A New Year.

"And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been"
— Rainer Maria Rilke

As I welcome the new year in Italy I am excited by all of the possibilities that lie ahead of me this year, and in my life. For me it feels as if the new year is just about to start. Finals are ending, the sun has been out for the last week bringing with it warm weather and birds, and in one week I leave for Sicily with Smith for a break in between our two semesters.

I feel very fortunate, and am particularly excited for my new semester. I will be starting an internship at Marino Marini, an elementary school in Pistoia focused on nature, where I will be working with three year olds. As well as taking on a research assistant position in a Neuroscience lab at the University of Florence Medical school, in addition to one or two other courses. I hope to fill my weekends with travel, hiking, and work at an organic farm that I spent a beautiful day at last week. I am thankful for all that I have and I will work hard in making the most out of these amazing opportunities that are ahead of me.

What a year this will be.

La Befana

The Holidays were great. I got to share them not only with Smith friends, but also with mom, dad, Riley and Kate (and for one wonderful evening her whole family!) They were full of food, lights, and celebration!

With my beautiful mother and brother in Siena

With my favorite boys, on the old streets in front of the sede

One of the most unique parts of le feste in Italia (unique enough as they were) was the epiphany, when many florentines dressed in medieval garments paraded through the streets with drums, flags, cannons, oxen, bunnies, goats, donkeys, owls, hawks and more! Ending at a live nativity scene at the duomo where they gave presents to children and released balloons over the cathedral.

The three kings (Magi) in front of the gates to the Smith Center.

Not only was the parade on the epifany great, but we also celebrated the Befana, a witch like woman who missed seeing the baby jesus because she had to finish house chores and is thus left to wander the streets of Italy giving children presents in hopes that one of then may be baby jesus. In other words a female, pagan version of Santa. Needless to say I love her.