Trapped In The Margins

I have spent almost two months in Siena, Italy. Siena is located in the Tuscany region of Italy. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site due to the ancient wall that surrounds the city. I happen to live in an apartment that has a beautiful view of the city. My life in Siena is beautiful, tiring, and fulfilling beyond comprehension.

It sounds cliche to say that studying abroad changes one’s life but it does. This is my second time studying abroad in a year and it’s been such an incredible experience that it’s difficult to fully articulate what it means to me. I’ve lived in England and Italy in the span of one year. Next year, I will living in South America. My life is in a constant state of flux and I have to adapt to different cultures. There are barriers that come with this adjustment, but all my friends can focus on is the pretty pictures that I post.

Living in a different country becomes as mundane as living in your hometown after a while. I love Siena and I consider it like home. Yet, I’m used to it. I have a routine, attend school, volunteer 3 days a week, and have dinner with my host mom. My life is the same in so many aspects except I am expected to speak Italian when I do things.

I can’t promise more posts on Italy, but I will leave you with my favorite picture from Siena.

Siena’s cathedral or the Duomo di Siena