Exam time has once again just about taken me under. It's to the point where I've ingested an entire liter and half of coca-cola in matter of 2-3 hours, brewed coffee with coffee (yes that means I put coffee where the water goes), and topped it all off with the rest of a bottle of wine. These are serious times here people and the longest two weeks ever, possibly even longer than the legion of doom I faced in January. I don't know if the universities wield some kind of power that slows time during exams, but it's seriously like the never-ending story this time 'round. And on top of that, the sun is shining, it is officially summer, and the Lido (our little beach here) is calling my naaaaaammmme (it would be rude not to answer) :)
One positive: my thesis presentation is over. And by some act of God, it went well. There was lots of nodding and intent stares. I believe some academic 'hmmms' were uttered with force. All good signs. Although as one of my dear friends told me in regards to the staring, 'you probably had a booger in your nose.' And here I thought I had something interesting to say! haha. Anyway 3 more to go. And it's July 1st. I'm two weeks from being stateside, and the summer holidays are at my feet. Non vedo l'ora per Venerdi'!!!!
I wish I had something more profound to say this time around. But my brain is seriously mush. The only thing I can think about is how excited I am to see everyone at home and watch my best friend get married! :D But simultaneously I'm sad that I leave so soon from Lugano. Yes it's only 9 weeks in the States (which is really better considering some how I always end running around a million miles an hour there), but its strange. I can't really put my finger on it either. I suppose it's because Lugano is home now too. I'll miss my bed here, my kitchen, my son (yes my roommate I call 'figlio' and he calls me 'mamma') the beautiful view of the lake (that I haven't gotten to enjoy since these stupid exams!), and people. How I'll miss summer holidays with my friends here!
But I know the summer will fly just like this last year has. Sometimes I feel like the harder I try to hold onto moments and the beauty I see in things and people every day the faster more fleeting those moments become. I want so badly sometimes to push pause on my life and just sit bathe in the beauty of it all: Federica's yellow pants like sunshine on our exam day, hydrangeas in absolute full bloom, the post-it on the fridge from Lorena thanking me for dinner, or song lyrics from a friend just because she knew I'd appreciate their absolute truth. It's like trying to hold onto water, these moments, impossible. And yet it's what makes life so wonderful, living life in full force in every direction.....even in the middle of an all-nighter hyped-up on caffeine and simultaneously induced by the downing effects of wine close to a nervous breakdown. It's still beautiful. After all they say there's beauty in the breaking too no? :)
So I refuse to sit on my couch tomorrow and read chemical compounds when there's so much beauty to see in this life! I'm going to 'take some sun' as they say here and be irresponsible (sort of) by taking my notes to the beach. I'm going to spend the last few days at home taking it all in, this summer in Lugano, and then head back to my other home for cook outs, baseball, town fairs, mud volleyball, and dear dear dear friends.
