Final Week :(

My last day is tomorrow :(
I can't even fathom how fast my time has gone. Working at this firm has really been an eye-opener. I realized that I really do want to be an architect. I thought I knew this before, but I really didn't. I kept having doubts about the career path I had chosen. Now, I can safely say that architecture is in my future. Hopefully, this internship will also help me get started in that direction. I got an interview to be an intern at an architecture firm in Minneapolis! I really hope I get it. I don't know if it's paid or not, but even so, it will be my first architecture related job in the United States, so that's something, and it is with a very innovative firm focused on sustainability like AKA was.

I think what I will miss most is the people. I only really got to know three of them very well: Federica, Maria Rita, and Elena. However, those three were so kind. Even the ones I couldn't really converse with treated me with so much respect, always offering me candies and making jokes with me, offering me coffee, and being all-around generous people. Maria Rita and Elena especially were so patient with me even though my Italian was terrible. I invited them over for dinner on Saturday night, and they really enjoyed it! They wanted to know what "American" food was like. I said it is such a broad mix, it was hard to pinpoint exactly what that meant, but I think I introduced them to some new recipes. I made lentil soup for starters, then chickpea cakes with arugula salad and yogurt sauce for main, and then apple crisp for dessert (and of course wine with every course!) I was so happy that they were there. Even with the language barrier, I have become very attached to them, and I'm not looking forward to leaving them. People always say that we can keep in touch via Skype and e-mail and such, but it's not the same. I will miss our long lunches every day in Piazza Testaccio with the sun shining on us and the wind blowing in our faces, and our daily coffee at the local bar. At home, I never spend that much time on lunch. I never even go out to lunch. I usually just eat while I'm doing homework. There's something so freeing and liberating about taking a lunch break that I hadn't realized before.

Federica was honestly the best boss ever. I haven't had many bosses (although my baking boss was pretty fantastic), but she was so flexible, and respectful, trusting, and open to new ideas. I really felt like I could speak my mind and be heard, and I really felt like I was a part of a team. I want to get her a parting gift to say thank you.

I'm sad because I know the firm is struggling financially. There isn't enough work or money in Italy, especially for architecture firms. I can only hope that things improve soon so that I can return someday and maybe even make a living wage doing what I love.