Arthur Symons says that a "realist, in Venice, would become a romantic by mere faithfulness to what he saw before him" and I cannot say I disagree. There's something about this Italian city that makes it different from the others. I can't explain it and anyone who hasn't been lucky enough to see it with their own eyes couldn't possibly understand anyways.


Venice, for me, is an old friend. A lucky little American two years made her way across the water in the company of the Kenney ladies (shout out to my girls). Yeah that's right - I've already been here. Visiting Erin's aunt, we made a little voyage out of it and stopped in Austria and Italy. Getting a glimpse of this city... oh it's so cliche to say this - I think I left a little of my heart there. I think it was a major contributor in the decision way back when I was in my AFS application/country-picking days. This city has a smell and an energy and a look that's unlike, quite frankly, anything. It convinced me that Italy needed to see a little more of me; so hey, here I am!

And now I'm back and ready to be where I've already been (that sounds like a sentence I'll be using July 2012). I made my way to the train station after a super awkward encounter with my History teacher. I mean, we're buddies and all. But what is a teacher to think as he's making his way to school and meets his student on the street going the other way? You can hope and dream and cross your fingers all you want that he doesn't recognize you but once the words, "Oh, good morning, Natalie" flow from his mouth... boom. busted. I've had to teach all my classmates the word "awkward" because it practically doesn't exist in Italian and "strange" just wouldn't do this justice.

I obsessed over the train just as I always do but was surprised to see all my other little foreign freaks joining us too. Mirella (the big bad boss of AFS Bologna) teased me, "Well maybe you should more carefully read my emails, darling!" I guess I was the only one not paying attention when it was decided that the students of various areas united in our Cesenatico camp would go to Venice together as well. Jackpot!

They basically dragged us in a rush from the station to the very heart of the city with teasing sights of beauty all around. Their purpose, we learned upon arrival, was to get us there as quickly as possible so they could let us free as soon as possible. The volunteers figured, "We suppose you are all the young, responsible and aware young adults we imagine you to be so go have a great time and don't be late - we will leave you here." Sweet.

It was overwhelming to focus on Venice, my long lost friends and the swarm of tourists and dressed-up carnival fans all at once. Now you know your girl has a knack for making friends in the right places, so does it surprise you when I called dibs on Anna, the Icelandic ex-Venice resident who recently joined our Emilia-Romana chapter after her host family switch? Oh it's great to be me. She played tourist guide to a small group of us to show as all the finest of Venice. The weirdest part was walking around and actually remembering seeing this and that. It's like a deja-vu I know really happened but it still surprises me that the memories are so vivid.

What a beautiful day, what a beautiful city, what a beautiful group of friends.
It was such a nice break to be messing up Italian among the company of kids in the same boat.
It was such a nice break to get out of cold and slushy Bologna to sunny and sweet Venice.
It was such a nice break to be with my AFSers for the first time for more than an hour in so long.
It was such a nice break to see something already seen (but with new eyes).

Picture overload starting..... now! 

 

 

  

 

LINCOLN?! fancy meeting you here.

 

 

We like to wear out our volunteers.
Work well done!

 

blonde + beuuutyfewl :*

hi friend :)

I beg you to try to find
a cranky Chilean

Denmark, Chile, Norway, USA, Russia, Japan. Heyo!

Wine fountain? Don't mind if I do.

So crowded // omg I'm allergic to people

Omnomnom

Seeing my foreigners for such a short day was just a tease really. Luckily, we said goodbye quickly because - guess what! - we had the whole weekend together. AFS Camp Round 2 here we come....