ok already

sister and brothers -

to briefly venture into an entirely surreal, new-age linguistic landscape: i'm finding myself in a weird emotional 'place.' i don't feel entirely myself these days; i've been experiencing a mini ego crisis; my chakras are out of alignment and my auras are dissonant. i'm out of touch with the gaia life force source; i'm communicating unhealthy energy. i've lost the link to the mothership.

i'm sorry i haven't given you all the update for all this time, this program in arezzo is hanging in that odd end-of-semester equilibrium between winding down and ramping up that makes me think with interest and shame of arranging crystals on my chest. but really, any old rock will do to bash against my forehead.

i have been living with and in an aretine family for the last 5 weeks: a casa Gallo. Giulio and Valeria, my host parents, are the salt of the earth and i am having trouble thinking about leaving them and their most generous hospitality. i have been eating very well. my favorite part of every day is coming home, throwing my coat and bookbag on my bed, and bounding back to the kitchen to help make dinner while we discuss our days, political developments, tuscan curse words, the consistency of perfectly prepared pasta. my host sister cecilia is a frequent presence, and filippo and matteo come home on weekends from their respective residences in aquila and bologna. i am known as the blonde son.

this semester has illuminated to me my real need of constant intellectual stimulation - unfortunately by its absence in our courses here, relative to semesters past. more accurately, i find that i do miss the american university and the freedom allowed and encouraged by its resources - libraries here close at 19:30 and access to books are limited. i miss hanging out in b stacks and just looking at books, making notes in their margins to puzzle over later. i miss my seat, my table, and the people i share it with. in short, i'm looking forward to the fall.

i'm caught: while i'm more than ready for this phase of my academic life to be over, i'm far from ready to leave italy. although i am ready for a change of scenery. i don't know what's going on! - seriously, its my chakras. i am beyond excited to move on to phase 3 of the european adventure starting 15 may, that being el camino di santiago - 900km across the north of spain. 4 weeks on foot, on the road, material possessions manifesting themselves in their most fundamental form as mass upon my back. walking alongside others who are taking the journey seriously, but not themselves. others providing a model for me to live up to.

in the meantime, my family is coming and i couldn't be more psyched to see them in the flesh, to show them around this place that has become somehow mine and yet continues to elude me. after a week with them, i'm thinking i'll head back to taizé for a week of reflection, reorganization, and preparation. something which i'd like to start on right now. and what's stopping me?