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Today I packed my things. Damn.

I have been feeling ready to go home, specially since I have not been there for a year. But last night, walking through this city I couldnt help myself. It is overwhelming for sure. I went by the baptistery with Igor and neither him or I could believe the incredible piece of architecture that we saw in front of us. I told him on one of our first nights here that I would never take that building for grounded and I never did. Every time I went by it something inside of me shrunk a little. 

Florence is absolutely spectacular. When I look back to my semester I just cant believe it. This place has given me so much more than what I give it credit for. True, I never felt like this was a life changing experience, neither did I feel anywhere close to being friends with most people in the program. They are great, but they are just acquantances. People that I will look back to and think to myself “They were nice, but I didn’t get to know any of them really”. Its mostly my fault tho, they were open to be known. Im just too cocky to make friends I guess.

I am going to miss Florence

When I first came to Italy I had an idea of how it would be like, and Florence was not exactly it. I found in Florence unexpected things, yet it was Palermo where I was exposed to the Italy of my dreams.

What a city, what a city… The place to go to is called Ballaró, named Little Amsterdam by the locals. Ballaró is a mix of everything, it is in the middle of the historic center of the city and while at night it becomes Amsterdam during the day is one of the most colorful markets in the world. 

People in Palermo are open hearted, they talk to you for any reason. All they want is to talk, to chat, to be nice and to have a good time.

And the food, oh the food!! Its not only good, not only fresh out of the ocean, not only made with love but also cheap as hell.

Palermo, ti amo!

As an international student in the US, rarely do I get homesick. I am already used to not being at home, or to make out of other places another home. Italy is a wonderful place, but I have not been able to make it a home. Maybe its because I am not surrounded by the kind of people I am used to, or maybe because now I long for two homes (Chicago and Lima) but at this point I am ready. 

I am not ready to leave, I am ready to have those who I love next to me. Ever since Shanni left its been harder and harder each day, she brought back to my mind how wonderful things are elsewhere. 

I cant get enough of Italy, that is true, but I also cant help but miss the ones I love.

After the program ends I am going to Peru, where it will be summer, it will be warm, food will be good and my mom will be waiting for me to decorate the house with little ornaments and to go to the beach. Every time I think about it I just cant wait to be home.

Here I have learned to appreciate churches more than what I ever did in my life, to look at renaissance paintings without feeling like they are mono-thematic and to walk the streets like I own them. 

I also learned about Sandro Botticelli, my favorite renaissance master.

He is the embodiment of poetry within visual arts, he has the color palate, the technique and the imagination that most lacked before and after him. He made the change happen in the times of Lorenzo il Magnifico. 

I thought Florence was grandiose until I found myself in Rome. That city is truly majestic!

As the center of the world for so many years, the things that are to be found within it are incredible. At each turn of a corner you either find some incredible Bernini statue, a beautiful fountain, a church or an ancient ruin. 

Rome, what a place!

This last week my little Shanni funny pants came to Florence to visit me during her quarter break. It was the best!!

She is in optometry school now, and that stresses her out a lot because its very hardcore to be a doctor. When she got here my mission was make her relax and enjoy and I think I did a pretty good job. 

On top of everything, I just loved so much every second we spent together. She made me remember all the good things in life, like the insane love I feel for her, and also all the great things that I have waiting for me in Chicago once I get back.