Life is Life

I haven't written in a very long time so I will quickly catch up and then dive into what is fresh on my mind.

I was in Ireland 2 weekends ago. The biggest surprise after seeing green stuff that grows out of the ground was the fact that I was naturally speaking Italian. Ireland speaks English. When someone would ask me something I would respond with "Si" without thinking, wrong language. I am naturally a very friendly and polite person. Instead of saying "thank you" or "hello" I would say it in Italian. It was funny at first but about the 2nd day of fighting it and still failing sometimes, I just gave up. Transitioning back to the states is going to be tougher in ways I had not even realized. In Ireland, I actually saw commercially owned businesses! Amazing! Dominoes, Pizza Hut, etc. It was crazy! I honesty didn't realize how complete opposites Italy and the United States are. They truly are. If I had gone to Ireland without ever being in Italy, I would probably think Ireland really was different, but after living in Italy for months now, Ireland IS basically the United States. Almost completely the same. Paris was the same feeling. It was so commercial compared to Italy that it felt closer to the US also. Weird. Due to this feeling, I had and still have a grudge against italy a little bit. With the holidays coming up, I'm majorly feeling the want to go home. I don't think that is going away like the other homesickness bits did. I'll be fine though. But, I love the Irish people. Literally everyone we met on the street went out of their way to help up, to the point of getting on a bus with us. They were so friendly and talkative. Ireland had the feel of a New England state. The leaves were changing, it was cold, it also had a small town feel even though we were in Dublin. It was wonderful!!
Paris was good also but in a different way. I love Paris for the architecture. The city is absolutely stunning. Probably my favorite place I have been yet. I was not crazy about the French people, in fact I was a little unhappy with them, but the city itself made up for that. Being with 3 other girls, we had a romantic picnic complete with french champagne and cheese at night under the Eiffel Tower at night. We got to see the light show that happens on the hour every night. It was so magical. We even saw a couple get engaged. I think I was more happy and excited for her than she was! Sweetest thing ever. Paris is truly a romantic city. It's just special. We also went to the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, Palace of Versailles, Arc de Triomphe, grave of the unknown soldier, Notre-Dame, and Musee Rodin. I've already decided, I will be going back to Paris at some point in my life. It's happening.

Continuing some of what I am learning about myself abroad, I'm learning character traits about myself from people. Weird concept, but back home for example, people tell me I'm xyz (I despise bragging so probably won't insert a trait). Here, people are telling me the exact same traits. I know more about my personality and what the world would say about me. I definitely respect myself more right now because I am learning how unique I am. Feeling weird saying this because I feel like I'm bragging but w/e.....After people truly get to know me fairly well, they tell me all the time how they've never met anyone like me. Honestly, I'm not one to take this to a pride level, but it's turning into me respecting me for being Made for a special purpose. There is no one like me. I have extreme value that deserves respect, as all humans do. I'm complex and loving and understanding, etc. and that's "who I am". God made me like that and intended me to be that way. For the first time, I'm totally happy with that. Take it or leave it. I wouldn't have been able to learn that if I were at home. I wouldn't have that new perspective of who PEOPLE say I am.
Today I met with a girl in the freshman program through SUF. She is one of the most refreshing people I have ever been around. I have a real heart for freshmen. It is SUCH a vulnerable time in their life. If they don't have strong values, they will be swayed by everything new in their life, thus I feel the need to protect them. So this girl is a God sent. I've had a rough week to say the least. I just met her last week and have since spent time with her 3 times. Today, we were talking in a piazza for 6 hours straight. During this time, a guy was walking his dog at various times. He came over to us towards the end. In broken English he asked us why we were there all day. It was the cutest thing ever that made me realize, God sent me her at just the right time. She maybe a freshman, but she's one of the strongest freshman I know. I needed her at this very time. Even one christian is better than none. Quality not quantity. In an environment that has no people in it that remind me of God's love, she appeared at just the right time. "The other southerner and the other christian".
Also today, I was at the school waiting for her to show up when a woman approached me looking very confused. In total Italian, she said she was trying to reach someone who worked there but the buzzer wasn't working. In very broken Italian, I explained no one was there because it's Friday. She probably wouldn't be able to until Monday. I also answered some of her questions, IN ITALIAN! I was so excited. Just the feeling of accomplishment of being able to have a conversation and be helpful with an Italian was so wonderful. I felt smart for the first time in a long time. Learning a language is hard!

I only have half the semester left here. Mixed feelings about leaving but either way, I have already learned so much!