Wednesday, February 23, 2011

The Secret

CTEFL Certification: Check
Job Interview: Check
Job Offer: Check
Training: Check
First lesson: Pending

This means that I passed my grammar test and got certified. This means that I moved to Rome to find a job. This means that I found one. This means that tomorrow I start making money again!

Fortuitous: happening by accident or chance rather than design
Design: purpose, planning, or intention that exists behind an action, fact, or material object

So much that has happened has been both fortuitous and designed. Both have been amazing. I can't describe all of the events that I have witnessed in a matter of days. They would be meaningless to you. However, maybe I will just sum up how much I am meant to be here in one picture. I had just read my mom's email (remember her name is Kathleen) welcoming me to Rome when I stepped off the train and saw this:



I am meant to be here.

Fortuitous: finding common names in uncommon places
Design: living with Alison, who is able to understand me and able to encourage me. My, my do we laugh

Today I believe in the power of positive thinking, leaving the past behind, following Buddha's words and being in this moment. I believe in love, miracles, God, and truth. I believe in intrapersonal intelligence and the use of it to guide one's life. I believe in family. I believe in friends. I believe in not worrying. I have worried enough to last a lifetime. One man said "If the problem can be solved there is no need to worry. If it can't be solved worrying does no good."

Megan is back and better than ever. I really missed her.

love
m.jean

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Look again. and again. and again.

I took up a habit in January. Many of you won't think it is any different from my normal behavior, but I assure this is a whole new level. I walk on the cobble-stone streets singing at a completely audible level. If you think I am singing along to an ipod, you are wrong. This is one of the Italy Megan antics. I still sometimes forget the words conveniently when someone walks too close, but don't doubt my dedication nor my passion.

After the internet research on the "how to . . . " she shut the laptop. With resolution, she walked with a step that said it all: I am doing it.


I have been told that I don't give enough detail in my blog reports. I have no wish to deny this. I have chosen a solitary path and with that comes an amount of reservation, something I didn't have much of before. It changes you. I look at portraits of my character of now and I look at the ones of then and I find myself much altered. And when I look, I smile. However, you all deserve a little sweet life for being such dedicated lovers and readers. I couldn't ask for a better group to send me warm thoughts and the occasional bank deposit every now and then (you know who you are--if you don't know, you could consider learning -wink-).

With a few passing words to her roommates, she went into the bathroom. Unsure of being heard, she giggled as she thought about the advantage of taking them by surprise. The water ran over her with a pulsing voice that could only say one thing: Do it. Do it.


Every morning I wake up to the sound of shop doors opening. There is always some kind of horn honking, whether it is a Vespa, a bicycle, a Fiat, or a bicycle. I open my shutters and check out the weather. Outfit determined I get dressed, eat, and do my hair as fast as I can so I can get to class on time. There is one minute I can't wait to experience every single morning. I am so fortunate to live on the other side of the river from my school. If I didn't, I wouldn't get my 60 seconds of euphoria every day. Blog audience: Welcome to the bridge walks.

The methodical motion of her arm combing her hair only added to the manic look on her face. This is how it works with her. Deep consideration and vacillation. Repeat. Then a sudden resolution, followed by sudden action. There is no stopping her when she gets to this point.

The bridge walks don't even last that long. I don't expand them often. I don't take a different bridge on a different day. No. I prefer to walk across my bridge with my eyes on Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) long enough to smile uncontrollably. The water below moves like it knows it is in Florence. There is no need rush through it. At this point I am halfway across when I stop for 2 seconds. Smile. Deep breath. I carry on, dodging the other admirers, painters, tourists, dogs, and cute old people. I step off the magic bricks and return to walking fast. My feet head toward the school but my mind remains on the bridge remembering the same words that come to me every day: I am so happy.



Snip. Snip. Snip. Maybe sawing at the really thick spots. There is no thought of failure. There is no Plan B.

I will skip the description of school. Summed up, I have met some really great people. It is fun. I love grammar, even though I don't understand it all. I am working hard so there truly isn't a lot of time to melt into this city, but it almost doesn't matter. I just feel so--here. I make my own meals here, I am on a great pasta diet. Light on the wallet. :) So I eat lunch. I study. This usually continues until evening. Then my beautiful Dutch roommate will sometimes ask what I am doing for dinner. Then we get our fantastic Brasilian roommate to come out and eat with us. We eat for 10 minutes and laugh, talk, narrate, and story tell for another 50 minutes. I am the only person in my program who isn't living with someone from the program. Which means I am the only American who is not living with another American. And I love it. One of the greatest things about traveling is to meet all of these other people who are here. The idea that you both chose the same place makes you look at them with wonder, anxious to understand.

After 30 minutes of snipping, sawing, guessing, combing, and brushing off the cut hair she declared herself finished. More likely, she realized that if she didn't stop there she would end up with chin length hair--something she was not in support of. She walked into the kitchen with a length of hair 5 inches fewer. After a second her lovely Daniela cried, "Seriously, you cut your hair!" (if you could only hear the latin flavor on that first word you would want to take her home she is so cute). Sanne agreed and couldn't believe it. Yes she had. She cut off 5 inches of dead, unhappy hair. A feeling of elation came. Beyond the physical benefits, she felt so empowered. She had a problem. The solution cost money. The grandiose emotions that take over when she solves a problem for herself heightens her faith in life--and she didn't pay a dime. This, good friends, is power.

I feel so able here. I am almost finished with my program and I will be moving on soon. I only have good memories. The past of dark shadows fades every day and I am reminded why I did it all in the first place.

This is the power of Firenze.

yes, that is the shadow of my chandelier in my bedroom.


Love always,

m.jean
P.S. I don't know if anyone cares to know the name that I lovingly gave this outfit: Almost black and white. I know you are all wondering, it is my big black bow clipped onto a chain.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Year 24- Purple Time Capsule





Bday outfit: Tradition- wear purple on my birthday. and all my favorite things (forever21 necklace, m. jean designer pants, great big bow, cash cardi, best brown flats ever)

Words/things I Want to Remember:

1. The plan
2. Sofia
3. Please bless that we can have a pillow fight.
4. Mom
5. Yearn
6. TED talks
7. Burning beacon in the night. Can't feel its heat or see its light. That single solitary guide--It must get lonely there sometimes.
8. Hungry little bunny
9. Failure can sometimes be the best path to freedom.
10. Culture- create your own definition
11. Firenze.
12. I don't need you like I did before. But I still want you.

As of right now, these are some of the things I want to become/do:

Become a Religious Ambassador- for all of the major religions. Free from the stereotypes, free from undervaluing other people's way of life--or way of dedication. Only holding one thing for each one. Respect.

Audition for a singing competition.

Great loves of year 23:


Some dreams come true in the strangest circumstances.


Love her.

Bown Crossing. still think of you.


One of the greatest gifts in life is the opportunity to be an adult and to meet your mom as one.


Bridge walks

Greatest friends of 23: Megan. Malia. Kelissa. Helen. Leslie. Siobhan. Marie-Claude. TEFL Group. 113. best ever. sisters- can't get enough.

Best friends: Mom. Dad. Linsvor.

Feb 3=gone. 23=gone.

My school group got together for my birthday--
one rose, cheeseburger, 5 pictures, 1 monkey card, 1 scroll card, and one big "tanti auguri" later-- I am 24
Ciao Tutti. 24. better than before.
love, m. jean





p.s.

did you think i could possibly forget this? Trevor is jealous. Though we're not sure of whom.