Bests in Belgium

This past weekend, I travelled to Brussels and Brugge, in the beautiful land of Belgium. I was fortunate to be amongst my best friends, weaving through narrow streets and tasting fine chocolates, in a landscape speckled with fall foliage. The elegance and warmth of the scenery was a perfect complement to the company of my best friends. We convened in central Belgium, which became our anchor point for the weekend, although the majority of our time was spent in Brugge. Only an hour by train, Brugge was an intimate town of immense character. Delicate, sugar dusted waffles, heaping piles of warm fries with mayonnaise, and morsels of fine, marscarpone infused chocolate pleased my palate throughout the entire day. We were also able to sit down in tea shoppes, enjoy Christmas shopping and laugh as our silly, silly selves.

Conversing about our differential experiences develops my knowledge about how my  friends new homes have been transformative, as well as reminds me how much I appreciate my temporary home of Parma. Learning about Molly and Bridget’s host mom, the paella that is her staple dish, and the intricacies of the flamenco dance class that takes place on Monday evenings. are the small details of the conversation that give me a glimpse into life in Seville, even if I will never visit or life there. Rome occupies a completely new space in my mind when I learn of the places and experiences Krista has had while living there over the past few months. Despite the variable nature of our experiences, a common thread remains embedded in our desires; to enjoy the company of each other, return for our next semester at B.C. and continue to grow throughout the duration of this experience. 

Ciao for Now

For all those who have been following my travels, I thank you for your interest. I will continue to update my blog in the following weeks to come. This week has contained an abundance of examinations, commitments and experiences that have not been typical of my routine so far. I am excited to share the weeks to come, which will also feature travels to Brussels, Amsterdam, Athens and the Alps! Ciao for now!

Home for Halloween

This lovely weekend was spent in the locality of Parma. My home for the semester. the place where I belong. Amidst my trips and travels, I have truly cherished the chance to explore Parma and develop an enhanced sense of familiarity with my gravitational axis for these three months. Parma is unlike anywhere I have previously been. The nooks and crannies filled with numerous paninoteccas and handmade jewelry shops are truly unique- they comprise the authentic Italian setting I have craved to inhabit throughout my study abroad experience. So as I dance from one pananinotecca to the next, deliberating on whether I would like prosciutto crudo or cotto, my preoccupation about the revolving door of internships I will circle through when I return to Boston dissipates. Here, I am where my feet are, concentrated on what lies before me. The present dominates my thoughts. I am liberated from the past and future ; I am anchored to the immediate.

Halloween evening was much different than the traditional American celebration that occurs back home. With recent globalization patterns, American tendencies have transmitted to Parma, prompting acknowledgement for the holiday but a diminished prevalence of dressing up. Thereby, Halloween is not the focal point of the weekend. Rather, All Saint Day takes precedence; all stores and shops suspend activity for the day and families are able to convene in honor of their lost loved ones. Even so, I was able to carve a pumpkin with my little host brothers, Leo and Lo. The Jack-O-Lantern was quite spectacular, I must say. It even required an implant. The second tooth was mistakenly removed. With a tooth pick addendum, we managed to reconstruct the facial identity of the pumpkin. All restored, the carved masterpiece sat tabletop during our dinner.

After dinner, we managed to pump up the tunes. Ranging from Macklemore to the Beach Boys, we covered the spectrum. Queen was also included. The missing element was a song described as “duh-duh----duh-duh-duh-duh – HEY” by Lorenzo. A Shazam attempt to discover the tittle was unrewarded. However, I was able to decipher the beat-box of my little bro and pick up on the song as “On Top of the World” by Imagine Dragons. I am now officially cool on account of the little brothers. If the nerf gun fights didn’t impress them, this cemented my awesomeness in their perception. The impressionable moments like these are the things that authenticate and create my experience.  When I am dancing around the kitchen table, carving pumpkins, jamming to the Beach Boys, and eating Parmesan cheese, I feel on top of the world.