Cinque Terre

A weekend full of hiking was exactly what I needed after a tough week of classes. I traveled to Cinque Terre (Five Lands), also known as “the place with all the colored buildings on the water,” along with 50 other CIMBA students for adventure. The towns were nothing like the sprawling cities traveling normally consists of, but the change was great and I soaked up as much of the ocean and mountains as I could.

I managed to travel to a few of the five cities over three days, including a two-hour hike between Vernazza and Corniglia. Halfway through the hike we stopped at a resting point, which happened to also be someone’s home. The elderly, toothless Italian man offered us water and a place to relax while he beaded necklaces and sanded rocks into different shapes. Meanwhile, we played with his cute dog, Leo.

This experience with the mountainous Italian man was definitely one of those never-in-America moments. Yes, looking back it does sound like the beginning of Taken 3, but it was also another example of the hospitality Europeans have offered me and my friends while abroad. It seems like in each city we were assisted in some way by a local. Whether by helping us to figure out the train and bus schedule, recommending a great restaurant, or just making our stay even more enjoyable with a local’s perspective. I’m thankful for all those people.

Coming up is Sicily for Easter break, finals, and then Dublin for a week before heading back to the States. Going home has been pushed to the far back of my mind for most of the trip. Besides family and friends, I haven’t missed much and I know I can go to any city here and get my American fix at McDonald’s, Starbucks, or Burger King. I’ve heard that reverse culture shock can be the worst, and I didn’t believe it until now. I’ve become accustomed to the slower lifestyle here, and I didn’t even realize it until I sat down to dinner with my parents in Florence and tried to get them to accept a typical three-hour Italian dinner. I like that I can’t understand the language half the time, the confusion when businesses close on random weekdays, how every pizza is a personal pizza, and that wine is on tap.

I’ve also really enjoyed going to school with a group of which I know everyone’s name, having teachers who know my name, and sharing weekly travel experiences with all those people. This program has really been a great change from back home at a school with 55,000 students, and I have enjoyed my time in a small setting. I’m also much more interested in exploring my state and country after seeing all that Europe has to offer. Summer trips are definitely in the works.

 

Ciao,

 

Ellen