The greatest thing so far is when our teacher says: COURAGE but it’s coraggie pronounced like (core ah hay) she says it three times like a mantra-tantra. Every time something seems daunting it’s this core-ah-hay, core-ah-hay, core-ah-hay that lets me feel appreciative of this entire experience and strong enough to tackle the newness of everything.

We visited the church of basilica di Santa Croce. The monks were singing so peacefully their prayers. It echoed throughout the entire church. The gray church so large was covered in black shadows and kept itself cool. I could imagine prior to electricity how these buildings functioned. Candles flickering luminescent shadows dancing everywhere. The little room felt so cozy and comfortable. Santa Croce let me realize

Cinque Tierre was absolutely beautiful. I haven’t been to the ocean since I was nine. The salt lingered on my skin all day between my ears, under my finger nails and the taste of my lips. The water was so blue and clear you could see all the way to the bottom. The sunlight flickered on the waves dancing a catatonic melody shape shifting sparkling like a million diamonds. Graffiti and murals were everywhere declaring each others love on via di amore.

Elizabetta is the funniest teacher ever she makes class really exciting. Yesterday Sergio showed me some of their paintings on their wall. One artist scratches what looks like black sharpie mixed with red and blue. Its volatility and scratchy texture symbolize the political upheaval. He kept records from when the artist (who I will have to look up later) was at the uffizi in the 70’s.

Today I will go look for the library and the Uffizi.