From Summer, With Love
We often find ourselves coming back to school from summer as changed people. Whether it be because of the people we share memories with, the places we go, or the things we experience, we start a new chapter every fall. We all start school with different summer stories and new ideas.
Freshman and Newsman writer Anna Lena Leutiger traveled to Europe. The trip started in her home country, Germany, where she was happy to see her grandparents. Her next stop, Valencia, Spain, happened to be a totally different experience. She made a special stop at Newman Spanish Instructor Señora Maria Rodrigo's in-law’s bakery. Anna fondly remembers the sweet feeling of being surprised with a pound of free treats, not only as a prize for winning the Spanish Reading Competition, but as a symbol of the warmth and kindness of the residents of Valencia. Anna’s last stop was the infamous canals of Venice. She attended the Biennale, a famous art show held every two years during the summer. While the Biennale was the highlight for many art lovers, Anna’s most special memory (being a passionate studier of jellyfish) was coming across 3 jellyfish floating in the picturesque canals of Venice. “I found this very exciting, it was one of my favorite experiences this summer”. Anna's biggest takeaway from her trip to Europe was that “Jellyfish are everywhere and will someday conquer the world.”
Photos courtesy of Leutiger.
Junior Isabella Siciliano spent her summer going to Connecticut for Dance Nationals, as well as Cape Cod, the many beaches of Massachusetts, and most memorably Lake Winnipesaukee. This New Hampshire lake is not only a sight-seeing experience, but a special tradition for Isabella and her cousins. Together in the heat, they jumped off a bridge into the lake and later went water-skiing to cool off. They walked along the boardwalk at Weirs Beach, taking in the best views of the town and always had an ice cream to eat while exploring. Isabella cherishes the fact that no matter how much time passes, she and her cousins will spend time together as if nothing has changed and feels she has come back to school with new realizations about the importance of family. This summer Isabella learned how to “cherish every moment.”
“This summer Isabella learned how to ‘cherish every moment.’”
Photo courtesy of Siciliano.
This summer I visited Cremona, a small city in the Lombardy region of Italy. The city was a peaceful place, with a characteristic silence during the afternoons. At first I felt uneasy from the slow pace of time, but soon found myself appreciating it very much. Days were spent having coffees in the sun and strolling around the city. There was a unique connection between all the people of the city, and whether you had lived there your whole life or were just visiting, you could feel the warmth and closeness of the people. One summer night, I was sitting in the square with my parents listening to the mayor give a speech after a concert was held, when he asked the audience if they knew what the most important part of a city was. After moments of going over the question in my head and trying to understand what he was asking he finally answered, “the silence.” I felt I finally understood the feelings I had experienced within this city. Whenever I feel overwhelmed or tired, I go back to this moment and remember what it felt like to hear the silence.
Congrats on making it to the end! And remember: this year, whenever you feel the winter blues, close your eyes and go to the happy memories of summer.