Rotary is Amazing

Seriously, that’s all I really need to say. Rotary is amazing. In the past two weeks it has brought me together with seven incredible people, from South Africa, Poland, Spain, Germany, Latvia, Turkey, and France. It has helped me to learn about so many other cultures. It has given me the opportunity to see some of the most beautiful places in Northeastern Italy. So really, all I can say is thank you.

A few details of what exactly happened on this Rotary- and Rotaract-organized camp:

-I lived in Verona for one week, and in a small town called Cordovado the next. Two very different places, both with a classic Italian charm and beauty that I absolutely love.

-I seriously bonded with the seven other campers. It’s pretty difficult not to when you’re all united solely by the experiences you’re sharing. And let me tell you, we shared a lot of experiences; we were together almost all of every single day for fifteen days.

-We spent one full day sailing on Lake Garda. Huge bluffs surrounded the lake, which is the largest in Italy and was such a beautiful clear blue. Swimming, eating ice cream, relaxing, talking, getting a little bit sunburned, falling in the water, and continuously ducking under the huge sail made for a wonderful day.

-We toured Venice. Most of the others had been there before, given the proximity of everything in Europe. For me, however, it was all new, and we went on such a beautiful day that my camera got plenty of usage :] It was absolutely gorgeous, although it was almost tragic to see that the main reason it exists at this point is for tourism. However, I’m a tourist, so I guess I can’t really complain.

-We went to a Rotarian’s mountain home for a barbecue prepared by an army of Rotary and Rotaract members. The view was breathtaking, the neighboring houses were colorful and overflowing with flowers, and outside in the garden there was a trellis covered in vines of delicious grapes. I also got to help pick lettuce from the next-door neighbor’s garden, and she was so ancient that I couldn’t help but be impressed as she creaked her way around the garden, chopping off enormous heads of lettuce like her life depended on it. She was quite generous, although I couldn’t understand a word she said since she was speaking Friulani, the dialect of the Friuli region.

-I ate so much Nutella, I think it’s time to start up soccer again :]

-I realized that eating in Italy is very different. At nearly every meal, I would eat my fill of whatever was on the plate they put in front of me. Usually, it was so much that I couldn’t finish. It took me a long time to learn that there is ALWAYS a second plate. Always. Needless to say, the second plate was just as delicious as the first, and I was forced to find one tiny corner in my stomach for just a little bit more. Also, I was always the last one to finish eating, which I found interesting seeing as we Americans have a reputation for always being in a rush and on the move, whereas Europeans live life more slowly.

-Thanks to the Rotary clubs of Verona Scaligero and San Vito al Tagliamento, I have two new Rotary flags! They are both beautiful, and I felt like a real ambassador when we exchanged flags. It’s so cool to think about all the connections and friendships I’ve already made!

-I dressed up in medieval clothes and participated in a four-hour parade through the medieval town of Cordovado. Everyone was dressed up in medieval wear, and there were stands everywhere selling stained glass windows, swords and armor, “holy relics”, paintings, and rustic cuisine. I actually felt like I had been transported back in time, thanks to the ancient stone walls, castles, and churches of Cordovado. Also, in the parade, the four ancient warring areas of Cordovado were competing against each other to win the prize for the best borgo, or village. The seven other campers and I were participating as the “Giallo e Nero” team, so we wore yellow and black. Guess who won :] “Viva Giallo, Viva Nero, Viva Giallo e Nero!!!”

I could go on and on with descriptions of everything we did, but it’s impossible to recreate any of it, or even do it justice. I had so much fun and learned so much over the two weeks, that it seems impossible that it was only two weeks. It’s great to be back home in Trieste, but I know that I will really miss the friends that I made on the trip. Again: THANK YOU ROTARY. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. Or as the Italians would say it, Grazie mille. Until next time, ciao e baci grandi :]

ps-here's the link to my new online storage site for photos. take a look and enjoy!

http://picasaweb.google.com/109253908369204461087/SummerCamp?authkey=Gv1sRgCKCD__78nsyDjgE#