6 Months Out

It's officially been six months since I left Rome.

For about 4 and a half of those months, talking about Rome made me sad, although I knew how much fun I had, and what an amazing opportunity it had been, but I couldn't help but be sad about it. Sad about friends I missed, unique opportunities I thought I wouldn't have again.

A lot has gone on in the 6 months since I've left Rome. I started a job that I love, that took over my summer that I loved every second of. I became a senior in college, and I moved into an apartment by myself without any furniture, and my (nonverbal) brother outed me at his birthday dinner (long funny story).

Although I was back home, surrounded by those that I love, working in a job I couldn't get enough of, I was always a little sad, low grade depression, I felt like that awkward ball from the depression commercial. I would sit and think of all of the fun I had, doing nothing at all. It wasn't a cute look.

Finally school started, and all of my friends were back in town, and classes started up again, which proved to be a challenge between my already busy work and social calendar, I was able to reconnect with my friends from Roma, and begin to get the hell over myself.

I've begun having a lot of fun, mixed with super boring nights in, asleep by 10:00 because I am le tired. My irrational "depression" finally lifted and I finally started doing things I love again. I randomly walk around neighborhoods, and started remembering what it was like to explore a new area, living in a city of so many. I felt like Colleen was back in my head telling me to do fun things, and get out of the IC.

Thank god I got over it, and am having darn good time, more blogs still to come. Thank god I finally realized that life is still a postcard.

From the Plane: Round 2.

As I look back at my first blog from the plane, I realize what a

little punk I was when I was leaving. I mean, of course I still stand

by my assertion that I didn't need to find myself but to sit and take

the time to think, but everything else about it was just garbage.

Having left, finished studying abroad, and all that comes with it, I

can honestly say studying abroad was the time of my life. MISSION

ACCOMPLISHED: GO ME.

But in all seriousness, Im sitting on a plane home next to some hot

mess girls from John Cabbot who keep screaming through their tears "I

don't know how I'm going to go on" I pretty much feel the same, I just

don't have anyone to cry to, nor am I still drunk from last night.

(I'm guessing from her slider speech, and inside out forever 21

shirt).

I leave Rome having taken more than my fair share of memories. I

didn't say no to anything, I have no regrets and I am happy to say it

was the best time of my life. Although I am going to call myself out

for a few things.

How the hell did I write in my first blog that "I had to make this

experience for myself" having been through it, I know that I had such

a small part in my happiness that it is laughable. The campus, all of

the SLA's, Mike, and everyone I met made me happy, gave me the time

and experiences that made this semester unforgettable.

Ireland; wait, really

We got to Ireland in the late morning flying into Dublin. We got
directly on a bus and headed out for Galway, where we were staying
that night. We got in in the afternoon and got settled in, notably
exhausted from the crazy day of tours the day before and the 8 hours
of travel. We posted up in the lounge and took a lot of advantage of
the hostels free coffee machine. When we finally got out of there it
was dinner time so we walked around saw a couple sights and tried for
more food. We got a recommendation, but it ended up being more
expensive than we wanted. The pound had kicked our asses the days
before. Some locals spotted us very desperate and let us in on their
favorite place, the cellar.

We got there, and were met by Jesse. Quite possibly the nicest person
any of us have ever met. She told us things to do, and recommended
some great beers and food. Plus she was hilarious. I'm jelaous of
people in the UK Becuase they can be completely crude but it's okay
Becuase they have a cute accent and everyone does it. Unfair. Our
dinner went on for almost three hours; turns out you can take the
students out of Italy, but you can't take the Italy out of the
students.

After we went places Jesse and "Patrick" at the hostel told us to go.
We stated at a huge pub whose name I can't remember, I'll check my
bank statement (eeek) and get back to you. It was big, full of Irish
people and had a love band that people were up jiggin to. It was quite
the scene. Then in walks the one and only Anne Bottaro. She happened
to be in town with her family and clearly we had to meet up. It was
great to see her, and to celebrate may day with her; plus she bought
me a Guiness, all things coming up Luke.

To end the night we all went to "the silent disco". It sounded crazy
but ended up being 5 of the best euro I've spent in the last few
months. Everyone got headphones and no music was played traditionally,
there were two DJ's you could select from the  headphones and at least
one was amazing at one time. Wha essentially happened was a rediculous
dance party where everyone was SCREAMING singing along and no one
could hear, but we were dancing together. In other words it was the
best time ever. On the way home we stopped in to SuperMac's; of course
in Ireland I had my first fast food on my trip. Something in my head
said "Taco Fries, those sound amazing" so I got them. Sure, they were
amazing, but holy hell was I embarrassed to be seen with those, woops.
When in Ireland.

The next day we woke up and waited for our tour bus to pick us up for
a trip out to the Cliffs of Mhore. We thought it was a straight shot,
but it ended up being an all day, 10 stop tour of a lot of western
Ireland. Our tour guide Paul was hilarious, always the first to crack
a joke. At lunch, the girls were all shamelessly flirting with the
bartender, and Paul saw. Betsy was in love, and left her number. Paul
called her OUT, he knew Shawn, he was 19, and Paul made sure the
entire bus knew what happened. It was hilarious.

The cliffs were beautiful, something I didn't really expect, and I
can't really put into words. It was a view like none other and again
it was all natural. We made our way back to Galway, and then got
directly on a bus to Dublin where we were staying that evening.

We got in around 9:30 and checked in to our hostel and headed out. We
walked past temple bar, used thier ATM and moved on. We spent a few
hours in a pub talking about how much fun our trips together were, and
how sad we were to go. Betsy, Will and I were heading back to Venice
the next day. Will and I spotted a club below the bar we had been in
and had to go check it out. We said goodnight to the girls after
trying to convince them to come to no avail. We went in and tore stuff
up for a little while, dancing like idiots and making random friends
who were pretty impressed with my knowledge of 2004-2007 rap music. Up
at 4:30am to head to the airport, agh, traveling.

London; Land Of the Queen

Will and I got in to London at two after our emotional morning leaving campus. We took a train in from Gatwick and tried to find our hotel. We had to go check in at a hotel and then we were cabbed over to our rented apartment. After a fail of an hour and a half we found the hotel, and got brought to our apartment. The apartment was pretty big, private, and only a few tube stops from the center of town.

We looked through our guidebooks and realized that during finals we didn't plan anything of this trip and thought we would just figure it out. The lack of language barrier was a welcome change. We headed over to the Soho neighborhood to check it out and get dinner and maybe dance (just a little). We found THAI FOOD and we just simply had to go in. It was good, cheap, and I was into it. We went dancing and headed back wore the tube ended at midnight and went to wait for the girls in

our apartment (I love saying that). They didn't end up getting there until after 4am, and I had to stay up to let them in, the downside of apartment life.

The next morning will and I got an early start while the girls slept in and went over to the tower of London and had a huge breakfast before we went in. We walked in all VIP like with the London Pass we decided to buy. The tower of London was crazy with all of its history of torture and craziness and all of the jewels we saw, although we

skipped the crown jewels. The line wasn't worth it. Then we went up tothe Tower bridge and took in awesome views of London and the exhibitions explained some of the architecture of London. Then we headed down to the Tate modern museum and looked at some amazing modern art. It was so nice to see modern art, something I missed in Italy.

We met up with the girls and walked across the millennium bridge and looked up at St. Paul's. We then went over to Picadilly Circus and got some coffee. Something about the collective exhaustion and new coffee buzz made us all crazy and we literally stood around laughing trying to find a place to eat. We epically failed and ended up eating street fish and chips on Bond street. Woops.

On our second full, and sadly last day in London we were up early to fulfill the itinerary Will had so dutifully prepared. We started by going over to Portobello road, the awesome market street in London. On the way we got off the tube and we were trying to figure out how to get to the market a few streets away. The cutest old British woman came up and asked if we needed help, we old her what we were trying to

do, and she said she would walk us there. This was one of the many amazing interactions with Brits we had. They were all so nice, it was out of control. At the market it took every bone in my body not to buy every vintage watch, piece of crystal, and silver in sight. My already stuffed baggage came to mind and I sadly walked away empty handed.

Off we went to Kensington gardens and Hyde park. On the way Lars (laura) came 6 inches fro literally being killed while not looking the correct way as she crossed the street. I hadn't seen much green space in the city yet and I was shocked by the size of the parks. We walked through just chatting and noting all of the things we loved about

British culture. From the formal greetings, to the super direct Names for things like "way out" and "push chair". The parks were great, we napped in the sun for a hot second and walked our way over to Buckingham palace. We came, we watched, and we saw a brief guard changing (it wasn't that cool, let's al stop lying to each other).

Next, We walked over to Westminster abbey and big Ben, we were on a sightseeing marathon. Will and I flaunted our London Passes again and went inside while the girls napped wit big Ben. It was cool to be within a place where so much history has taken place, and where so many famous people a buried. It's so crazy, Dickens, Darwin, royalty; I mean really London? We get it. U took a lot of illegal pictures, a

skill I've honed in a semester of travel to historical sights, it's really the greatest skill I've picked up woke abroad. That and an amazing taste for a good carbonara and a judgmental eye for wines. We made our way back over to Lieshter square to score a great deal; just wait for it.

We got tickets to see Les Miserables on the west end. I know, it was awesome. Will and I had seen these half price ticket houses all over London before the girls got there and we made the proclamation that we were going with or without them. When they got in town, one of the first things they said was "we want to see les mis" it was meant to

be. The whole trip kind of just worked out like that. Will and I wanted to go to London and Dublin/Galway and so did they. We kind of

booked our own stuff and then ended up being on a couple of the same flights. CRAZAY.

So we went to the ticket store in the tube stop and asked for five tickets. There were five available in the balcony for a ridiculous price as we got on it. We went to get some more traditional fare and coffee before the show; holy fried food London, it started to get a little redundant, and we all proclaimed how much Italian food we can

eat and be really full but not feel as though we are going to die. Score 1 Italy.

The show was obviously amazing, it was on the west end. It was amazing. We went back to our apartment (never gets old) and had some drinks and got to bed early for our flight out to Dublin the next day. Oh London, I never wanted to leave.

That's Not Real

I just left the JFRC. I'm technically an alumni. This is the weirdest

feeling, I literally want nothing more than to stay there forever. At

the same time I cannot wait to go home and see my family and my old

friends that I miss dearly.

As we were saying goodbye to everyone outside the gates before we got

on the buses for the airport I wasn't feeling that emotional, rather

not letting myself feel emotional. Then I saw Colleen and sweet baby

Annie and I managed to keep it together. Until Annie turned around and

gave me her signature side eyes. I stated balling. So many things were

represented by Annie in that instant. Colleen, mike, the whole staff

and so many of my memories and happy times this semester I shared with

her as we watched her grow. It was a culmination of all of the

feelings I didn't want to feel.

 I got on the bus and waited to leave and I absolutely lost it.

It was actually clear that this was over. The place that made me the

happiest I have ever been is now in my past. As everyone boarded the

bus it only got worse, each of the SLA'S came on to the bus and gave

us a little speech, each got emotional (even Bryan) and the feelings

kept coming.

The director came on and told us that a part of the JFRC will always

be with us, and that we each left something at the JFRC. Literally

everyone was crying. Mike got on the bus to offer us a final goodbye

and we tried our best to get it back together for the bus ride.

Fail. As we pulled through the end of the driveway we saw all of the

SLA's and staff standing on top of the huge planter surrounding the

tree at the end of the driveway waving. Everyone again started crying.

Not the guarded cries we had before, but full on ugly cries we could

not control. I'm crying now awkwardly alone on my easyjet flight just

thinking of it. It was the perfect sendoff from the people that made

my semester transformational.

Last Two Weeks in Rome

What a whirlwind. I can vary recall what I've done and where I've

been. I can tell you one thing, it wasn't studying- it was spent in my

now former home; Rome.

I got back from geneva and was immediately met by all of my friends to

get all of the info on what they did while I was gone. That commenced

the largest marathon of going out, seeing, doing, living- that I have

ever been a part of.

I was either hurriedly writing a paper or (barely) studying or I was

out. At night, during the day, from museums to good old villa b. I

refused to waste a second. I honestly can't seem to remember many

specific details of things I did, to you know, brag about in my blog,

but I can tell you it was the most fun I've ever had.

It was like everyone was in a study abroad brochure for two weeks.

Everything we did was an experience no matter how seemingly normal or

commonplace it was. Waiting for the 990 was fun, everything was fun.

So; that was my blog about nothing, you're welcome.

Sundays

Sunday's. I would argue (pretty well) that Sunday's were my favorite
days while I studied abroad. Sunday's at home suck, let's be real.
Laundry, homework, obligations. Well let's be serious. None of that
happens here.

Around 9 or 10 we all somehow convene. It's never planned but it
always seems to happen. We sit around and talk about what we all did
that weekend, how many countries we got to, what awesome stuff we
finally took the time to do in Roma. Everyone loved it, because we all
cared, we all wanted to hear (and we wanted travel tips).

Maybe we had some wine, maybe we didn't do any work. Maybe it was my
favorite part of every week. This little accidental tradition was one
I looked forward to, I was always so happy to be getting back to
campus that I didn't even care how expensive that damn cab was.

I am going to miss Sundays. Next semester; Sunday night wine nights
with aperitifs. No Facebook invite, everyone will just know to walk on
over to Pratt and share our stories together. Deal?

Time to Think

What I'll miss. The time to sit and think. All of the idle time I have

grown used to while studying abroad and traveling. Not only Did I have

dozens of hours a week in travel time within Rome and traveling, but

there were so many less distractions.

I didn’t have my Iphone, I never put credit on my Italian phone, and after

a few hours of listening to the same music you have to just stop. You

have to think, and you do so willingly. Constantly seeing new things

makes you think, at lead it did for me, about myself, how I have

lived, and how I want to live in the future.

The time to think. That is what I know I will miss from my time

abroad, but thankful I am for the time I had to do noting but think.

8 Things

8 Things

I won't miss
The 990 loop
Dog poop everywhere
Mensa
Baroque everything
Tourists
JFRC Internet
Studying art
Potential death by taxi

I will miss

The Beazleys
Postcard bridge
Casually strolling past a Bernini
Travel
SLA's
The Mensa ladies
Melanzane
Sunday's

Svizzera- feelings not neutral

Switzerland with Rosemary, it was my last trip before the end of the
semester, one I really didn't have time for, but that I am happy I
took. I left for the airport in a car bright and early book in hand
for my ten page paper due three days later. It was nice to catch up
with Jessica on the way to the airport and got me ready for my flight.
I read my book and got all ready to see Rosemary!

I found Rosenary outside of customs and we made our way to the hostel.
We for there really fast because of really good public transit (duh,
it's Switzerland) and settled in to our oddly clean and nice hostel.

We got down to the lakefront in Geneva, which our hostel was really
close to, and walked around. We happened upon the water taxi stop, and
decided to take it wherever it was going. Public transit is free to
all tourists. We were all about it. We found a boat tour of the whole
lake, and booked it. While we waited we headed to the tourist
information offices to book some trips to mont blanc and other places.
When we got there, the friendly lady told us that those tours were a
waste of money, as the weather would be horrible the following day,
and the views would be nonexistent. She gave us the name of some
places we could easily take the train to ourselves and tour alone.
Thank god she did.

After the boat tour all around the beautiful lake, we hiked up to
St. Pierre's Cathedral, and clomped to the top to see the amazon panoramic views
of the lake from above. We went out in search of dinner and failed to
find anything cheap, but managed to ind some decent Italian food for
not to punishing a price.

The next day we lazily woke up to get our hostel provided breakfast,
and regarded by all of the crazy age differences that were at the
hostel. There were people who seemed to be retirement age with huge
backpacks strapped to them, and kids with braces and younger. We
seemed the minority in what is typically seen as appropriate hostel
age. We went to the train station and bought out tickets for Gruyeres,
a town at the foot of the alps. I accidentally bought a ticket for a
child in first class instead of an adult in second class. It was a
stupid move on my part. It all got cleared up, as I paid some more
money to a conductor who scolded me. I survived.

We got there about two hours later and about a hundred pages into my
book. As we stepped off of the train we saw a mountain and village
above us and to the left and a cheese factory in front of us. It was a
good place to be. We went in to the factory and visited the gift shop,
buying important things like wine, white chocolate Toblerones, Swiss
branded lip balm, and macaroons.

We made our way up the hill and into the small town dating to the
1200's, through a castle, and below to a nice little secluded bench to
look up at the mountains which were like nothing I had seen before
while drinking some wine. After visiting a church and amazingly
organized cemetery we made it back to the town square and went in to a
local eatery with a hankering for some fondue. We failed at ordering
it, and ending up with some monstrous cheese blog with ham, it was
good, but holey cheese. As we walked back towards the train we stopped
again at our favorite cheese shop/convenient store and stocked up. We
almost got on the train going the wrong way (Towards Gstaad), but made
it to the right train to Geneva.

We went back to the hostel to drop our good and ended up passing out
for three hours. After regaining consciousness we headed out to
finally get the fondue we so desperately wanted. We officially made it
a treat yourself dinner and had some awesome Champagne fondue, Swiss
wine and ice cream. We then decided to stop at a bar we had seen on
our walk to dinner. We went in to typical lighting, dance music, and a
huge bar. We walked up and ordered two beers and it was 19 francs. So
like $21. Woops. We drank those and headed back to the hostel.

The next day I had to head out around 4pm so we didn't know what to
do. Our good friend YouTube brought us to the Titanic trailer which
was on the most viewed because of its re-release. There. It was
decided. We were to see Titanic. And so we did. We walked around
Geneva, got some Starbucks (my first time in months, it reminded me a
lot of home ) and headed to the theater. Clearly it was amazing, but
in true Swiss fashion cost 24 francs a person.

I headed immediately to the airport after the three hour movie, and
said goodbye to my dearest Rosemary all the way until July. I made it
through security, and through my favorite (the duty free,
Duh) and went back on to Rome. I had a very productive flight wait
time, as I typed in all of the quotes I found for my paper, and two
blog entries.

Only a week of classes, 3 finals, and 10 days of traveling left. What
the hell happened?

Poland

I flew in to krakow through Munich Thursday morning (missing classes,
shhhh). Whatever we're not supposed to let school get in the way of
our education. Am I right John Felice? I got in before dad by an hour
and went looking for where to meet him, and found I had to walk
outside to get to the domestic terminal since he connected in Warsaw.
Interesting I know. All of this while skyping with Nicole while she
was at work.

He finally got in, after he had been delayed, and we made our way to
our hotel. It was great and we got a great recommendation for dinner
and hit the town before dads jet la kicked in. I started my hundred
pierogi tour and had my first sip of the famous Zubrowka vodka.

Passed out tired dad and I were out to prep for our visit to Nawa Huta
the next morning. We got up and got ready and waited for our pick up
for our tour. We went with a guy who said he worked with the company
out voucher was for. A half our later we found out he was wrong and
got hurriedly brought back to our hotel to find our correct tour.

We saw it for sure, as the tickets said we were to be picked up by a
Trabant, a communist era car. We got in, this tiny little car, and
headed to the "perfect" communist town. The town was very interesting,
and so war our guide. He was 7 when communism fell in 1989.

He brought us around to a cafe that was popular at the time, and asked
us if we wanted anything to drink while he told us about the history.
Seeing as it was ten in the morning we asked for water and he looked
at us dumbfounded and asked if we were sure we didn't want some vodka
instead. We obliged.

We walked around the town and he told us about how it has changed
since the time of communism, and brought us to an apartment that had
been preserved as it had been in communist times. The apartment was
small, 3 rooms total, and he said as many as six people could live in
any apartment. He told us how nearly everyone had the exact same
furniture. Before ending our tour he offered us some more vodka, and
then we made our way to the center of old town.

Walking through central square and cloth hall we went through some
churches and took in the immense beauty which was amazingly left
untouched in the war. We walked back towards the hotel to meet out
afternoon tour of the salt mines.

We got to the salt mines and went down a few dozen meters and saw
where so many were employed for so long. 300 miners are still employed
to simply preserve the mine for visitors. I liked a wall (no judging)
and saw some of the art that the miners made. The grand hall with its
chandeliers made of salt that is sill used for weddings and concerts
today was really cool. As we left dad bought a cross made of salt,
and kept trying unsuccessfully to find an amber ring for himself, I
had no idea yet.

Pooped from a full day of touring we went back to gather ourselves at
the hotel for another huge polish meal as recommended by our favorite
hotel worker. As we sat there dad went into the bathroom and I social
mediaed my little heart out on the wifi that was much better than that
back at school. When he came out he put his LAJ ring into my hand. The
ring had been his fathers and his, and was now mine. He told me that
he hoped the ring would give me strength it had given him as I enter
adulthood. It was something I had always wanted, but didn't expect. It
meant and means a lot to me and I wear it with pleasure and pride to
be a Jorwic and a LAJ.

The next day we were up and at 'em again for our our of Auschwitz and Birkenau

. The tours were obviously enlightening, interesting, and
extremely sad. I am happy we had a knowledgeable tour guide and I
really took the chance to lose myself in the moment. The fact that
over a million people had been murdered on grounds I had walked that
day is still something I can't really wrap my head around.

That night we took it easy, had more peirogi as recommended by a local
away from the downtown core. They were my favorite of the trip, but
Dad is still inconclusive. We woke up and headed to the train on
Easter morning to head towards Częstochowa and eventually Warsaw. We
made it on to our first train, somehow, as the train station was
horribly marked and I experienced my first "HOLY HELL NO ONE SPEAKS
ANY ENGLISH AND ALL I KNOW IN POLISH IS JEN KUH YEH" moment. Three
hours later we were in Częstochowa and as it snowed we tried in vain to
find the church we wanted.

Our train was in only two hours so we gave up, found the only
restaurant in town, got some pork, and Headed back to the train to
Warsaw. We easily got into Warsaw, and found our hotel. Immediately i
was amazed with the differences between Warsaw and Krakow. There were
skyscrapers, new things, Starbucks- I was immediately in love, and was
taken aback by what I didn't expect at all.

That night we just passed out after seven hours on the train and
rested up for our one day of touring in Warsaw. The next morning we
found our tour after a little anxiety about finding the correct one,
and headed out. The history of Warsaw, and it's complete destruction
in the second world war was not new to me, but I was surprised at how
completely it had been restored. Some businesses ran by the same
families, in the same place, and everything built as if to look
original. All at the same time of remembering what had happened with
pieces or artillery built into buildings as to never forget the
destruction.

We headed out to dinner in one of those rebuilt restaurants and had
our lady big hurrah and talks in Poland. The next day we headed to the
airport as our flights were within five minutes of each other (good
planning mom). I am so happy we had the opportunity to travel to the
homeland together and spend time that I am truly thankful for with my
dad. Every moment was cherished and none wasted.