Views from a bridge in Bolzano
By Cristina Cianci
I was 21 and off to Italy for four weeks. I knew it was going to be an incredible time, but I hadn’t realized that while there I would fall so deeply in love, forever changing my perspective on life.
Until that point, I'd visited Italy countless times in my childhood and teen years to stay with my Italian relatives. I already had an existing love for my aunts, uncles, and cousins as well as all the magical lost-in-translation memories we'd created each time. So when I had planned a solo trip in late spring of 2011 to stay with my cousins as a freshly crowned adult, I knew it would different and exciting in novel ways.
I flew into Milan from New York City, and headed northeast to my family’s home in the Italian Alps, the Dolomites. As the first few days were underway with a whirlwind of family greetings, dinners, and ice cream, the jet lag began to wear off and a clear game plan began to form in my mind: assimilate and enjoy leisure time, something I wasn’t much familiar with from my New York lifestyle.
Mornings always began the same: a cappuccino and roll with butter. But each day held a new and different adventure. English class at my cousin's school, visiting hilltop castles, constantly pit-stopping for afternoon cappuccinos. Other days, I'd be on my own to explore nearby cities, like Bolzano the birthplace of my grandfather. These adventure days were some of the most fun I've had in my life, all the while sharpening my Italian and my ability to blend in.
Nights always included pizza, tiramisu, card games, and drinks in the piazza with my cousins and their friends, who've all turned into lifelong friends of mine. I'd go to bed excited to wake up every day. I had become entirely enamored with the simple daily activities that I had taken for granted back home. Jumping on a bike with my cousins, leisurely walking through town, an easy afternoon vino at the local bar (that was never over-crowded). People were easygoing, content with what they had, content with how they looked, never rushing to another engagement. At the time, it felt like I had been on a treadmill, sprinting through life. But now I was strolling down the piazza, enjoying everything and anything that crossed my path!
“I’ve never felt more beautiful and at ease. I learned to love what I had and what I was.”
Views from behind Piazza Walther in Bolzano
I was basking in a "come as you are" environment. I've never connected with so many different people so quickly and so genuinely since my spring in Italy. Back home, there was this American/New Yorker mentality of being the best, doing the best, looking the best, having the best, and being the busiest to live a semblance of a fulfilled life. In my four weeks on that trip, I truly learned that you are your best when you feel your best. For me this looked like, au natural hair and makeup with minimal wardrobe styling. I've never felt more beautiful and at ease. I learned to love what I had and what I was.
In the years that followed, I've gone back every year since. Each trip brings new memories and a refresher course in au natural appreciation. This spring, I had a three-week trip all set, my first time in nine years I would be going for such a long period of time. That, of course, has been postponed. It was hard to not be there to experience all the previously mentioned good times.
Me and my cousins out for pizza in Bolzano
Although, what was harder was to watch the news and my family from afar. We are very thankful that my family have remained healthy and happy throughout this past year. This time has reminded us, once again, to stop and appreciate the small things in one's life: a quiet morning cappuccino, a peaceful walk around town, a non-crowded drink with friends. If I could only wander into to a hillside castle on my lunch break.