I've been back home for a week now... long enough to
start processing what I learned and experienced in Italy. Here are some of my observations/things that will stick with me:
- Beautiful buildings, artwork, and rolling hills
- Delicious, fresh food (especially tomatoes) that is thoughtfully prepared and presented
- Heat and humidity reminiscent of my time in Texas
- Lanes, turn signals, and speed limits all seem to be optional
- The 40-ish tunnels between Rome and Macerata
- The people don't acknowledge (smile/nod/greet) each other when they pass in the street - unless they genuinely know each other
- Once you've been introduced to someone, they are very warm, friendly and smiley
- They were very open about their strengths and weaknesses and open to questions
- Everything is smaller there: cars, rooms, roads, elevators, doors...
- Maybe not everything... the hills are pretty steep
- There's an attention to detail in everything they create (art, architecture, food) which far surpasses anything I experience on a daily basis
- The Mediterranean sun
- Olive trees and vineyards
- Solar farms
- Cities on hills with centuries of history layered on top of each other
- The amazing group of women with whom I shared this adventure
- The Adriatic Sea
- The clock tower
- The doors and door knockers
- Our university systems and government are very different, but we have a lot of the same issues
I learned more than I ever thought possible. I'm so appreciative of this opportunity, of the financial support I received, and for the new friends I made!
