Pizza! Molto benne!
One of the most prominent observations I have made in the few days that I have been over here in Europe has been a personal one. I have found my natural curiosity and desire to learn increased by orders of magnitude. I want to know the reasoning behind the smallest details of everything around me. The same things that would be mundane details in my everyday world in the United States hold immense amounts of wonder here in Europe.
I find myself asking questions like,
"What kind of tree is this?"
"How long has this building been here?"
"Why do people wear that?"
Other questions have obviously been inspired by the study abroad that I am on, and would most likely be met with rolled eyes and exasperated expressions like "only an engineer" in any other group of people. Instead, we often find conversations turning to things like the manufacturing process used to make the dinner knives. (We decided they were mostly likely die cast, just in case you were wondering.)
But the amazing result of this expanded curiosity over the past few days has been a huge influx of understanding. Discussions regarding the affects of culture, history, economy, geography globalization, and politics, on local industries have expanded my mind at an incredible pace. It's exhausting to be sure. But some of the most intelligent people I know are the ones who have cultivated and nourished this type of curiosity. They do not let any topic pass by them without placing it under their metaphorical microscope.
The city of Bergamo is about the size of Provo. It is right at the foot of the italian alps. Not a bad view huh?
I would like to instill this type of thirst for learning into my own life and continue to grow at a pace much faster than I was before I left on this trip. My present trend may not be sustainable, but I can do more.