28th, August 2019 I have been in Sweden for 2 days now. I spent them trying to set up my little studio apartment. It never occurred to me just how much stuff I would have …
year abroad
My “Vacation” Prior to the Program
26th, August 2019 I managed to sell enough of my possessions that I could afford a short, inexpensive vacation prior to my arrival in Sweden. I sold a LOT of personal items to afford this. …
Having the Best Problems in the World
7th, August 2019 The months leading up to my departure were rife with stress and problems. As an adult student, I had to relinquish my apartment of 9 years, re-home my pets, overcome some physical …
Dreaming in Italian
I had a dream I went to Italy and I lived there for a year. I left behind my city and everyone I knew, looking a change in a life that felt the same. I …
The Summer Before It Starts
August 22, 2019 My name is Anna Garcia and the summer before this whole adventure starts has been interesting. I am from Brooklyn, New York but for the past two years I have called Madison, …
Bella, Act 3
Note: What follows is a work of fiction. While the characters in the story- including I, Pier, the narrator- are inspired by real life, their existence is bounded by the of the limits of the …
The Beginning of the End
By mid-June in Bologna the air is hot and stagnant. The heat hangs low in the porticoes and by midday it feels too hot to go outside. Italians walk even slower to keep from sweating …
Bella, Act 2
Note: What follows is a work of fiction. While the characters in the story- including I, Pier, the narrator- are inspired by real life, their existence remains limited to the confines of the author’s imagination. …
Hungry for More
I spent the week of Easter with Giovanni’s family in Pescara. His parents live up the street from his grandma and his cousins are around the corner. He’s got an uncle with a restaurant on …
Hamerica’s
It was 1am and we had closed an hour ago but still the dining room was full of customers, sitting and talking like they had no plans to leave. My coworkers were tired. It was …