Savored some sunsets…

Enjoyed the coast…

Bought a new pink hat…

…and introduced Ella to the beach:

She loved the cool sand and the wind in her face  -  especially the wind! Ella is now officially a beach pup. : )

photos by pam hollingsworth

So, they handed me my degree last Monday.

Feels good! Feels weird…. Feels exciting.

College, on the whole, was an amazing 4 years for me. Studying history, economics, politics – I learned a lot from some inspiring professors.

But most importantly, I learned a lot from the examples set by those inspiring professors, and by my equally inspiring peers. Examples for being industrious, curious, tenacious.

After graduating, I sat down and tried to think of what I had really loved about college. What made it special, and what I would miss. And I realized this:

The magic of college wasn’t in the classes I took or the places I hung out. For me, the magic was in the people I was surrounded by.

University is a unique scene. An array of people, all brought together from different backgrounds, in different disciplines, with different hopes and aspirations. In one place, you have the scholars, scientists, doctors, artists, and more – before they max out their potential and reach their goals. Here, in college, is where all of our paths cross.

So now our paths are starting to diverge, and that’s a good thing. As I embrace this new beginning, I look back on college as a great experience and opportunity.

I read a lot. I traveled a lot. I learned a lot.

But the best part was always the people.

Professors, classmates, roommates, family, friends, people I knew well, people I wish I knew better –

You guys are phenomenal, and with you, college was awesome.

 
 
With thanks,

Kate

 
 

And now that I’ve seen it, I know that I love it. The people, the bustle, the food, the museums, the news crews – this city has a lot of excitement packed in.

There’s lots of marble everywhere…

And neoclassical architecture…

There are the famous monuments visible in the heart of the city…

Downtown, the area is filled with tourists, souvenirs, activists, and food:

I had a great time in DC! Have you been? What’s your favorite memory about a trip to the capital? : )

So, I’ve been absent from the blog too much lately. It’s now my last semester of college, and everything seems hectic around here.

There’s lots of fun times and memories at Emory wrapping up, but also lots of exciting things to look forward to after graduation.

I’m not sure yet what the post-graduation plan is — but not knowing is part of the excitement, right?

For now, I’m enjoying the last of my time at Emory and sticking with some good advice I heard for this year:

Be well in 2012. I’m all about it. Not really any specific resolutions, deadlines or goals — just being well. Living well, feeling well, being well.

Who’s with me? : )

Rome has everything from quiet gardens around the Villa Borghese…

…and ancient ruins from the Roman Empire…

…to modern iconic Italian vespas, political flags, accordions, music….

There are so many facets of Rome, an ancient place where so much history and so many influences have left their mark. I can’t wait to share more photos of some different aspects of the city. : )

In the pedestrian streets around Florence’s famous art galleries, every square foot is filled with musicians and souvenir reproductions of famous paintings for sale….

Walking through the city, there are pops of color and ornate architectural details all around you. You’re embraced by the legacy of inspiration that once surrounded da Vinci, Michaelangelo, Donatello, and so many other artists….

There’s something surreal to the changes of colors in the city throughout the day. In the early, misty morning, Florence’s famous bridge, the Ponte Vecchi, was cool and indistinct….

…but by the warmer afternoon, the shops and walls along the bridge had changed into their famous palette of warm yellows, greens, and oranges….

Florence had a very Italian feel, and it was awe-inspiring to be in the birthplace of so many famous works of art. : )

So, I’ve been absent from the blog the past week or so due to a health crisis in my family.

My mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer exactly 2 weeks ago, and she’s already begun the fight.

The doctor has a lot of confidence in his treatment plan, and my mom has made it well through 2 rounds of chemotherapy so far. Luckily, my dad’s workplace is helping out by giving him the chance to go with my mom for the treatment every week and by providing meals every day.

So far, it seems to be going well.

This has been a big health scare for all of us – my mom had little to no symptoms, no risk factors, and no family history.

It came out of nowhere and caught us all by surprise. Ovarian cancer is hard to catch in the early stages, and we never expected anything so serious to be wrong.

Please be diligent with your health care.

For information on ovarian cancer + how to reduce your risk, check out the info on Dr. Oz’s site: “Ovarian Cancer: Stopping a Secret Killer.”

We started out early in the day by grabbing some fruit at one of the small streetside markets….

Our hike wound along the coast of the Mediterranean through 5 towns, some vineyards, and natural cliffs. In the middle of one orchard, we came across an Italian man selling fresh lemonade to hikers….

For lunch, we stopped in the harbor of one of the towns with some grab-and-go pizza….

Throughout the hike, we overheard people talking in all different languages – Italian, English, German, French, and more. It was an interesting mélange of people from all different places – all come to enjoy the Italian coast….

Everyone we passed would say “excuse me” in a different language. Scusi, permesso, entschuldigung, pardon…

Cinque Terre is famous for its beautiful scenery and seaside hikes, but its mixture of different visitors makes for a really unique atmosphere, too. : )

We spent most of our time in Rome, but made this day trip out to Cinque Terre for some beautiful hiking along the Italian coast.

This hiking area is full of sweeping views, crisp and salty Mediterranean air, seaside life…

The main hiking trail also takes you through 5 small coastal Italian towns, where you find your way through small, winding, complex Italian alleys….

Interesting architecture and inspiring personal touches accent the walls and streets throughout each of the towns…

Tomorrow, I’ll be posting about some of the food we came across as well as the atmosphere of our hike! See you then. : )

The views around Karlštrejn are so scenic and calm….

Along one of the main streets of town, everyone has a driveway like this:

That main street connects to a moderate hiking path up a hill that leads to Karlštejn’s famous 14th century Gothic castle….

I really enjoyed the walk up to the top of the hill with its picturesque views!

At the castle, I took a 2 hour English tour explaining the history of the place and the old royal families, but no photos were allowed inside. The whole place is full of historic relics, royal portraits, twisting paths and staircases.

Back down in the village after the tour, people were out enjoying the breezy weather. The whole town has a relaxed and unhurried feeling, perfect for a short day trip.

I loved getting a chance to see some of the Czech countryside and the old castle. : )