I. AM. BACK.

It seems that those 10 weeks have come and gone so quickly. I still remember going to the interview, mucking it up (again, change m to f), receiving the good news (?) that I was one of the four people accepted, having to explain that I had to leave, packing, saying goodbye, getting on the plane, going to school, learning how to cook (for survival), learning how to wash clothes (again for survival), having to put up with Italian bastards (will kwento next time), packing again, saying good bye, getting on the plane and voila.

So far, when people ask me how my trip was, I just plainly say that it was interesting. It wasn't breathtaking or marvelous or what-not, it was just plain interesting. Sure I might seem like an ingrate, but, it was all that it was... just plain interesting. Nothing more, nothing less.

Had I known then, given the choice, I would politely decline this "scholarship". I realized, after reading Alessa's blog, that the timing for this was off. Sure, I did 10 weeks of learning Italian and not having to pay for anything, but 10 weeks is only 10 weeks. It won't (and didn't) give me enough knowledge to carry on a decent and serious conversation, and it won't (and definitely didn't) give me enough knowledge to teach.

Sayang lang talaga. Hassle pa yung nawalan kami ng internet, tuloy, nakakatamad magkuento kung ano mga nangyari. But anyway, I'm getting too ahead of myself. Now that I'm back, I plan to focus on the following things:

1. Jump start my so-called career: Up to now I still don't know what I want to do with my life, and since another window has opened, I feel I just poured gas into this big bonfire of confusion. Alessa was right, by leaving, I put my entire life on hold, but now I have to work on harder just to prove myself worthier. Haaaayyyy...

2. Get in touch with my artistic side: I met this brilliant lady in Rome, who painted (using watercolor) tourist spots in Rome. Ang galing, OA sa galing. WATERfreakingCOLOR. Amazing. I remember, a few years back, what my art teachers used to tell me, "Alam mo, sayang ka. May talent ka, tamad nga lang." I remember how much I used to love painting with watercolor. I loved the challenge. Sayang. Tamad lang kasi ako.

Here she is with her artworks (Will scan some soon)

3. POFTP!! OUTREACH!! FUNDRAISING!!! I just realized, while I was away, that not only am I a SOA (socially-oriented Atenista) but I am an active SOA. 10 weeks of not doing anything socially-relevant was just plain wrong. Hopefully I can get to kickstart my fundraising projects soon.

So yun nalang muna. Will write again soon.