There is no better adjective to describe myself other than empowered. Today is my last day at this wonderful university, because I have scheduled my last participant for this afternoon. It’s a truly wonderful feeling, hitting that magic number of 50. I woke up feeling energized, with a big smile on my face, knowing that I can come home soon with a lot of data. I have not been able to sleep well these past couple of days, but that has not stopped me from going out and meeting new people every single day. I’m simply so full of energy that my desire to sleep has plummeted greatly. I truly do not know how to write down my emotions into one post. Composing a piece of writing that reflects my being has never been an easy task. I appreciate the fact that I’ve been here for almost a month and a half; and I will never forget all the wonderful people I’ve had the pleasure to interact with. The message that I’m trying to get across is that I’m at peace here. I feel free, like a falcon soaring through the wind. From drinking outstanding coffee to reading Dante’s Inferno on my leisure time, I’ve finally have been able to relax and give my brain the mental stimulation it deserves. Through the use of my phone, I’ve been reading books and accessing an Introduction to Philosophy Course (Offered by the University of Edinburgh, through Coursera) as a way to keep myself busy. I’m at my happiest when I’m learning; it’s a blissful feeling. In addition to reading, I’ve been keeping in touch with my mother about how much I enjoy being here. I tell her that I’m ready to come home and prepare myself for the demands of the upcoming semester. Her endless support and guidance has helped me well.
With the demands of the upcoming semester strongly focusing on languages, I’ve purchased several books from the local bookstore to aid my language learning. Just as a brief commentary, the language learning resources here are a lot more beneficial than anything I’ve seen in Barnes and Noble. These activity books have colorful pictures and extensive writing activities. They make languages fun! My books in Italian and Portuguese cover information from the A1-B2 exams. In order to better my Spanish and get a better understanding of Dante’s Inferno, I purchased a book on Philosophy. Just from reading it for five minutes, I found it very useful in terms of expanding my vocabulary and grammar. I also learned how to type accents on the English Keyboard. Thank you, Internet.
After I finish running my last participant tonight, I plan to go out to my favorite pub one last time. There is a soccer game between Colombia and Argentina which I’m excited to see. I’m going to hang out with a couple of friends and finish this week with a bang. The pub is closing tonight for the summer, so the game also functions as a going away party to the owner. I’ve met many great people in there and I will surely not forget them. Tomorrow, I’m inviting a friend to eat at this remarkable restaurant for dinner. The food there is beyond phenomenal and later on, I will dedicate an entire post to it.
To close this post, I just want to say that I am very fortunate to be going to Milan, Italy next week. It’s my first time in Italy and I can’t believe that this is actually happening. I will provide a review of the city when my trip is done.