The days are creeping up on me. I have a week before I leave and start up again in Finland. I’m terrified, excited and anxious all rolled into one. I take risks, this is a big one. But I will confess, I’m a coward and panic like I’m being paid, but its something I have to do, so my cowardness has been put in the back seat for now. So I was thinking about Italy. I hated it. But then again, there are some things that I liked about it, that would not be fair to just forget so simply. First off, the food….oh my goodness!!!!! I had taste bud orgasims all the time!! Ice cream, chocolate, TIRAMISU…which I learnt how to make!!! Pizza, coffee, and I mean real espresso ristretto, pasta, fresh mozzerrella, riccotta, fritelle’s filled with zabaglione…ok, I shall stop now, I’m getting hungry. I learnt the language. I got to know some really nice people. Got to see so much art and old monuments and churches….VENICE!!! I adore venice! But I also learnt this beautiful phrase which a friend once said to me…”quando vogliamo d’avere una cosa, tutto l’universo conspira per averlo”….when we want something, the whole universe conspires so you can have it. It was an experience, one I wouldn’t like to go through again, but somehow, in a strange way, I’m glad that I did. So its behind me now and I’ve got finland ahead of me. A strange land with lots of trees and lakes and freezing cold for 6 months of the year practically….but im determined to have a great time!

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent.Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.
- Calvin Coolidge, former US president