Dancing!

Hello and happy summer!!

This week was pretty similar to the past few (exams, work, finding pests in my apartment, waltzing around my room when I need to move but don’t feel like working out, etc.), but Friday was something special. The whole town came together for a party. I don’t know if we were celebrating the longest day of the year, the start of summer, Piacenza, or what… but it was such a great night.

After a long day of studying and teaching English, I was ready to go home and crash. I was tired, I was sweaty from the heat and humidity, and I had a book downloaded on my kindle that I was ready to read, but I had told some friends I’d join them for a glass of wine. I spritzed some perfume and started walking their way.

On the short walk through town I noticed every street was blocked off, different music was playing on each block, all the restaurants were open and had added extra outdoor seating, there were stages in the main squares, and in one alleyway there was even a chess tournament set up. People were everywhere— not in an overwhelming way, but in a way that made you want to join in on whatever was happening. The ten-minute walk hyped me up enough to be excited about sacrificing my night in.

Ruby, Marte and I headed to a wine bar we like near the town’s Duomo and friends started trickling in to join us. Across the street a food tent had been set up, so I went to check it out and ended up getting a pulled pork sandwich, which I nearly cried while eating. It tasted like America. Outside the wine bar, there was a DJ playing some amazing middle school throwbacks (lots of Black Eyed Peas). As the night went on, people started dancing in the street. Eventually, a few of my friends and I joined the fun.

I noticed that down the road in the main square there was a stage, so we ran over to it. There were girls dancing; machines shooting out fire, smoke, and confetti; and Italian music playing. We had the best time dancing and singing and laughing! My shoe broke after a while from all the moving and grooving (RIP to my espadrilles), but we kept dancing for a little while anyway. It was well past midnight when I went home, and I left before most of the town did. Italians really do know how to party!

One of my favorite things about living here has been seeing the community out and about. There are times when I walk around and the streets are empty, and there are times (like during the Saturday morning market, or Sunday evenings when people go on walks) when I can count on the streets being full of people. They value their daily/weekly/monthly/yearly routines and traditions and it’s just so sweet to get to be apart of it.

It finally hit me this week that I get to spend my summer here, and not as a tourist but as a local. How fun is that?! For now I’m still in study-mode, but I have a few little trips planned and I’m so excited to have a European summer. I can’t believe this is my real life, I’m so thankful!!