A week full of Italian love

2 Californians, 2 Italians, & 2 Germans

A few weeks ago I decided that it would be a great idea to ditch class for four days and hop on a plane with Cina to Bologna, Italy. One of our good friends that studied abroad in Santa Barbara last year was graduating from her university in Bologna. A little background for you, last year Cina and I met an amazing group of foreign exchange girls. We lived with one of them, Christina from Germany and became close to some amazing Italians, Germans, and Irish girls. Giulia invited our group of girls to celebrate her graduation with her in Italy. Cina and I were not about to pass up an opportunity to spend almost a week with our dear friends we hadn't seen in over 6 months.
We arrived at the airport just a half hour before our 2 Germans arrived. It was so unreal reuniting with them not in Santa Barbara, but in Italy! We met Giulia and her sweet Italian mama at the train station and went to our apartment her parents so graciously rented for us for the week. We couldn't stop hugging and kissing each other. My heart was so, so happy to see my European family once again.

After sleeping in, we took a little tour of the wonderful city of Bologna. It had such a great, alternative energy. It has the oldest university in all of Europe and therefore had hidden treasures to explore that only a local, Giulia would know about. We went to her favorite cáfe and talked for hours about the differences in our countries and cultures. After eating our fair share of gelato we met up with another of Giulia's friends and went back to our humble abode to cook an Italian pasta dish for a potluck we were going to that night. This potluck was in a restaurant that didn't serve anything but alcohol. You bring your food and friends and then order drinks from the bar. What a fantastic idea! We met a load of Giulia's fantastic Italian friends and ate all of their delicious Italian food. After spending hours there, we went to a club to dance off everything we had just ate and drank. We headed home that next morning to get a few hours of sleep before waking up to see Giulia graduate! I was so content that night to not only be with my girls, but to meet so many new amazing people. I felt so welcomed, loved, and blessed to be a part of Giulia's celebration with her friends.

The next morning Giulia graduated and Ale (our other Italian) was able to make it to the ceremony just in time! We were finally all in the same place for the first time since the past spring in Santa Barbara. After the ceremony, the Italian graduation festivities commenced. In Italy, when a person graduates the idea is to embarrass them as much as possible. There were embarrassing photos of Giulia all over her school and we were carrying signs with other embarrassing photos of her. We sang Italian graduation songs and made her eat a jar full of awful food. We then dressed her in gangster clothes, drew a beard and unibrow on her face and taped armpit hair to the outside of her shirt. After making her look fabulous we met up with her huge Italian family for a lunch that would last till night.

Once in the restaurant we made toasts and ate for hours. I kept thinking what a blessing in disguise it was that I had studied in Spain instead of Italy. I would definitely come home some poundage heavier if I was living in that fabulous country. Spanish food is not so tempting for the vegetarians :) We drank amazing wine and gave presents and so much love. I could not help but think that I was in an Italian movie. I was with Giulia's extended Italian family and friends in a rented, underground room in an Italian restaurant with food, wine, and the Italian language filling all of my senses! What an experience that was! I also had a chance to talk with some of Giulia's family exchanging words in Italian, Spanish, and English trying to communicate with each other. They were so incredibly loving and kind.
After feeling like my Spanish siesta was much needed we went to Giulia's friend Giorgio's house to take an Italian nap, listen to music, and be with each other. We spent the evening there catching up on each others lives and making new friendships with amazing people. We went to a dance studio after that where there was live music, a bar, and places to play board games, etc. We tried playing some board games in Italian and realized the language barrier was going to make it a little difficult. That night was the last night we were all going to be together for a while. My heart was so happy to be with these girls, but I was so dreading saying goodbye. I didn't want to leave Christina's side. She became my big sister in Santa Barbara and it was such a comfort being so far away from California, but having a piece of it with me here in Italy with these amazing women.

The next destination was Viterbo, about 40 minutes from Rome to spend a little time with my best friend, Katie who is studying there for the year. We had also not seen each other yet in Europe and I was so excited! Instead of having to take a train to Viterbo, Giulia's cousin and aunt who are from Viterbo gave me a ride! I was so blessed to not have to pay for or take the train (that would take a good 3 hours longer) and spend some more time with her family. Pierpo and his super loving mama picked me up and drove me to Viterbo with them. Pierpo speaks English and we chatted about politics, vegetarianism, our countries, relationships, and religion for the 3 hours. I taught him some English and he taught me some Italian. At times he would translate what I said to his sweet mother. I knew he had translated "Kristen is a vegetarian," when they were both freaking out and shaking their heads at me. They were the kindest type of folk you will find and I felt so blessed to hitch a ride.

Seeing Katie made me the happiest I had been since in Europe. Her and her sweet friend Lucia picked me up and showed me around their medieval, walled-in city. We had amazing Italian pizza the size of 2 plates for each of us, sight saw, and met up with their Italian friends for drinks. Katie and I went into her favorite markets, cooked, and talked like best friends do. I would have been happy sitting in a trash can talking to her and loving on her, but I'm so happy it was in a gorgeous setting like Viterbo! The next day we spent more time in the city, picked delicious grapes, and explored a little more. Lucia's Italian roommates made us a vegetarian, Italian dinner and we had a great night of conversation and food. After eating dinner, Lucia, Katie, and I shared our strong opinions about feminism with some Italian men. We talked until 2 or 3 in the morning with them. Sometimes we spoke in Spanish, other times in Italian, and other times in English. It was an interesting conversation and made me realize how socialization has a massive affect on the way we think. Where we are raised, who raises us, and what our society conditions us to do from a young age mold so much of who we are. Needless to say, my new Italian friends didn't feel the exact way the 3 Californian women did about feminism :)
As we were walking through the city we saw the store that Pierpo's mom owned. We popped in to see if she was there and she was! She gave me a huge hug and kiss, while Lucia and Katie translated for me. I wanted to buy some things from her souvenir shop to support her business and say a little thank you, so Katie and I gathered up some gifts to purchase. After taking out our wallets she looked at us as if we were crazy and packaged everything up in a bag without letting us pay for anything! I didn't even know what to say. Her generosity spoiled me that day! Katie and I wrote her a letter that night, picked some lavender and gave it to her with a hug and a kiss. I promised to see her the next time I was in Viterbo :)
The next morning Katie and I met with her Italian girlfriends for a cáfe and pastry. They were all amazing and are all studying languages. I then realized that almost all of Giulia's friends in Bologna were also studying languages. Then I realized the Spanish friends I have in Granada are all translation majors or have studied abroad before. Coincidence? I think not. I think that studying in another country, learning another language or at least studying other cultures opens your mind and heart to meeting people of different cultures. Being the foreigner I am so grateful for people like this!

Saying goodbye to Katie on my train back to Bologna was one of the hardest things I have done since saying goodbye to my family the day I left for Granada. She is the closest thing I have on this side of the world and I couldn't believe that I had to leave so soon! I was so happy to have seen her Italian world and talk with someone who understands me. It was a memory I will have in my heart forever.
My flight the next day was out of Bologna, so I took a train back there for the night and my new Italian friends picked Cina and I up at the train station. Here are some people who weren't our friends 4 days before who went out of their way to pick us up, feed us, and give us a place to stay for the night! They were so helpful and the most friendly group of people I have encountered in Europe.
The next morning after taking a bus to the train station to catch another bus to the airport to catch our flight, Christina and I were finally in line at the airport. We flew with Ryanair which has a carry-on baggage weight limit if you don't want to pay to check your bags. Cina and I didn't think they would enforce the law until we saw them weighing a briefcase in the line in front of us. We freaked out and started putting all of the layers on we had in our bags. After waiting in the line a little longer sweating, the guy didn't even check our bags! haha We were cracking up and decided it was time to be back in Granada. It was an amazing week full of cultural experiences, best friends, food, and love. I came home feeling content, with a few more Italian phrases in my pocket and a few pounds heavier :) Gazie mille italia!