My 3 month art course ends today with the open studio exhibition and a wrap up party.Even though I’m looking forward to going home,being with my family and friends,safe and secured and almost pampered in the comfortable confines of my home I’m sad.
These 3 months have been a life changing experience. I have learnt a lot and grown a lot in this time. I had my ups and downs,and it wasn’t exactly an easy journey but it was absolutely worthwhile. Every single bit of it.
I can proudly say I lived it out on my own,all alone without any support whether it was finding an apartment to setting up home,from getting lost like a tourist to traveling like a local to communicating in a foreign language (through actions) to studying a new form of art every week sometimes twice a week,to challenging myself to explore horizons I haven’t ventured into,to cooking and cleaning and doing my school works,to meeting deadlines of completing huge school projects on time,to being a mom(read FUN mom) on the weekends. And finally and most importantly I’ve managed successfully to live with myself.
To say these 3 months was enriching is an understatement. The experiences and people made me richer with their warmth love and care and experience.Richer than I was when I embarked on this journey.
I had 2 fantastic tutors who I totally love. Oriol,kind,soft spoken,gentle with the kindest eyes I’ve seen and a warm smile which could warm up cold days. Supportive encouraging and extremely appreciative. Exactly what I needed.
And Piotr,the exact opposite. Insane,funny,crazy,humorous,animated, infectious with his ideas and excitement, supportive and appreciative.
I adore these two men. They made going back to school exciting,fun enlightening and absolutely adventurous.
Friends,so many gorgeous people.A group of wonderful wonderful people who came together beautifully to form a community. They are loving,caring,hard working,party animals(sun out meant all of us out in the courtyard listening to music dancing and having fun while working.)Helpful and fun and most accepting of me. They embraced me as their very own. A part of their beautiful family.
The staff at school So helpful organised and hard working with their sunshine “Ola” in the mornings.
I will miss all of this sorely Oriol ,Piotr my friends, my schedule,my routine,the school,my apartment, the square,the musicians in the square,the train journey I take to and back from school,long walks,longer days. I will miss the sun shining till 9 at night,I’ll miss seeing the brides and grooms starting out into a new world. I’ll miss the banter,the chatter,the music,the instructions in school. I’ll miss the security of the uncomfortable chairs and the hectic prepping and frenzy of the presentations. The excitement of the exhibitions and the ecstatic feeling of exhilaration as I accomplished my goals. I will miss my cups of tea in the tin mug sitting in the sunny courtyard,the familiar walls of my studio, the 60 cent coffee. I will even miss the history classes. The list is endless.
But most of all I’ll miss the person I became while here. Confident,hardworking, almost excelling in carpentry, focused and determined and independent. Even emotionally so.
Of course these qualities will be with me wherever I am. But as I leave this place I realise I will also leave a part of me back here in the streets,in the school, in the cathedral and the square,in the paints and the walls of my school. And I hope I leave behind a part of myself in the people I met,loved and accepted as my own. As I carry them back along with me
I leave a part of myself behind. Till I come back to reclaim myself.