Invitation

What a crazy couple of weeks it has been!

On May 9th, 3 days after graduation, I left for Italy knowing that I was medically cleared and placement would be trying to contact me soon.

On May 11th I got an email from placement asking for an updated resume, my final transcript, a Skill Addendum form, and my answers to a questionnaire. I payed 10 euros for 8 hours of internet (obviously i didnt need all of that time) and had all the stuff handed in that night. I also let my Placement Officer know I was in Italy and asked that he please contact me by email and not phone.

On May 16th I got an email with 9 interview questions. This was a big deal because the questions gave me a lot of clues as to where I would be going. It asked if I was still ready to leave for Asia in July, if I would mind living with a host family, and if I could ride a bike 1-3 miles a day. This just screamed Cambodia! I actually had a concert in Italy to do about 2 hours after getting this email. It took a lot to stay focused on the task at hand. I hand-wrote my answers to the questions in a journal at  restaraunt tha night, and then the following morning I went to an internet cafe in Florence and typed my answers into an email.

I returned home from Italy on May 19th. The plane landed, so I turned on my phone and started getting my bags together. Then I got a text message from my mom that said "your invitation just arrived". uhm... WHAT? So i called her and sure enough there was a big blue envelope waiting for me at my house. I told her to open it and tell me where and when!

Sure enough, I will be leaving for Cambodia on July 22nd to teach English!

I was really shocked actually. They must have overnighted my invitation or something. I hadn't heard of the Peace Corps doing that before. How crazy! So I'm glad to join my fellow K5-ers. Heres to an exciting new adventure.

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But what about Italy?

Italy was the best 10 days of my life, thanks for asking!

The best part of Italy hands down was the people I went with. I love my friends more than anything. They really get me more than anyone else has. I can't find words right now, so I'll be sappy about my friends another time. Also of course it was a blast to go with 2 favorite professors.

We saw so much in our 10 days. We were in Rome, Tivoli, Assisi, Sienna, San Gimignamo, Perugia, and Florence. Italy is a really fascinating and beautiful place and it is so rich in history, culture, and art. We saw so many cathedrals and fountains but I never got tired of it.

And of course I can't forget to tell you that we PERFORMED all around Italy. The trip was a tour for my college performing ensembles including the Chorus, Chamber Singers, and String Ensemble. Lucky me, I was a member of all 3. We had four big concerts, which were sooooo fun. We sang some amazing repertoire- such as Aaron Copland's In the Beginning, and loved every second of it. We more than just "like" that piece. I'd say were addicted to it. I also played violin with the String Ensemble (after all, that IS my major instrument lol). I got to play a solo part in a Corelli Concerto Grosso. I had never played a solo with an orchestral group before, so even though it was a small part, it was cool to do that in Italy. The string ensemble also played an arrangement I wrote of Lady Gaga's Telephone haha.

In addition to the scheduled concerts, we sang short memorized pieces in almost every Cathedral we visited. It was kind of like the flash mob concerts you see on youtube videos, except slightly more reverant (dont worry, we always got permission). The acoustics were always amazing. Every time after we sang I would melt into a puddle on the floor. It was all just an amazing opportunity.

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I have so much more to write about! Opera, Wisdom Teeth, Costa Rica, and pre-Peace Corps preparations! I'll have to try to keep up with this blog a little better.

But for now I have to go. Wisdom teeth- it's been nice knowin' ya. Time for you to be extracted.