italy: missing the interestingness, the independence), making peace (beginning to fall back to routine), and acceptance (being able to compartmentalize the experience in its proper niche). 

2. Rediscover: your own culture

I'll probably view American culture from a new perspective, and the different understanding can cause some minor hiccups. 

So, to you all at home, here's some thoughts you might have (or already have had) about me:
"I can't relate to her perspective. I'm tired of being reminded to 'think globally'."
"She's had the time to travel -- now it's time for her to come back to reality."
"If she mentions how they do things in Italy one more time. . . "
"All she talks about is Italy! I feel like my life is so boring when I hear about her adventures."

How I might be feeling:
"My friends have not matured and changed as much as I have."
"I feel like I am in the middle of nowhere -- really cut off."
"I thought I would be able to pick up where I left off with my friends, but I've had to start over again."
"No one listens to me, or cares about my experience, or how I lived."

Although all of the dialogues above are examples provided by the school, a few are freakishly accurate. I know I've already heard a few similar things from friends, and I've experienced feeling selfish on Skype dates when I'm constantly talking about me, myself, and I in Italy. It helps when I'm receiving updates in return, but I also think the last examples are the most accurate -- about others not wanting to hear and for me, no one wanting to listen. I'm in a constant stage of adjustment.  

3. Readjust: with a plan 

If you're reading my blog, you're already part of my support system for this journey back. To reconnect with you all, I plan on being proactive with setting up coffee/gelato dates with everyone. ;)
For myself, I'll create new opportunities and adventures by reading more (I have a list of books already), getting more involved with my community, painting constantly (while reviving my Etsy shop), exploring local events, somehow maintaining the Italian I've learned, improving my photography, job searching, and cooking Italian food. I'm excited to get back in the field of healthcare and see how my experience here will change the way I interact with patients and view medicine as a whole. 

Although I'm positive I'll pine for Italy like never before, I'm more ready to jump on the next boat, and see where that takes me. 

Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not. 
Ralph Waldo Emerson 

{a sweet friend acquired on the road}

Reflections: What Solo Travel Teaches You

To travel alone is to seek, discover, and pursue all the answers to your thoughts and questions. 

It is your adventure. 

Here's a short blurb of some notes I jotted down after my first solo trip. 

Far from a comprehensive list, this is a simple reflection of a few things I've learned -- I've got plenty of stories to share for each point. 

But from my experience, solo travel teaches you. . . 

• about how possible life can be -- that usually the thing that limits us the most is ourselves

• that you are in the world, as opposed to living in a bubble and interacting only with people you know

• about the magnificence of human generosity 

• that despite the immense differences throughout the world, they all pale when we realize we are merely human beings in ONE world {this registered whenever the classic iPhone ringtone went off wherever I traveled -- sad but true}

• the value in stopping, taking the time to capture that one fantastic photo, which can serve to transport you back to the moments

• people are fascinating: I'm more interested in the whys and hows of people's lives

• about myself: I'm a happy introvert with extrovert tendencies; I'm a planner that adds spontaneous touches

• how to tell your relevant life story in minutes to strangers -- the basics being where you live, what you're currently doing, where you've traveled, and why/how you're here. 

• that memories need to be valued. These memories are not the kind to experience and forget; they're worth holding onto, remembering, and sharing over and over and over 

• who you are. For me -- I'm a sojourner, perhaps more than I'd like to admit. {I became aware of this fact when I journaled: 

"I'm a sojourner, plain and simple. As I'm on the train from Milan to Santa Margherita -- a spontaneous decision prompted by the rainy weather -- I realize I feel so at home. Oddly enough, I'm more comfortable than I've ever been even in Florence, a surprising revelation to admit."

I got far more than I ever expected, and it complemented my study abroad experience perfectly. 
The deliberate leap was unknowingly scary, but it became one of the most fulfilling experiences in the end. 

“Only by going alone in silence, without baggage, can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness. All other travel is mere dust and hotels and baggage and chatter.” – John Muir

Hunger Banquet

The other night, I was invited to attend a charity event (called a Hunger Banquet) hosted by Oxfam -- a nonprofit, worldwide organization that aims to change the world by ending the injustices causing poverty. Apparently, this is the first time they've done this event with American students here in Florence, and they asked two staff members from my university and a few students from our program to attend and provide feedback.

Always one eager to try new things (and then entering self-doubt right before the said event), all I knew was that it was about world hunger. And that food would be provided. 

Little did I know this would be one of the most interesting events I've attended. 

First, you receive a character card that basically tells you who you are by chance, and we are divided into three main categories -- high income (over $6000/year), middle income ($1300-6000), and low income (<$1300). Joining half of the people there, I landed in the low income group. I was a farmer's wife in Guatemala, going hungry due to a famine that year. 

They seated us accordingly, with the high income folks on the stage. A speaker started off by introducing Oxfam and the goals for that night -- for us to realize the crisis of world hunger and keep that perspective in mind. We got plenty of facts; for example, approximately 9000 people die every year as a result of hunger and malnutrition. 

They also called out a few names from the audience and facilitated some changes in income, and consequently seats -- for example, seamstresses who started a business and moved up, or a natural disaster that financially ruined a family. Interestingly enough, the ones who did switch income classes were only between the middle and low -- the high were untouched. When you consider that only 20% of the world is in that class, it opens you to see the global reality a little more.

During the break, everyone was fed what their respective income classes could afford: a nutritious meal on a plate, then rice with beans in a bowl, and last of all, a mere cup of white rice served with dirty (dyed) water -- which I got. The dirty water even ran out (I couldn't tell if it was intentional) so I simply had my fistful of white rice. 

During our "dinner" break, I had the chance to talk with the volunteer coordinator at my school. This whole experience was quite fascinating, and I wasn't sure yet what to think of it. She explained the Hunger Banquet from her perspective. 

"It's different when you present this information to young people. For us [she is in her 40s], it is difficult to change. We can help by giving money, but our life is, for the most part, already set. But for you, being in your 20s -- your life is not drawn out yet. You all are still malleable, and this can affect your idea of the world and you can be the change."

Wow. I told her I loved her positive way of thinking. Because meanwhile, I was considering the opposite -- a false impact. Where we are emotionally moved by the facts, we want to solve the injustices of poverty and world hunger, and yet because most of us have no remote idea what it's like to be in that situation ... It becomes a social event that reaches only the superficiality of the issue since we are so far from reality.
We see it, we understand it, and now we're at loss. Because we don't have enough life experiences yet to even fathom the political and economical complexities involved, we treat like a "based on a true story" movie that we can talk about, think about, and sadly, often forget about -- despite our good intentions. 

Perhaps this just all proves how cynical I am, but I prefer the term 'realistic'. Both ways are crucial to analyzing such a unique event. But I understand her side, too. Sometimes, just knowing this is enough, for now. We don't have the answers, but recognizing this problem of world hunger is the first step in changing our attitudes and mindsets, and eventually influencing our choices and actions. 

After the dinner break, the speaker asked for our thoughts so far. She posed questions relating to feedback, as well as deeper questions about poverty -- the last question asking what we can do to solve this (perhaps a little too deep. I don't think anyone chimed in for that one). 

Unfortunately, the response was minimal. It was enough, but I would've wanted to hear more. Perhaps it was the type of questions, or the way it was phrased that didn't incite thought-provoking responses -- not sure. Dylan, a fellow deep thinker in my program, went a little more complex in his answer to one of the questions, and yet the speaker simply acknowledged the answer. Perhaps smaller groups could have set a better scene for discussion (for perhaps a resource-based economy that Dylan really wanted to talk about). 

The event was pleasantly interesting in structure, which became a nice surprise. The innovative idea of the rice allowed a bit more connection, but of course, we all knew we could eat later, so I'd hardly call it a simulation. Interesting, nonetheless, and it brought my considerarion to international issues such as poverty and hunger.

(A photo I entered into their Instagram contest and won a certificate for gelato)

Personally, I feel that resources and opportunities are key. If it could somehow be set that people in disadvantaged situations could choose to get an education or simply have a fair opportunity to switch income classes, that would help even it out. Another concept that came to mind was globalization. Yes, we would lose cultural aspects, history, and a big part of the diversity that makes up our world. But it's happening already, and globalization is what flattens our world and makes education and opportunities all more equally accessible to all humans on planet earth.

It's a difficult topic. How can we begin to comprehend this when the average American will have a car, own 2 televisions, and have the ability to even choose their food -- versus plain rice?

What are your thoughts on this? Charity events, world hunger and poverty, then the audience of study abroad American students -- impactful, or not?

Just an Ordinary Conversation

I think being here has made me a more all-around, deeper thinker. I'm actually seeing the ordinary as something surprisingly remarkable, and so, my posts have been less about what I'm doing and more of what I'm thinking and what's impacted me recently. There's so much documentation to keep up with that I just need my blog to be different. I'll try to keep it balanced for all my faithful readers, but for those wanting pictures -- Tumblr would be your best source. 

I knew it'd be a feat to get out of the American study abroad bubble in Florence, but I'm excited to share that it's finally picked up. Sad, I know, as I only have about a month left. But just in the last two weeks, I've met up with an Italian medical student twice, had dinner with an Italian family, and now had this deep discussion with this Italian boy about life under the Tuscan sun. (In contrast, I don't think I had an actual conversation with an Italian for the first month and a half.)

Life under the Tuscan sun: 
through the eyes of a young and hopeful Italian 

This boy is doing a short internship at our school. 
He's here for 5 days and from my perspective, taking a short break from school and being used by American students. The intermediate-level students have to give a presentation on Italian lifestyle, and he's the prime victim for information. 

The Americans sign up for an hour of conversation with him, and he practices his English (but due to that, I've heard few Italian words exchanged, even though ideally, the Americans are supposed to practice Italian.)

Well, after one such appointment he had, I happened to be in the library near him, and we started talking. 

The Facts

He's 17,

got 9 turtles (that multiply every year), 
eats pizza with his family every Sunday, 
and lives on the outskirts of Florence.

He goes to a scientific high school 
(here they are segregated into classical, linguistic, art, etc. depending on what you want to do. They think about this earlier than we do). 
Usually these students want to be an engineer or doctor, but of course, he says he doesn't want to stay in school till he's thirty. The doctors here don't have as much job security as we'd think, so it's iffy. 

He's traveled within Europe - Barcelona, Paris, and Germany, but doesn't think highly of traveling solo just yet. When I tell him about my trip, he accepts my reasoning but refuses to call it a vacation. 
"What's the fun in going by yourself? If I want to visit somewhere, I would want to go with my friends." 
I'm just waiting for the day he converts -- because I'm pretty sure I would have said the same thing at 17. (Actually, I thought something similar -- a fear of not meeting people to travel with -- only a few months ago in January: see Travel musings post here.)

Ordinary conversation: 
revealing the hopes and dreams of an Italian boy

We then talk about comfort zone, and despite not wanting to travel solo, he loves the idea of expanding your zone. He says that once it gets bigger, you can't go back. That life is about expanding that zone -- of course, he's demonstrating this with his hand gestures -- and seeing a little bit more each day. He likes changing it up, doing new things, and he explains to me that the idea of having a real job for the rest of his life scares him. 

"I feel this heavy burden on my shoulders," he says when describing his feelings, "knowing that I have to do the same thing over and over again for the rest of my life."

That thought proceeds to freak me out too, so I say, That's why we choose something we love. 
We both agree on that. 
He asks what I'm doing, and I tell him about the PA profession that I'm trying to get into. 
This is quite a difficult thing to explain, as PAs don't really exist in Italy. Only a handful of countries have adopted this profession. He's interested, so of course, I explain more about it -- why I want to be a PA, and the differences from a doctor. 
I'm pretty sure I convinced him it was the coolest job ever, because he consequently asked me if they have it in Italy and how he could become one. :) Who knows -- maybe one day it'll happen and I'll have recruited an Italian, a Florentine, into the pre-PA club. 

Like many Italians his age, he has never been to the United States. If he can, he'd also like to visit the top destination Italians go to when arriving in North America -- New York. But of course, that'll be a ways forward in the future, due to the unspoken obstacle of money. I say, anything's possible. It may be extremely difficult, but figure out your priorities. It can happen. But until then, continue to enjoy all the Europe has to offer. 

We settle on that. Does he want to stay in Italy for the rest of his life? 
His answer is equally elusive as the future: "I don't want to work here, but I'd like to live here." I'll leave that interpretation open to you. 

Well, there you have it -- the highlights of our conversation that made me almost late for class and him missing most of his lunch break. But it was worth it (at least to me). I'm learning to stop, take the time, and see a bit more of the world through someone else's eyes. Although my days are overwhelmingly busy (yes, the "study" in study abroad does exist), I'm trying to snatch every opportunity I get. 

I'm all for those moments that do not directly change my life, but are remarkable and memorable at the same time. All of these amazing experiences are finally catching up to my brain, and I'm so excited to share all these life epiphanies. :)

Missed Opportunities

When I got onto my train from Milan to Geneva (during my 11 day solo trip), I promptly decided to forgo deciphering the languages being spoken. Perhaps it was due to my miserably failed attempts, or the fact I thought any European language outside of French, Italian, German, or Spanish -- always sounded like German. I've no idea why, as I studied German for two years and should be able to recognize it. After mistaking Finnish, Dutch, and Lithuanian all for German, I finally conceded, confessing my lack of linguistic education.

So when two elderly ladies happened upon the seats behind me, conversing loudly in English (with some indecipherable accent -- I told you, I gave up), I felt taken aback. It then arose into a situation in which you could either disregard them as fetchingly obnoxious, or simply (and passively) listen in.

Opting for the latter, I heard a firm declaration: "We make our life what we want it to be."
As they discussed the life of a mutual friend (who had apparently been defying this mentality), I imagined myself in a movie, straining to figure out where this conversation was going.

"You cannot say, because this happened to me, I cannot be this. You need to stand on your own feet."

Such serendipitous words. After some vague back and forths about missing out on life opportunities, self-analysis naturally wormed its way in.

"Now, I could care less what people think of me. Because look -- even today, she is not free. Not free in herself to do what she wants." 

Rather than setting an atmosphere for criticism, the tone of these ladies mourned the regrets in life and made me reflect on how I was doing. Feeling more grateful by the moment for doing this trip, I vowed to deliberately choose to make the moments count -- to never shy away out of fear from past experiences or let myself limit my options. To make myself go out of the comfort zone (which we all have) and step out of the box.

Of course, it's one thing to apply this motto under unique circumstances, like when traveling or studying abroad. But what about in the daily humdrum of working life? Or even school?

Do we ever consciously realize when we fit the mold of others' expectations (versus our own) -- or is that a privilege left for others? When was the last time you felt like you couldn't do something because of something that has happened? Practical limits exist, of course, but we usually over exaggerate them, spinning them into excuses that simply grow larger and larger as we get older. 

I believe it's a healthy thing if you can recall choices you've made, and you sometimes wonder -- but what if? From the flip side, have you ever had moments when you chose the path that deviated from the "normal" expectations, and were rewarded with utter freedom? And you wondered how you ever could have considered doing anything else?

Too often we see our limitations more than our prospects, so I wanted to encourage everyone to initiate, to pursue, and shorten that list of missed opportunities.

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself any direction you choose."

Dr. Seuss

What to Do in Florence: The Gelato Guide

Gelato is Italy's regional variant of ice cream. Let me tell you -- it is far from overrated. Its history goes back to frozen desserts in ancient Rome and Egypt (when they brought ice and snow from the mountains to make it). It was served at banquets in the Medici court in Florence, but gelato did not become immediately popular and accessible until the 1920s and 1930s, after the first mobile gelato cart was developed in northern Italy. Containing less butterfat (4-8% compared to 14% in ice cream), gelato also typically has less sugar content as well -- perhaps the argument for being healthier? It's like a soft ice cream that contains significantly less air, so the flavor ends up being denser, tastier, and just plain delightful. :)

Here are some helpful hints when on your search for the real gelato in Italy:

THE RULES

1. Don't go for the obvious.

The beautifully decorated gelateria that's conveniently located next to the Uffizi Gallery or the Duomo? The one called Michelangelo's Gelateria (I'm making the name up) with hoards of tourists and boatloads of brightly colored flavors? Sorry -- but chances are, it's not going to be cheap, or tasty, or healthy, or authentically fresh. Go for the ones that may look like a hole-in-the-wall, or where the bins are covered with tin lids. The less the gelato available, the better, as it indicates that it's probably made fresh everyday. Ask to try a flavor before getting a wad of it in a massive cone: "Posso assaggiare. . . [the flavor]?" is a fairly simple way to ask to try the flavor, and you'll start on the path of becoming a gelato expert.

 Florence is one of the renowned cities in Italy for gelato --  don't settle for less.

2. Cone or cup? (Cono o coppetta)

Hate to break this to my anti-cone audience, but in my experience -- if you want quantity, go for the cone. It's usually almost always in greater amounts for the equivalent cost of the cup. If you want the pure gelato flavor, though, then the cup will give you that unmarred tasting of the classic Italian gelato. Personally, I started off always getting the cup, but I've learned that some flavors taste pretty great (or dare I say -- enhanced?) when combined with the crunchy dryness of a cone. Choose wisely.

3. Try new flavors.

Confirm how many different flavors you can choose, and ask what flavors generally go well together! Try something different each time (despite how tempting it can be to come back for your 'newly deemed favorite') and that way, you'll have an assortment of gelato to form a colorful picture collage upon your return from Italy. In addition, places that use the best ingredients will also use only what is fresh and in season, so take advantage!

Lastly, my recommendations:

1) La Carraia (first gelato picture above and also the one below) is one of my personal favorites. I direct all tourists in Florence to La Carraia. They've got a particular, mysteriously tasty flavor aptly named as the "La Carraia special" -- but it's one of the most popular. I also recommend the biscotti (cookies) but really, you can't go wrong here. The picture at the very top is "melone".

2) Another one is Gelateria della Passera. It's slightly more difficult to find, and I usually refer to it as the "hole-in-the-wall". The consistency is lighter, especially for their fruit flavors, but they are also freshly made every day. I highly, highly recommend the coffee flavor (Starbucks is put to shame). Both these places start at €1 for a massive scoop, and at La Carraia, €1,50 can get you two flavors.

Have I inspired you to go get gelato yet? (To my readers in the United States -- don't fret. You won't be the first I've inspired to make a run to Target for some pseudo-Italian gelato. :)

When done right, eating gelato in Italy will complete your experience here.
Get your gelato, enjoy some great conversation, and appreciate your existence on the planet for a few moments. :)

(yogurt & nutella)

What To Do In Florence: Making Masks For Carnevale

This past Sunday, our school gave us the opportunity to go to the famous Carnival in Viareggio, as a day trip. 

What is the Carnevale in Viareggio? 
In 1873, some wealthy people in Viareggio decided to have a parade of floats to celebrate carnival in the town square. Today, it is one of the grandest carnivals in the world. The large floats were originally built with wood and plaster, constructed by carpenters and ironsmiths. What's unique about Viareggio's carnival is the satirical depiction of political and daily life. It adds an extra level of depth, allowing us to reflect on societal problems as well as
The artistic craft continued to evolve, and in 1925, sculptors initiated paper mache -- thus allowing huge but lightweight figures to "float" in the air. I've never see anything like this before (more pictures to come soon) and the entire carnival's a thing to behold. There now exists a site that houses the floats, a laboratory where children can come learn the basics of paper mache, as well as a museum that houses historical carnival materials. In 2002, the Viareggio Carnival earned the title of "The Carnival of Italy and Europe."

To prepare for this experience, I participated in a workshop last week to make my own carnival mask -- guided by master artist Elena Bianchini. She introduced us to traditional paper mache techniques, teaching us about the history and culture of the Italian artistic craft. 

First, you take thick paper (originally made from melted clothing scraps -- the same kind used during the Renaissance) and lay it down with water + glue onto a face mold, which Elena can customize for different faces.

After 3 layers of this soft yet thick paper, Elena lets the mask dry for a few hours (or days, depending on the weather). This is the starting point, where we all received our own masks to work on.  

The next step was to take the glue+water material, and lay on some tissue paper to create a Renaissance effect. [Sidenote: These masks can be used for anything -- theaters, carnivals, etc.]

 Here's my mask after that step:

Then, a layer of white acrylic paint… and then we painted our masks from creativity. I did look up some images for some artistic inspiration!

The final art product! Artistically asymmetrical, which was unintentional. . .

And here are some photos of masks that Elena has made. Contrary to what most people would think, the simpler the mask, the classier. Elena describes to us the unfortunate degrading in the quality of masks -- the ones that sell for a few euro on the street, are extremely elaborate, and are made of plastic. Her masks can last years upon years of use, if taken care of properly. 

Being able to work with my hands to craft a mask was such a fun and unique experience! By participating in this workshop, I felt even more connected to understanding the value of masks in Italian history and culture. Not just learning about, but also participating in these Italian traditions (as well as getting a glimpse of the life of a Florentine artisan) was such a enriching experience. 

I'll be sharing pictures of the Viareggio Carnival soon -- and I promise, the pictures will NOT disappoint. (I may or may not have taken over 350 photos in under 5 hours. . . )

When in Rome, Pt. 1: Be A Tourist

As we're trekking across the streets of Rome, my anticipation shows as I'm walking with an awkward blend of a bounce and a skip. It's our second day of the 4-day Rome trip with the school (Feb 20-23), and we were walking briskly hiking with my art history professor, Angela.

To be honest, Rome didn't impress me at first. Cigarette smoke filled the alleyways. I felt like I was "just" in another city in Italy. And I didn't have much appreciation for it before -- my studies and interests never went too far into the architecture scene, and the last time I studied Roman history (albeit I found it fascinating) was in 8th grade. 

But look past the graffiti, the gypsies, the tourists (why yes, I've felt so cushioned by people that I could have fallen from 20 stories and been perfectly safe), and you'll see a well preserved city of culture and history where Italians live from day-to-day.

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For me to sum this up in one blog post is impossible for me -- hence, there are multiple posts. Here's a glimpse of this beautiful city that combines ancient and modern like it's nobody's business.

What they don't tell you is all the (re)construction that is going on in Italia! History cannot remain preserved forever, and things are slowly falling apart. I didn't expect the Colosseum to be -- excuse my bluntness -- the crumbling wreck that it was, and I had to mentally envision what it would have been like back then. Taller, fuller, complete, with sculptures in between. Crowded, full of various entertainment (of which I won't name), and most obviously, the stench of blood (both animals and humans). Contrary to popular belief, a number of Romans volunteered to be a gladiator. With winning came popularity, fame, and possibly freedom for foreign prisoners, if you will. Also, "losing" did not always mean death. It depended on how well/beautifully you fought -- quite a subjective judgment -- and they would not force you to fight to the death.

When I saw the Colosseum in person, 'twas difficult to believe it was built in less than 10 years. The intricate and structural design of it was not only on a massive scale, but deliberate in pairing detail with function. Absolutely unbelievable.

Pictured below is the Roman Forum (a forum being similar to a plaza) which started out as a marketplace but became the town center and hub for everything political and economical in Rome. For centuries, it was the site for public speeches, gladiator matches, and criminal trials. Of the many old and important structures, one that was new to me was the House of the Vestal Virgins. 

Who are they, you ask? Similar to a cult, vestal virgins were females who were priestesses of the goddess Vesta, designated to cultivate the sacred fire. It was a high privilege to be chosen, and basically, you received the best education offered to women for 10 years, then you served as a priestess for 10 years, and the remaining 10 years, you trained the future vestal virgins. All you had to do was remain a virgin.

If you broke this rule, you were, in short, buried alive. They put you in a prison with a loaf of bread and a cup of water, then would ignore your existence. You starved to death underground. Aside from this, life was pretty wonderful for them -- they didn't have to marry, and as free women they could go about as they pleased. To give you an idea of how powerful they were, if a condemned prisoner saw a vestal virgin on the way to their execution, he was automatically pardoned. There's so much information out there about this tradition that lasted for 1000 years -- I highly recommend looking more into it, if you're interested.

Of course, we visited the famous Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi). Why Trevi? Merely a combination of two italian words: tre+vie, which means 3 roads, referring to where the fountain converges. The water is supplied by an aqueduct that is almost completely underground. If you decide to visit, be forewarned that this is one of the busiest tourist spots in Rome. If I could do it again, I'd come in the evening or sunrise for some great photos!

Recognize the Pantheon? Commissioned by Marcus Agrippa during Augustus' reign, then restored by the famous Hadrian. It is one of the best preserved Roman buildings. Quite an experience to be standing here and seeing something so ancient in history standing amidst modern Rome. The strategic and well-designed architecture paved the way for the Renaissance and hugely influenced how Brunelleschi built the famous dome of the Duomo (Cathedral) here in Florence.

A perfect sphere could fit perfectly under the rotunda/dome of the Pantheon.

In our free time away from major tourist spots, a few of us decided to search for the elusive keyhole. (Read more it with this article I found online here.) We stumbled upon this panoramic view of Rome, taking our time and savoring the moments.

(In case you were wondering, the girls above are triplets. So you're not really seeing double or triple ;) Thankfully, the weather was cooperative most of the time.

We did end up finding the elusive keyhole, which ended up not being that elusive because of a line of 30 people standing behind this keyhole. Apparently, you can see St. Peter's Basilica through it.

I thought my photos were great until I saw the website I linked you to above.. Take a looksie if you want to see what I actually saw when I looked through (and not a blanked-out, white view). Here's the site again: The Story of the Rome Keyhole Photo

And… Vatican City. The country within a country, separate from Italy. People who work here do not pay taxes to the Italian government, and have much better-paying jobs. It's difficult to obtain one and quite prestigious to work here. Only about 900 people live here, and the main income for the state is the sale of postage stamps, souvenirs, and museum admission fees. (I mean, consider it. About 25,000 tourists pass through the Vatican museums per day… do the math?)

The museums are magnificent. I know you aren't supposed to use generic words when describing amazing things you see when traveling, such as beautiful, gorgeous, amazing, good, etc. but nothing else is coming to mind! I see all these wondrous (there I go again) works of art, especially, amidst this historic hub of art, Catholicism, and politics. Saw the Sistine Chapel, School of Athens, and the Gallery of Maps -- to name a few highlights.

Speaking of the Sistine Chapel, the backstory behind Michelangelo's world-famous ceiling fresco deepens your appreciation for the piece. In short, Michelangelo was a sculptor. The pope at the time commissioned him to work on his large and elaborate tomb. Reluctant to work on the Sistine Chapel, when the pope was momentarily diverted in attention by a war with the French, Michelangelo left Rome and went to Florence. By some threatening to the Florentine government, the artist was coerced to come back to Rome and work on the ceiling. He hadn't done frescos for years and wasn't properly trained -- so it was a long process of frustration by trial and error. To say the least, Michelangelo had to design his own scaffolding system and worked from a standing position.

When his work was condemned for having nude characters (not suited for a church), Michelangelo displayed the god of the underworld as having the face of his accuser Cesena, with his genitals bitten off! Artists are quite creative with retaliation -- shows you how human these great artists are. (Fun fact: it was painted over after his death, and in 1993 -- so recently -- during restoration, they discovered this original depiction..).

The fountain above is located in Piazza Novana, called the Fountain of Four Rivers (Fontana die Quattro Fiumi), with an Egyptian obelisk. For a long time, Romans avoided walking near the fountain because they were afraid the obelisk would fall off at any moment. This was one of many "firsts" of architecture, and no one's sure yet about how Bernini was able to place the obelisk there in the first place -- it's immensely heavy. (This is one thing that is so amazing -- the artists back then were also engineers by profession..) It wasn't until an earthquake many years later until they trusted that the obelisk would stay solid there.

It's all a part of the counter Reformation movement -- where many, many public works of sculpture and architecture were strategically commissioned to redirect people to the papacy: that the Catholic church held the world together.

In Part 2 of the Rome posts, I'll be sharing rest of Rome in less-touristy photos. We did an unbelievable amount in a mere 3 days, as the 4th day we spent in Tivoli, Italy -- an UNESCO World Heritage Site. I'm giving Rome more credit now. It surpassed my expectations and there's always more to see!

"Rome is the city of echoes, the city of illusions, and the city of yearning." - Giotto di Bondone