Changing Thoughts

We all knew that this post was coming.  This is the part of the trip (when we're almost halfway through) when our eyes are opened up to what the world is really made up of and how the people inside of it live.  Although I have not visited many places (yet), the best has yet to come!

I've met countless people from all over the world including: South Korea, Ukraine, Italy (obviously), other parts of the U.S., England, France, Mexico, Canada, China, and more!  Wow, this may sound silly, but who knew how diverse our world REALLY is.  Sure, we have international students at our home institutions back in the states, but we never really can grasp what the world has to offer.

The appreciation for food and time is highly valued here in Florence, Italy.  There is no reason for anybody to be rushed for anything, whatsoever, regardless of who you think you are or what you're doing.  The dinner table or the cafe that you're at is your temporary sanctuary where you enjoy yourself, the food, and your company.  Otherwise, you're wasting everybody's time, not yours.  Food, coffee, wine, pastries, desserts, snacks, or anything that has to do with food is such of great importance here.  Why can't we (as Americans) enjoy food without having to feel rushed?  We know the reason why.  We feel as though sometimes eating is a chore, rather than a stress reliever and re-fueler.   We need to have our food fast and in LARGE portions.  Sure, you may pay a lot for a little here when you're eating out at restaurants, but you know you're getting quality food and service.  Oh yeah, and no complaining about the food or its portion, or you can just get out.

Meeting people is always an exciting new thing.   If you haven't been exposed to CouchSurfing, I think it's about time you have a looky.  In a nutshell, it's a website where people open up their couches to travelers to stay with them for free, in order to make connections and allow for free places to stay for 1-2 nights.  However, if you don't have a couch to lend to a stranger for a night, you can always put your profile up for letting people "hang out" with you.  Usually, this is for people who are in the town or city for a day and want somebody (a local) to show them around.  For example, a student here from S. Korea is studying media and music here in Florence.  She flew in about a week ago and hasn't really had any chance to communicate with anybody.  She messaged me and asked if I could show her around.  We briefly met and I showed her around town.  We discussed cultural difference between S. Korea, America, and Italy.


Cameron gave me a card before we parted ways to expand our horizons.  It read "...it had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them.  They went out and happened to things" -Leonardo da Vinci.  Funny, he's Italian.  It kind of fits the equation here, doesn't it?  Anyways, she told me that this quote fits the kind of person I already am.  And, whadaya know?  It's true.  We will never know exactly what is out there until we go out and find the happening.  It's not going to come to us, we need to work for it.  However, we usually complain that the work is too hard or time consuming.  Well, see what happens when you sit back and wait?  You miss the train.  Sure  there may be other trains, but you just have to wait longer, and waste more of your time.   So what are you waiting for?  Go out there and do something!  So what if you're unfamiliar with a group of people, an area, restaurant, food, concert, band, etc?  Go out there and see for yourself, friend.  Promise, if it is that bad, you can at least say you tried.