home...

Italy is great. The city is fun, the people I am here with are phenominal. I could not have asked for a better group of people to study with, to challenge me in my thinking, and to form friendships with. Because of this program, and because of this group, I have friends all over the world. We are everywhere, and it is amazing. Above is a picture of all of us at the graduation for Cohort 3. It a picture to get us ready for two years from now....when we will graduate.

Being in Italy, has not been anything that I expected it to be. It has been challenging, it has been hard it has been frustrating, its has been the cause of questioning, misunderstandings, lack of sleep, but it has been rewarding. A part of me is going to be said to leave my italy "family" because we are going to head to several different parts of the world, go back to our careers, and possibly not see each other for a couple years.

Besides all of this Italy, has not been as easy as I would like for it to be. In this time Im being stretched in a different way than I expected, and of course things happen that you can not control. For me this week has been a week where I wish I could just be at home in TN with my friends. You know those weeks when you just wish you could talk to the people that you have known for a long time and who understand you without having to say a bunch? yea that is the week Im having. I love the people here and I have been having a blast, and there are definitely solid good relationships forming, but there is something about having the comforts of your friends/family who know you and understand you that makes life better. I miss my mountains, and my hiking, and everything that goes along with TN, so needless to say I am excited about returning in less than two weeks, but just as most the past few months of my life has been...this will be bitter-sweet.

This weekend, a group of us are headed out of Rome, and going to Cinque Terre. It is a beautiful place on the cost. We will hike the cliffs on the shore of Italy which is absolutely beautiful, and spend some time on the beach. It is about an 11 mile hike, and we will be passing through five different cities, getting to watch sunsets/sunrises. Im stoked.

This is what I have for you at this point. Sorry its not more interesting. All my TN friends and family, get ready because I get to see you all for a few days before I leave for India. (which Im super excited about)