Today is our last day of lecture. That is so crazy to me. I feel like I have only been here for a week, and now I’m in my last day of lecture. We had a pretty fun night being able to hang out with some of the science students – one of them, it was her 21st. That’s so weird to celebrate a birthday in Italy. Pretty sure she had a good time. Not going to lie, it’s funny when the science kids decide to enjoy themselves, a maybe have a bottle of wine between maybe 4 people at dinner, the dining room gets about twenty times louder and it’s so amusing. They’re probably all feeling awesome this morning. When I think about it sitting outside in the sun during our class lecture break, I can’t help but laugh.
Caroline just read us her notes to “Dr Frank” from our lecture yesterday about how his lectures are less exciting than watching paint dry, in a dark, boring room. Beige, concrete, no windows. I just died. Sona morta. And she reminded me that yesterday during our afternoon lecture, our other adorable teddy bear teacher who lectures in the morning, fell asleep in the back of the class while Frank was lecturing. Please tell me no. It was awesome.
We also had our dessert wine tastings yesterday. And our first wine, somewhat sparkling, was amazing. And when Frank asked us who liked it, all the girls and I raised our hands, and we couldn’t help but laugh because it reminds us of the sparkling wine we always order on Sunday nights. It’s so sweet but so good. But then the rest were similar to straight wine shots – wine tasting like brandy is not my idea of a good wine. For all those looking for a good “dessert” wine (which does not mean it pairs well with dessert, but that it’s intended to be your dessert), I can give you some good recommendations. But I may be enjoying a Chardonnay by myself.
Tomorrow’s our field trip to Montepulciano. We’re going to be on our own. Cantinas and enoteccas. It’s going to be a pretty amazing trip. From what I hear, most of the caves that you go into, they store wines, and they have free wine tastings, no obligations. I’m going to try to take my computer and catch up on what I really did last week. It’s getting more and more blurry about the things that we do. Caroline and I just tried to figure out what we did Monday night. It was only 2 nights ago, can’t remember. I do remember getting gelato the past two nights. Not doing that anymore. It’s so good, but so not needed after Tonino’s dinner everynight. Which last night, was quite delicious, but Katie and I definitely needed something sweet.
But in figuring out what we did Monday night, I had to think about what I wore. And I remembered I wore my apparently “very Italian” pink shirt. After dinner, the girls and I went and got gelato, and went down to the wall by the old church, and took pictures with the sunset. They actually turned out fairly decent. Wind blowing and all, it was a pretty awesome feeling to sit on an old stone wall, looking out over the valley, with the sun going down. It was gorgeous. After we went and got some bottles outside Lions Well, and the owner and his best friend were having dinner next door, so they asked me to come “hang out” – not the words they used at all. I never thought I was that sarcastic of a person, but I get that feeling now. I make too many jokes, that clearly don’t translate very well. Most Italians if you make a joke with them, just laugh. And then we all started realizing that they weren’t laughing because it was really that funny, but because they really have no idea what you’re saying. Most of the them have picked up Italian from the groups of UGA students that have come through. But there was this adorable little boy riding his bike around in circles outside the restaurant where we were sitting, and they called him over and he tried to introduce himself in English. His parents were sitting across from us, and were so amused by their little boy trying to speak English to me. He shook my hand and scurried back to his bike. Makes me miss little kids so much.
Speaking of little kids – Burton staff leave today for camp. My news feed is overflowing with how excited they are. And all I can think about is how dead I’m going to feel next Thursday, after a ten hour, maybe more if we have to fly the other way around the world again just to get home, and have to be at camp at nine in the morning. Sorry Drew, I’m about to be the most useless staff member during set up, ever.
My teacher just said, “today we’re trying some Italian champagnes…” Seriously, how do I get credit hours for this? And now I have some random drunk guy from back home facebook chatting me, telling me I need to go to bed. Pretty sure it’s about ten here, four there. You need to go to bed buddy. Stop asking when I’m coming home – haven’t seen you in maybe over a year or two. It is somewhat amusing to be six hours ahead. As Scanlan would say, ‘how’s the future?”, it’s pretty awesome. I feel so productive because the clock on my computer and phone is still set for Georgia time, and so when I send e-mails, it makes it look like I got all my work done super early for Drew. Note to all you wine enthusiasts – don’t swirl your sparkling wine. It kills the bubbles. Side note. Plus goes well with deep fried or raw dishes.
But that reminds me of how amazing Georgia is going to feel. Being here is more than amazing, it still feels somewhat surreal. But I wore my Braves jersey today (I even ran down the hill this morning to grab Caroline and I some cokes from the local fruit stop, in hopes of not falling asleep in our last morning lecture ever), and I felt so American. My Chipper Jones tee and yoga pants and Keens. Ha. I so don’t blend, but I’m somewhat over that. I somewhat feel like a celebrity here, because you’re like a wild species. When people see you they get somewhat excited, like “o, that’s one of them”. Referring to one of the UGA students basically. We’re pretty famous. But I can’t wait to go to a Braves game – I hear they’ve been one a somewhat five game win streak, winning record now at 22-20 and maybe not too far out of first. That’s awesome. I miss watching Heyward, only four days older than me, casually walk up to the plate and destroy a ball out of the park, casually stroll around the bases, gives maybe Chipper or Prado a high five, and get a check for more money than I will see in my lifetime. Yea no big deal, I don’t feel so inferior because of that. Maybe we can celebrate our 21st’s together when I get back in August. Absolutely cannot wait for that. I’m getting old. And being able to order a bottle of wine, in Italian, and pay ten euros for a good Chardonnay, absolutely does not make me feel any younger. Camp will bring the inner kid out soon enough.
In talking about what to do when I get back – Tiger Mountain winery and vineyard. Come August, I’m absolutely going for a visit. Who knows, maybe it’s something that I see myself involved in. I can’t wait to go see the grapes they’re growing and their vineyards. They have an annual harvest party on September 11. I’m so there, and I’m about to be a wine club member. Maybe intern spring semester. Nashville will be hard to give up, but so is wine. Who knows, maybe instead of owning my own restaurant or event venue, I work in a vineyard and host wine tastings. Seems like a pretty reasonable life – and I would love nothing more to spend more time in the north Georgia mountains.
And I have to write how I just started laughing during lecture, only thinking about Claire and how she made it all the way down to the school from the dorms and inside before Caroline C asked her if she planned on wearing her tshirt inside out all day. Only you Claire – and that’s why we love you. Somehow I just typed my way through our entire Sparkling wine lecture. Makes the time pass.
Ps. There will be themed wine parties when I return to Athens – get ready 111.
I’m intrigued to read more Captivating this afternoon. I’ll hopefully get some sun, some reading and maybe even a run in today.
But Daniel, who leaves today, just passed me outside. He takes off today around two. And he just made a comment to Billy that got me thinking. He leaves today, but said it’s weird because he’s leaving, knowing he’s coming back. When all the students left last semester, he said he had to watch them leave, knowing they wouldn’t be coming back…
I will make it back. It may not be in a week like Daniel, but I’ll be back. I want to travel through Italy, maybe even Europe. So Garrett, start saving your “paid work days”. Sometime after I graduate, which is weird to think is in less than a year, we’re going backpacking. I promise to pack lighter than this trip. And Deirdre and whoever else who gets around to reading this, and is up for the challenge, we’re going to do it. We’re going to travel by bus and train to some of the most famous cities, just to say we’ve been there, and some of the least, because most of the time these are the most breathtaking. Stay in hostels (but not like the movie, please). I want to hike and enjoy different cuisines. I want to see the coast and hike up a volcano. I want to take a long train ride, riding backwards, and sleeping in a sleeper cell. I want to visit old cemeteries, and churches, and prisons, and caves. I want to drink more wine and try my luck at different languages. I want to see the art and the architecture and feel so immersed in history. I want to be part of other cultures and experience life as someone who’s not consumed with TV, sodas, fast food, and exercising, which is so American, and so not as much fun as being Italian. And I want to write about it and share it with my future, whether its my husband or kids, and I hope that it explains somewhat who the person I was, and the person I became…
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