When the crisis hits…

The last week of February

I hate to start any type of writing with a negative start, but that seems to be only attitude we have been surrounded in since we got home from Lucca on Saturday night. As we got off the train into the satiation to get home, we noticed everyone wearing surgical masks and we knew right away something was not right. The next couple of days until now the hashtag #CoronavirusItalia is on the trending list on almost every social media platform.

It is difficult enough being away from home, it a whole new country where all you have is yourself and some of the friends you’ve made. Like for people back at home trying to scare us by saying we should go back asap or refreshing social media only to get fake news that make everything worse. CDC labelled the North region of Italy a level 3 (apparently it got to a 4) and that is when everyone started getting notifications that they should probably go back home. Just how we thought our semester was going to take off.

I am not going to lie and pretend like everything is sweet and peaches. The daily news keep shattering my heart, but I am trying to stay optimistic, because I worked so hard to get here. I prayed so hard, to get this chance. The little girl in me does not want me to give up what I’ve dreamt of for years. As more and more peers get sent back home, I feel anxious as I refresh my email. Hoping that I will not get a notification saying I must leave my dream home. Italy, have you stolen my heart, how are they going to break us apart?

despite all of the negative news and anxious feelings. My roommates and I decided to get to know Florence more. After-all we do live here. I joined both of them to go up the Dome in the main piazza. That was my round 3 going up 464 steps and another 464 going back down. We also went up to the bell tower right next to it, round 2 going up the ‘Campanile Di Giotto’; another 414 steps going up and 414 coming down. The baptistry of course, under remodeling, of course. That wasn’t the last of our day, we decided to go to the famous Gucci Garden, located next to the Piazza della Signora. STUNNING. I wanted to move into that exhibition, it was truly mesmerizing seeing all those Gucci pieces up and personal.

This city is truly going to break my heart, but I am ok with that.