It's really strange to know it's over. We spent our last couple days together trying to socialize, but also wanting to be on our own and soak in Arezzo, but also panicking at the thought of leaving. All of a sudden the loose ends needed to be tied up - performing our last piece, finishing masks, buying souvenirs, and taking as many pictures as possible.
I'm not going to go into the horrendous details on packing and flying out of Italy (I was supposed to go to Spain but ended up coming to Prague early), but I will say that those last 24 hours spent in the Villa were like a strange blur of a dream. Just like arriving late that Friday night in September and stepping into my dorm room for the first time was like a dream, so was leaving my dorm room. Driving away from the Villa got me all misty eyed. Saying goodbye to teachers was very difficult. Saying goodbye to friends was much harder than I could have ever imagined.
Somehow I know I'll see some of these people again, and probably soon. But on the other hand, I know that I may not see all of them. We became a great group of friends. It seemed so natural to spend all day with them. Waking up and seeing them at breakfast, venting about classes during the day, joking around during dinner, and saying goodnight in the hallways all felt very genuine and very right.
Yes, it was hard to live with 14 other strong minded artists, but like I've said before, I would much rather live with a group of people who have a lot of opinions and ideas rather than a mixed group of some who care and some who don't. It was a challenge, but by the end we were all so much closer because of it.
In addition to the great friendships I've made, I feel so much more aware of myself and who I am. I know it sounds strange, but I've actually realized why I want to be an artist. I have a much better understanding of my past struggles with creating art, and now have a better understanding of the kind of art I want to make in the future. I think this semester came at a perfect time. I've moved past a point of confusion and frustration and now I feel like a blank slate. I just want to take in everything!
ADA taught me to be OK with my own pace and process. Reading philosophy inspired many new ideas, movement and voice helped me solidify the range of my body as a tool, and Italian even helped me understand a new culture and to feel a bigger connection to the world.
Well, now that it's over and I've spent a few days adjusting to life without Italy, I'm ready to take a look at Prague and see what it has to offer. Stay tuned!
Last pictures of Arezzo:
Aquaduct in December
First weekend of the month - Antique fair!
View from the park by the Duomo
Our Villa is the yellow one on the hill
Another beautiful sunset
Hundreds of people in the street
Pretty tree and antiques
Statue of Guido Monaco at night
Later at night
Walking towards Piazza Grande
Piazza Grande at night
