ONE STEP CLOSER

I remember the thought that crossed my mind while I was walking to enroll myself in an Italian evening class. I told myself, “I’m taking my first step to Rome.” Talk about faith!

Last week, as I was waiting to enter the Italian embassy to sign several documents for the scholarship, I recalled that statement and (again) told myself, “I’m one step closer to Rome.”

Indeed, Rome will be the first city in Europe I will set my feet in next year…(ayy….time, please do fly!).

I did not complain of having to spend my whole morning mostly waiting and waiting, cos I got to talk a lot with other scholarship winners. Together with those who are taking master and doctoral degrees, we are in 11, enough to form a soccer team!

And, as we shared the same excitement and worries, bonds were fast built. Most of us have to leave for Italy at different times, different cities, different universities. But there is one person who will study at the same period of time and same university with me (only different length of time, she got 6 month scholarship, I got 9), and so we plan to go together and share an apartment.

Before I met her, I asked my teacher whether it would be possible for me to stay with an Italian family, to expedite my learning their language and culture, and he said he would seek that possibility. Now I changed my mind, cos I’m just so excited to share an apartment with her.

You know why?

When we started to talk, she told me that her intention of learning Italian was because she wanted to study in a conservatoire afterwards. And, upon hearing the word conservatoire, I immediately asked, “What do you play?”

Can you guess?

Yeppp… VIOLIN!


(I am now mentally packing my stuff—violin included—to go to Perugia! And I promise, no matter how long the flight will be, or how boring the bureaucracy will be, no matter how freezing the winter will be and how strong the homesickness will be, I WILL NOT COMPLAIN of anything, while I am there!)