Cinque Terre

We traveled to this amazing place this weekend. I had a very exhilarating experience there. I was scolded for it but I don't regret it for a second. I loved climbing up the cliff. I felt so adventurous and free. And I felt like it's one of the reasons I came here. To do things that I am afraid of. To be alone. To be myself. Jumping and falling. I've never felt so scared and insane (in a good way) in my life. I felt like I was dying. And then when I hit the water I was alive. I was wide awake.

ps.
more images from cinque terre to come....

Fear less, hope more;
Whine less, breathe more;
Talk less, say more;
Hate less, Love more;
And all good things are yours

More of Nervi. I love the ocean and the sounds the waves make. It washes away my stress and anxiety. I wish I could go there everyday just so I could calm down for once

We went to Nervi today. This place was so beautiful. Then I drank some wine. Va bene.

Our feets

I like to see where they take us.

Today we had Italian again like we will every morning for four hours. I really like my professor, Stefano. He makes us understand without speaking english. After that we went to lunch. Molto bene for now but I know I am going to get tired of all the bread. I miss salads and hummus.

We also had photo class. I know I need to be thinking about my projects and my intent but I am just so exhausted every night my brain does not want to.

I miss people already of course. I wish I had a way to reach America. I wish I had my music, I need to here Jim Morrison's voice.

Ian took us to Bar Mario where this girl from RIT works. Her name is Kristy and she came on this program 4 years ago. She fell in love, moved here and had a baby. It's so crazy. I don't think I could live here..
But she was really cool. She made me my first italian cappucino.

First Impressions of Genova

So far, it has been incredibly different since the last time I was in Italy four years ago. Probably because I visited Rome, Florence.. all the tourist areas. I didn't actually live anywhere. Genova smells... bad. But I'll get over it maybe? The first thing I noticed after that were the roads. I really like the winding and narrowness they have as well as the stone their made of. I like that it's crooked and uneven and not perfect pavement. I imagine someone placing each stone one by one into the ground with their hands. It is satisfying to think that the space I walk on is not made by a machine. I don't know how I feel about the people yet. I don't remember much of the language either. They stare at us like were the rats in new york city. I can still feel their eyes burning through my "ugly american" skin. I can't wait to start photographing this city and especially the port.
Although there is a lot of work ahead and many things to get used to I think it's going to be amazing and it will be worth it.
Patti told me today that I must give up something in order to gain. I hope for me that it is true.

You are here and then you're gone.

Leaving was the hardest part.

I had all these crazy feelings overtaking me and I could not control them. It was like lightning bolts in my chest.

Scared EXCITED

nervous

IN NO WAY PREPARED

SAD anxious

confused.

I definitely left my heart in new york. As lame as that sounds.

Here's some of what happened pre departure.

BBQ at mendon ponds. Era una bella notte e ultimo notte..

I photographed part of the wall in my room before i took everything down. I wanted to remember.

This is Kat. She's giving homemade tattoos to unite us all before we separate.

Today I flew to Italy. I took videos of the clouds and the sky while I was the plane. I plan to film a lot of nature so I can create my own KOYAANISQATSI.

For those of you who don't know what that is, it can all be explained here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PirH8PADDgQ

It's all about life out of balance, something I feel often. I work hard to try to level out the scale but mostly it seems impossible to me. I hope to find some way of doing this here on this trip.

So far, everything is enchanting. I love the apartment I live in although there are many things I did not expect..

I can't wait for something to happen.