Modena

At this point, I would imagine that everyone is wondering if they are uncultured for not knowing where or what Modena is. If it makes you feel any better, I didn’t know until last weekend. Modena is a little city about 30 minutes northwest of Bologna. The only reason you might know it is because that is where Ferraris were originally made! I went there because an Italian friend of mine lives in a little secluded town outside of Modena called Torre Mania. This town is so small it makes Modena look like LA or New York. But it is precisely it’s seclusion that makes this town so beautiful. 

It was a rainy, cold weekend and we didn’t arrive to her house until after dark. Her house is beautiful and has been in the family since it was built 500 years ago! It’s very large but the passageways tend to be small, which makes it feel a little bit like a maze. The coolest part about this house is that there are secret hiding places in the walls and ceilings where people have hidden for the past 500, as recently as the Second World War! I spent a fun evening with her lovely and generous family, and extended family as both sets of her grandparents live with them!

The next morning we got up early and went to mass. This was the first time I saw the outside in the light and it was so beautiful! Just the way Americans like to imagine Italy! There were rolling green hills, rows of grapevines, lots of villas, and tiny little streets. 

After the mass, I got another Italian experience. Most of the extended family came over for lunch! There were cousins and aunts and uncles coming in and out all afternoon. And everyone was so welcoming and treated me like I was part of the family! Any exchange student can travel to Florence or Milan, but how many students can say they spent a weekend being part of a traditional Italian family? 

Shout out to Sofia Mireles on her 21st birthday! 

Shout out and huge thank you to Grandmamama and Riv for the letters! Thank you!!

And huge shout out to Carolina and Martha for the UCLA post card! Love y'all!!