Summer School...

Hi. It is 8:23 am and I'm up! It is hard to sleep with the wild sounds of my home on a weekday morning, but I also have lots to do. Erika leaves tomorrow. It is bizarre. It feels as if we are saying goodbye, when in actuality, this summer we will be as attached to the hip as we were when we first met in 7th grade. I mean we were with each other EVERYDAY....no exaggeration. I can't wait!

Traveling the world sounds like a blast. But traveling the world while reading and writing essays, now that sounds like more of an enriched chore. Now, I joke. I love to learn, but at times it is SO taxing on my life (ha ha like the dramatization?) But no seriously it is. This summer I will be enrolled for 12 credits, which is 4 classes: Global Music, Business, Politics and culture of the European Union, one to TBD, and the last, Global Studies, which we are all required to take. I'm sure more talk of these classes are to come in the future.

One book we are asked to read before we enter these foreign cities, is Identity and Violence: The Illusion of Destiny by Amartya Sen. Reading this book seriously made me think I was losing my mind. The author was so repetitive that you thought you were reading a page you just read. He honestly had you going in circles. However, in the end I really enjoyed the book and the message it had to offer, not only to History geeks, Humanitarians, or travelers, but to everyone. It had a very solidified point that we are all so different and all so the same that if we just noticed our differences and similarities that we could find common ground and peace within that.

"Even when we are clear about how we want to see ourselves, we may still have difficulty in being able to persuade others to see us just in that way."

The issue with that (and I promise this is not an essay) is some of us let one singular part of our identity dictate and control our daily lives, our politics and our life choices. When in actuality we are extremely complex and multifaceted beings with many layers of identity. For example, one can't simply be succumbed by their devotion to a religion and then disregard other facets of their make-up such as: sexuality, social status, sex, occupation, race, location. etc. Not to also mention all outside forces such as the economy, international relations, and the presence of others and their opinions. I feel that many people do disregard the other aspects of life when making certain choices. Enough academia but you get the gist of his claim.

But to tag along with that heavy course work at sea, I am also required to do summer homework for NYU. How fun? "An actor never sleeps" That's my new motto. It will catch on. I have to watch six movies, while observing character and then I must ultimately embody that character. I also have to observe the character of someone I know very well, and since I am to be with her for the next two months, I think I'm going to study Erika....and boy what a character she is! Ha! hA! I have to also learn 7 new songs! I mean sure I can rehearse in the Colosseum, in the Sahara Desert, I'm sure I'll find plenty of time to do this all....NOT!

Speaking of movies, I saw Angels and Demons, and I am more excited than ever to visit Italy! For that and because my family is from there. My Great-Great Grandparents came to America in 1910 from Montemurro, Italy. Yesterday I sat down with my Great-Grandfather and researched the town and how I would be able to visit the place where it all began! I had a great time with him and I'm going to miss him as I always do. He will turn 82 while we are in Italy and it will be an honor to see Montemurro.....I wonder if Erika will go with me....hmmm probably not.

Also yesterday I went shopping for everything that I will need. I did this with the mother! O dear! She made me get EVERYTHING! I have antibiotics, itch cream, bug wristbands, (omg wristbands? It is kinda neat but I'm still skeptical) cold medicine, motion sickness medication, first aid kit. I mean I'm not traveling to a different planet. I don't know what she thinks is going to happen to me, but whatever I'm sure something will come in handy (ha ha ha) by the way it is hard to be sarcastic through writing.

WELL, it is now 9:00 am. and I have lots to do. I'm packing today! Hooray! (o0o0o That rhymes!). I also have to update my I-Pod with pictures and videos. I also have to write a cover letter and resume that I am submitting to Warner Bros. for a hopeful internship and I might be booking a Disney trip for my return in August. AHHH! Life overload! But I'm excited. Stay Tuned. Four Days until I leave! =)


Explore. Dream. Discover.

-Michael-Anthony


P.S. My posture sucks and I am trying to fix it. Also I need better titles! hmmm?