Heaven's New Neighbor

This afternoon I got to go to a place I’ve never been before. It was a place nothing could go wrong, where every where I looked I saw beauty, and where I could be so at peace that nothing mattered but that time. I was somewhere that felt like the heaven’s neighbor.

Ok, I was really visiting my art history professors’ home outside of the city of Sansepolcro. I would have to say that it was beautiful beyond words. Their home, the yard, the views, and the community we all shared once everyone was gathered together almost brought me to tears. There I was with this new amazing, loving community I have become a part of in Sansepolcro, Italy. The Banker’s home has the most amazing view of the valley and the mountains, and if you haven’t noticed I am completely and totally in love with the beauty of mountains. If I wasn’t before, after this afternoon it has become official. Looking beyond the hills into the mountains of Italy brought this indescribable peace to my heart. I have come to this beautiful place, and sometimes the school work creates stress, but then I get to have community with beautiful people and even take a free dance class (which I got to do this evening) and I become filled with content.

How lucky I am to be an 18 year old (just give me a few weeks to make that 19 year old!) girl in Italy with 8 amazing girls, and professors who work as hard as I do every day to make this amazing program possible. John Rose, I’m not positive that this will count as an entry to you but I really do feel as though I learned something today. I learned that we have all created a new Meredith community here in Italy and this is a beautiful opportunity. I have already been touched by each student and staff in one way or another. Dr. Webb will continue to give her grunt each time I mess up my grammar by saying “me and someone” and not “someone and *I*.” Let me clarify that Dr. Webb has taught me much more than this in her class and out, and that every single class the conversations held have almost brought me to tears. She reminds me that this is ok because I am lucky to be here, and the things we are talking about are not “light.” John Rose will continue to worry that when I stare into the distance with a worried look on my face that I am upset about something, so I will make sure to smile more. The girls in the palazzo will continue to remind me of the wonderful community we have created, and that when December 6th comes I will have the most bittersweet feelings of my life!

Wow, I am blessed. Each and every one of us having this experience is blessed. It’s only been a month and each day I learn something about myself, this beautiful city, or just the world in general. I have never felt more so full of knowledge and insight. I have learned that I CAN run 40 minutes straight, I live in a beautiful small city in Italy, and this world is full of so much evil and madness that we never think of on a daily basis! I had to take my time to release this all. Now I pray I can release an ORGANIZED 8 to 10 page research paper by Monday! CIAO till my “next release”