Today sucked…big time
In fact, this week really seemed to hit me with all kinds of suckage.
I was “blessed” with the ability to wake up every morning bright and early to serve coffee at our on-campus pastry shop (and be there by 7:20am)
Have I mentioned lately the mile and a half walk?
Loading that on top of 8 hour day lessons each day get a bit heavy. I was tired of espresso and never wanted to hear the word “macchiato” again. I was (and am) drained. I’m stressed, drained, and need some type of rest.
Last night seemed to be the commencement of disaster. It all started when Jessica and I decided to book our fall break trip. We have been so exhausted after class each day that planning, traveling, and lugging our luggage across Europe just sounded slightly unattractive. It was at that moment that I stumbled upon a 7 night European cruise that departs from Rome and stops in Sicily, Athens, Turkey, and Crete.
Like..woah.
I’m not exaggerating when I say when jumped up and down and giggled like 12 year old girls.
We did…and we are proud.
We made a decision to book and started the process. My first credit card decided to decline because I had exceeded my daily limit.
Credit card number two worked just as well…..that being it didn’t.
However, the Priceline representative didn’t seem to mind the fact that the phone call was costing us $163 a minute. She decided to ask me a plethora of questions: where I was from, what I was studying in Italy, etc. etc.
After 45 minutes, we lost the call. I was angry, it was late, and I needed to get up in 4 hours.
I gave up.
I set my alarm and attempted to fall asleep as I thought about my stressful week and our now stressful cruise situation…and then today happened.
My alarm never went off. I had placed my phone on silent the night before. So, I was late….and embarrassed.
To top it off, I lost my keys, but I had no time to attempt an in-house search party at 6:45am.
I got to school and realized I had forgotten my nutrition notebook….fail.
Left school and arrived back at my apartment. The feeling of being locked out of your own apartment is a terribly awkward one. I followed someone into the large street door like I was a guest. I walked up to my door, pressed the buzzer 26 times, and realized something unpleasant.
No one was home.
So, I went back outside, and sat down on the street.
I though…”hey…maybe someone will think I’m homeless and give me some money?”
I did get several strange looks. It’s not every day in Italy you see an American girl sitting on the side of a road with a culinary outfit on. I’m sure I would have thought it to be entertaining…if it wasn’t me.
I walk to Jessica’s house…no one is home.
So I come back and continue to wait.
I wait more.
Then, I wait.
After I was finished waiting, I waited longer.
My stomach hurt, I had things to put in the refrigerator, and I have never had to poop more in my entire life. (And yes, this IS necessary. You may be able to understand my pain a bit more).
But where was I to go? I leave for one second, and one of my roommates might show.
So I waited a bit more.
An hour and a half later, I see my roommate rush to my rescue.
I was in my house. All that I wanted was a warm shower, which would have been the best part of my day.
However, that was just too much to ask.
First I scalded my skin, and then I froze it off.
Then, I saw a newt run across the floor. I didn’t even know Italians had newts!
Then, my toilet clogged.
And…my cruise situation hasn’t been resolved.
As you can probably sense, this week took me for a loop. No more frolicking through Florence with free time and a free mind. It was ridiculously intense. The classes were long, the days were even longer, and I had no free time. I haven’t been outside of my house and my school since Sunday.
I’m tired.
And after Monday, I was ready to throw in the pastry prison towel. It was just too much for me.
But as I sit on my bed writing about how absolutely terrible my week was…how everything has just started to fall apart and I can’t even imagine what would make it worse, I realize something…
I have to do laundry….
AND…all those LITTLE things that I missed out on appreciating this week. A good friend made me aware of the fact that when in stressful times, each small roadblock immediately becomes a train wreck. Load one onto another and things can get explosive. My week was a fatal disastrous train wreck…and I was the captain, the passenger, and the train.
It’s in those times ESCPECIALLY, that seeking out the little things makes the most impact. And, now that I think about it, there were SO many little things this week that I didn’t take my time soaking in. Although I had thought about all of the things that made it awful, I had forgotten about all those things that made it wonderful.
I may have had to wake up early, but…
I had the opportunity to walk through Florence when no one else was up yet. There are no snap happy tourists to stop in the middle of the road, there were no Vespas attempting to see how close to running me over they could get, and the town was quiet.
It was one of the most peaceful experiences one could wish for. That, my friends, is a blessing.
I was able to appreciate the closed store fronts, the clear walkways, and the strange street art (such as that shown below…they are all fake dollar bills).
I may have had to work the front of the shop, but…
I was able to be around amazing pastries like these…all day long.
I learned how to make coffee this week. I can steam milk like a pro, make a mean café macchiato, and I didn’t spill a single coffee on ANY customer. I even was called “graceful” by some Italian man…clearly he didn’t know me.
I may have had an issue with Priceline, but…
I have the means (and the friends) to GO on a cruise! That in itself is a ridiculous blessing. My mom also volunteered to continue the conversation on an American line, as to save thousands of dollars in phone charges. That’s a blessing.
I may have slept through my alarm, but…
I got to sleep in later! That is DEFINITELY a blessing.
I may have been late to class, but…
I have the ability to GO to class and be taught. Many people can only wish to be educated. I have been able to learn make amazing things, such as:
Olive Oil Focaccia
Almond Biscotti
We combined cake AND puff pastry AND some type of liquor into a dessert called the Diplomatica.
Sfogharella (Sugared puff pastry dough filled with a multitude of things (this filled with sweet pastry cream and apples)
And much more bread…
I may have been locked out of my apartment, but
I had TIME.
I was able to make time for those that love me most. I couldn’t physically do anything that would distract me from talking to my mom and Jared. This precious time, that may have been spent doing laundry or taking a shower or doing homework, was able to be dedicated to them.
I was also able to people watch as I plopped my American rear onto the cobblestone streets of Florence.
I may have had a boiling/freezing shower, but
I was able to TAKE a shower. I had hot water to warm my body and shampoo to clean my hair. I had body wash to clean my skin, and a towel to dry my hair.
I had clothing to put on, and a computer to email friends with.
I had food in the fridge to cook dinner, and clean water to drink.
I may have seen a newt run across my bathroom floor, but
At least I have a floor.
I may have had a rotten week, but If I take it into proper perspective, I had one of the most blessed weeks of my life. I’m thankful for the struggles, thankful for the mistakes, and thankful for the little things that make all of the difference. I’m thankful for my roommate who rescued me from homelessness and I’m thankful for my pillow. I’m thankful to the other roommate who took the time to share this link with me.
When things seem to fall apart, I must recognize that breaking is a way to realize that things were once together.
The toilet thing….
Well….I’m still thinking about how I can be thankful for that one 
Ciao for now!
PS. Gelato of the day? Negative.
I’ve eaten so many pastry samples in the last 3 days that I feel my feet beginning to resemble croissants and my stomach, an éclair.