Giving Thanks

          So, it’s Thanksgiving back home. This means that today is a day to reflect on your life and what you’re grateful for. On the train yesterday, I was working on my reflection paper, so I was reflecting on my life, especially how I’ve changed and grown up since getting to Europe. In doing this reflection, I’ve realized a lot about how grateful I really am.

          I’m most grateful for my mom. And for our relationship. We’ve always had a close relationship. I’ve always taken it for granted though, because it was just how it was. During, and after, my first week in Italy, when homesickness and a fear of the unfamiliar. But, while in Italy on my own, I realized just how special our relationship is, and how important it is for me to use it and maintain it. Mom really helped me with my homesickness and loneliness in Italy, and I am unbelievably grateful to have her for my mom, and to have this relationship with her.

          I’m also grateful for the rest of my family. Once again, until Italy, I never really realized how important they are to me. Missing my birthday with the family, I realized how much traditions like that mean to me. And now, missing Thanksgiving, I want to be home with the family, and their AMAZING food, more than ever! My family is amazing. They’re so supportive and caring, and they’ve always made me feel like I can do anything. So, I’m grateful for them and their support.

          Next, I’m grateful for my boyfriend, Dusty. He’s very supportive of me, and he pushes me to do my best, though not always in the best way for me. He’s also super loving and caring. And, it means a lot to me to have him there for me, and have him waiting for me at home, anxious to hug me and see me again, and he makes me so happy, so I can’t wait to see him again!

          I’m also grateful for all of my friends, as they’re always there for me when I need them.

          Finally, I’m grateful for this opportunity. Here in Europe, I’ve learned a lot about myself. I’ve learned a lot about volcanoes, which is a chance for me to further my career and education. I’ve gotten to see and do a lot that most others don’t have the opportunity to see and do. And I’m grateful for it. I’m thoroughly enjoying my time here and all that I’m learning.

          So, now that I’ve told you what I’m grateful for, and why…it’s time for you to stop and reflect on your own life. It’s so humbling and amazing to stop and reflect on what you’re grateful for. I want everyone who reads this to think about it, and admit it to someone or write it down, because it’s also clarifying. And I feel like I’ve grown up and matured a little more in writing this post.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Prepare to Party...

          So, I took a train to Rome, then to La Spezia, then to Levanto. In just reaching the area of Levanto, I was in awe of the beauty of the coastline! I was so excited to be arriving! In part, because it meant I was going to be with my friends, who speak English and understand me when I talk! (Unlike most Italians…) But I was also excited for the new scenery, to celebrate my birthday, and because this meeting marks the start of our month of free travel!

          On arriving at the Levanto station, I wasn’t sure how to get back, and really didn’t feel like trying to figure it out with how heavy my bag was, so I took a cab to the hostel, It was very nice to not have to walk. Then, I called my teacher and Dennis came and helped me figure out room type stuff, as the reception was closed. While I was changing into shorts, most of the girls that were already in Levanto showed up, so I got to actually go to my room, drop my stuff off and claim my bed! Jess and Kay wanted to go to the post office to send packages home, and I still had a postcard to send, so I joined! It was a lot of fun wandering through the town for the first time with Jess, Kay, and Liz, especially after being on my own for so long! After that, we came back to the hostel for some internet time.

          That first night (November 6^th), we ended up eating as a full group, minus a couple members that hadn’t arrived yet, some of whom joined late. Then, a bunch of us went out drinking, kind of as a celebration of my birthday, at least in my eyes, but pretty much just to go out. I had two small glasses of lemoncello, and I was drunk…apparently that stuff has a really high alcohol content…whatdaya know? But, I had Mallory who was my designated walker, so I didn’t fall or trip on the walk back to the hostel. I went to bed pretty happy, so it was a good night.

Cyan, DJ, and I out drinking!

          The next day was the first day of one-on-one meetings with Dennis. I signed up for this day, so spent most of the day milling around, relaxing, other than my meeting, which went swimmingly, if I do say so myself! Around 1, Jess, Kay, Dennis, and I went to lunch at a little pizzeria nearby, which was super cheap with amazing quality! I was quite pleased! That day though, I started feeling more and more distant from the rest of the group as a whole. So, I started thinking that I must not have bonded with them as well as I had thought in Paris, or on the first night in Levanto. I talked to Mallory about it as we walked to the beach and strolled along it, and she comforted me, like a good friend, saying it was probably my imagination and people do like me and all of that. We had lots of fun walking the beach and looking at the rocks there, and collecting sea glass, before we returned to the hostel, where I borrowed someone’s iPad as my computer refused to connect to the internet after the first night, and registered for classes!

          As I was registering, as we were supposed to be meeting at 5 and my registration was at 5, Dennis came and hollered for me, telling me to hurry along. So, as soon as I finished, I ran upstairs to join the group. After I sat down, Dennis called order, and said that they had a surprise for me…they got me a birthday cake, made me a second volcano birthday cake, and found me a rock on the beach that everyone signed! That’s why I was feeling so distant, they were all working on this surprise party! I was completely in shock! And I was thrilled! The bought cake was amazing, but we didn’t cut into the volcano cake that day. After finishing the first cake and the Christmas beers that Sean bought the group, we headed out to a winetasting before dinner. We had so much fun at our group dinner and the winetasting, or at least I did! That night was one of my best since I’ve been in Europe, it was amazing!

The Christmas Beer

Me and my two birthday cakes!

Sarah, Jess, and I eating the milfoil cake! (Cake of 1000 layers!)

          So, in regards to that, I need to thank Sean again for the cakes, as apparently it was all his idea! So, Sean, if you’re reading this: thank you so much! You made my birthday week amazing!

          The next day, Mallory, Liz and I went on the open and near part of the Cinque Terre hike. It was absolutely stunning. We hiked for most of the day, eating lunch on the hike. We also found these weird little “peach-berries” as we dubbed them, and we really wanted to try them, but they were red, so we decided to play it safe…until we saw someone else pick some and eat them, at which we rushed to a tree to try them too! They were pretty good. Mallory loved them, where Liz and I each had only one, she had like ten. So, naturally, we decided that if they were poisonous, and that lady had an immunity to them, or had no idea, Mal would be the first to die, giving Liz and I time to get to a hospital, if we even had enough to be affected. They weren’t poisonous, so it was all good.

Liz, Mallory, and I on an overlook at Cinque Terre! Gorgeous!!!

The "peach-berry"

          Friday, November 8^th, was departure day. Everyone packed up and departed, which was pretty sad, at least for me. It was also exciting, of course, but I loved spending time with the group again, and was sad to see us split up. I had a couple chores to do before I took off though: I had to ship a package full of rocks back home and take care of my birthday rock. So, I went to the post office first. I sent it home via boat, and it was only 61 Euro, despite the fact that it was 10 kilograms! So glad to have that weight off my back!

          Then, I needed to take care of my birthday rock. So, what do I mean by that? Well, in collecting the rock that the group signed for me for my birthday, they knew I couldn’t carry it through Europe, so they talked and said that I should sign it too, and then leave it on the beach in Levanto, thereby leaving our group’s mark in Levanto! So, I went to the beach, and found a place to put it, before saying my last goodbye to Levanto and catching a train to Venice!

"Ralph da Rock", my birthday rock!

My birthday rock in its new home!

Skype 101

          Sunday, I was invited to dinner at Boris’ home. So, early afternoon/late morning on Sunday, he and Ida came over, and spent a little bit with me at i Rustici playing with Mimi, as Ida loves cats! And Mimi’s a baby, therefore unbelievably adorable! Then, we went to their home, where Catherine made a delicious dinner with real potatoes in it! Of course, that wasn’t the meal. It was a French meat dish with potatoes under the meat, but I loved having plain potatoes again! After dinner, Boris and I discussed the presentation we were planning.

          I had talked to Ian, my advisor at UWRF, about Boris giving a presentation to the geoclub…and when he talked to other UWRF geology professors, it evolved into Boris taking over a geology 101 class over skype! So, now Boris and I needed to create a presentation and question sheet for the class, which was Thursday, November 1^st. I offered to make it for Boris, if he gave me his old powerpoints and videos. Then I could pick out the parts that I thought were best for a 101 class, and merge them together, and take it off his hands. I spent all that week working on the powerpoint and my abstract. I felt so much pressure, and was sure there was no way I could accomplish all that I wanted to!

          But, Boris and I got together at INGV on Thursday a couple hours before the class, and we finished the powerpoint up, fixing little issues that I’d been having, and emailed it to Ian, who actually got it and downloaded with plenty of time to spare! Then, he taught a class in room 200 in the Agricultural Science Building in River Falls, WI from Catania, Italy! It was SO COOL! I was on a total high after that! I was justhappy! I got to see all my professors and a bunch of the geoclub people I’ve been missing, and I got to be on the big screen and all the little screens of room 200! It was awesome!

My powerpoint!

Boris and I on the screens in room 200

Boris and I on the screens in room 200

          The next day, Friday, Boris was going on an excursion with some of his friends, acting as guide, so I got to tag along! This excursion is one that Boris and his friends created, that begins in Mascali, the only town completely destroyed by Mt. Etna. So, I learned a lot, and saw a lot of new things…including the road to nowhere! This is a small stretch of an old major road that was cut off on both ends by the same lava flow. So, it’s just this random stretch of road in a forested area, that stops and ends there. It was fun to see! The Mascali Tour ended with a winetasting at Gambino Vini, and this time, I actually got to meet Boris’ friend, as well as go into the area where they make the wine and hear about that.

          Saturday was my birthday celebration with Boris, Catherine, and Ida. We did homemade pizza margherita and exchanged pictures, started watching the first Harry Potter movie, in French, and Boris gave me a book! That actually made three! It was an excellent day! I thoroughly enjoyed my time with them, but then it was late and time for me to head home, leaving the next day for packing.

          Monday, my birthday, Catherine and Ida brought me to the train station to leave for Levanto. I really appreciate all that Boris and Catherine did for me. I enjoyed getting to know them, and Ida. And I really will miss them, as I do now. But, off to new adventures!

The $1000 Meeting

          So, after mom left, I was immediately looking at my professor coming for his site visit. He had emailed us earlier to remind us about the importance of our meetings, and informing us that these were, in fact, $1000 meetings! So no pressure! Haha, right. I was nervous and did my best to plan things out for him, so that he could learn and see as much as possible. Boris and I talked before his arrival and got at least one day figured out.

          Tuesday morning (October 23^rd), Boris and I went to the airport to meet him and pick him up, and immediately, Boris and Dennis were bonding over coffee. The whole time he was here, Dennis was soaking up knowledge! After coffee, the three of us went back to the office and Boris and I showed Dennis around. Then, Boris had meetings to go to, so Dennis and I talked about plans for the rest of his site visit, and about my project and how things were going with it. Finally, we went back to i Rustici, my home in Trecastagni and checked Dennis in.

Dennis and I in the control room

          That night, Dennis and I went into town to pick up some amazing roasted chicken for dinner. We talked while we ate outside my room, on my little patio. He encouraged me to submit an abstract to the Posters on Capitol Hill presentation. He also told me I had a great project with tons of information, and there was a lot I could do with my project in the future, which was great to hear!

          The next day, we got to ride along with Salvo and an associate into the field, to take some gas measurements, learning lots about gas emissions on Mount Etna and how they affect the people. It was very interesting…and then it started REALLY raining. It was down pouring, and the streets were like rivers! It was insane! So, we only stopped once, instead of twice, and went to lunch early. We had our lunch at a favorite restaurant of the volcanologists, but there was an anniversary party there, which Dennis and I thoroughly enjoyed! They kept making random couples in the group kiss, and kiss properly! It was hilarious and so entertaining to watch! And most impressively, I tried mushrooms! I didn’t like them, but I tried them!

Salvo and I while Salvo was fighting with one of the gas instruments

          That night, Boris took Dennis and me to dinner with his family in one of their favorite restaurants. I had amazing pizza margherita, deciding I could eat something safe like pizza after trying mushrooms at lunch. I also taught Ida, Boris’ 7-year-old daughter, to play tic-tac-toe! And, to finish off the evening, we had some lemoncello, or lemon liquor, which is my favorite alcoholic beverage! It tastes like the sweet coating of a lemonhead! AMAZING!!!

Catherine enjoying watching Ida and I play tic-tac-toe!

Ida won!

          The two days, Thursday and Friday, were relaxation days for me, as Dennis left and Boris was busy. And they were so nice. Although, I spent a lot of time working on my abstract and thinking through the poster I’ll hopefully get to present to members of Congress in the spring. The Posters on Capitol Hill presentation is a poster session for undergraduate research to show members of congress the importance of funding undergraduate research, so hopefully I get to teach them all about Mt. Etna! I decided a poster on all of my research would have too much information, and so be too difficult for me to create, especially for my first professional poster for a poster seminar!

          Oh! And, as far as I can tell, my $1000 meeting went great! Yay!