On Tuesday evening, I had the pleasure of chatting with my sister’s 6th grade class from St. Ursula’s school in Baltimore, Maryland.  Thanks to the wonderful technology of Skype, I was beamed into their classroom for a video chat. 

It was pretty interesting to hear their questions and gain some insight into their assumptions about European travel.  Many of them were curious about the food over here: “Do they eat Brussels Sprouts in Brussels?...What was the food like in Venice?...Do people go to waffle stands in Brussels like they go to Starbucks in the US?...Do they have lots of cheese?”  And some of them were a bit more off the beaten path: “Was it crowded in Vienna?...What are their celebrities like?...What kind of landmarks do they have in Brussels?”  It was difficult to articulate just how tough it can be to navigate through this new world, but I did the best that I could.  Their reactions to my answers were pretty telling: they laughed when I explained that men are very nicely dressed and well-groomed, and they were pleasantly surprised to hear that Belgians appreciate “High School Musical” and the Black Eyes Peas.  The first thing that comes to mind when they hear about Europe and Europeans are the intense differences.  

  I realize that we’re all fascinated by these differences.  That’s what makes us want to travel and explore and learn.  It’s magical and exciting to go somewhere unfamiliar, but this enthusiasm makes it nearly impossible to anticipate the challenges that come along with the adventure.  But in the end, these difficulties merely add to the experience and make the beautiful discoveries that much more valuable.  It’s frustrating when I can’t figure out the map of the Parisian metro system, but it is well worth the hassle when I emerge from the underground to see the stunning vision of the Arc du Triomphe lit up against the deep blue of the evening sky.

Aaaaah Venice!  What an astoundingly beautiful gem of a city!  My experience in Venice was like a breath of fresh air, so utterly refreshing.

On our first morning, we ventured into the small town near Treviso where our hotel was located.  Upon entering a small produce shop in search of fresh fruit, we received a warm greeting from the woman behind the counter.  She excitedly greeted us with, "Bonjourno!"  She called us beautiful girls, and proceeded to tell us that the apples we selected were gifts, insisting that we take them free of charge.  Her motherly and sweet temperament was heartwarming - she embodied a personality I haven't really encountered in Brussels.

In a small coffee shop down the road, we ordered our first Italian cappuccinos.  The barista dusted the foamy treats with cinnamon in the shape of a heart.  It truly tasted as if it had been meticulously concocted by the coffee gods.

We took the short train into Venice early in the afternoon.  As we stepped out of the train station in Venice, we were greeted by the breathtaking view of a beautiful bridge that crossed over the water and into the city.  The pearly white stone of the bridge was majestic and fairytale-esque.  From that point, there were only small boats and gondolas gliding through the maze of canals that run through the city streets.  The residential buildings towered over us with beautiful flowers and gardens peaking out of the windows and balconies.  As cliche as it sounds, it looked like a charming painting that one might find in a painting on the walls of a small restaurant in Little Italy to "set the mood."  I will forever look at such paintings in a new light having been to Venice.  I will never forget biting into the most savory panini I have ever tasted with the most juicy tomatoes, and being in my very own Italian painting in the middle of the Venetian streets.

We spent the first day wandering about in awe of the beautiful houses, popping into different stores to admire the craftsmanship of the classic glass jewelry and the handmade masks.  It was wonderful to just explore with no agenda, just immersing ourselves in the new environment.  Of course, we indulged in gelato...twice.  Of course its taste defied verbal description.

On our second day, we toured the beautiful Doge's Palace in the middle of the grand St. Mark's square just off of the main canal.  The rooms were adorned with gold and oil paintings that were perfected with incredible detail.  I still cannot fathom how each column in the palace courtyard was so intricately designed with masterful sculptures and distinctive detail.

Later in the afternoon, we simply had to take a gondola ride.  Fortunately, the gondola driver, Franco, was especially fond of one of my travel buddies, so we were able to get an extra special tour.  He allowed each of us to steer the gondola through the canals...a very tricky task!  I think it's safe to say that each of us managed to steer it into the walls of the buildings.  He was extremely lighthearted and fun.  He had some memorable lines, such as, "People are like food.  You have lots of good food, you are happy and energetic.  But you have bad food, and it is like poison.  It doesn't make you feel good."  He also explained that, "Driving a gondola is like making love...you must put your body into it!"  We passed Marco Polo's birthplace, and Casanova's house along the way, as well.  It was quite a memorable adventure, gliding along the Venetian canal with Franco.

We ended the day with a delicious dinner by one of the canals.  The waiter was extremely playful and sweet, clearly loving life and happy to share this happy spirit.  Again, the positive Italian energy was comforting, and it even made me a bit homesick as I longed for the warmth of my family and friends at home.

While we only spent two days in Venice, we were able to see and do so much.  It was fascinating to see a European city so different from Brussels.  I without a doubt hope to return to Italy again.

Back to the grindstone!  A work-filled week ahead in both class and the internship, and then off to Normandy for the weekend!