PSS- SHASTA, MONDAY IS CHRISTMAS TREE DAY IN ITALY!!! CAN'T WAIT TO HANG OUR NEW ORNAMENTS! Enrico's Mum said she was only going to hang your ornaments on her tree...I will photo-document and display here!!!

OH, btw Shasta, try putting your shirt on first and THEN your seatbelt. baci! hahahaha

"There is no such thing as a "self-made" man. We are made up of thousands of others. Everyone who has ever done a kind deed for us, or spoken one word of encouragement to us, has entered into the make-up of our character and of our thoughts, as well as our success."

-George Matthew Adams


I admit it...after three months I finally set foot in the library. My thesis is a ticking time bomb...I must begin it and finish it immediately. BUT, I didn't go to the library for my thesis. I went to see Raffaele "MEEEEGGGGLLLIiiiooo". His Father passed away recently, so I went to say hello. He was so sweet, he smiled, spoke softly and at a surprisingly understandable rate...said he was doing well and then he called his wife so i could say hello! He asked me how everything was and what he could do to help me 'conquer' the library...starting by making a library card! ha!

After I left, I thought about Shasta. I walked to my Philosophy class and passed the places where she had stopped to snap pictures "Kate, the view is AMAZING! Keep walking, I'll catch up". She is my shining star. She flew into Italy, showed me around 'my town', caressed and hugged me up and then flew on her way to Australia to also start a new adventure of life.

Shasta, you warmed my heart...thinking back, maybe I seemed less chatty than normal? I think that anytime I wasn't talking my head off I was just listening to you and watching you, trying to take in your goodness and positivity...you said you thought of me as an older sister...but funny enough, I think you played that role for me this time.

I don't doubt that you are meeting every new experience and challenge with that beautiful smile of yours...I promise you that I thought about everything we talked about and I'm making the changes to make sure that I am also smiling that smile of mine that you know.

Why does Australia have to be so freaking in AUSTRALIA?! Mad love to you.

“If in our daily life we can smile, if we can be peaceful and happy, not only we, but everyone will profit from it. This is the most basic kind of peace work. “

-Thich Nhat Hanh