un piccolo riassunto

Since it's been a really long time since I posted anything of substance on this blog, I think it's about time to give the people I haven't spoken to in a while an update on what my life has been like since last August.

Geographically

At the end of August I moved to the other side of the Atlantic, to New York City. I know I'm from here and all, but believe me, the transition from life in Milan to life in New York was no piece of cheesecake.

Italians from all over Italy will tell you that Milan is a fast paced, hectic, and stressful place to live. To me that simply means that they have never tried living on the island of Manhattan. Milan, in comparison with NYC, is a relaxed, go with the flow, take an hour lunch break and as many espresso breaks as you want, kind of metropolis. Upon returning to NYC one of the things I found most different were the schedules adhered to by my friends and family and their availability to just chill. In Milan, on any given day of the week, I would usually be able to round up 3 or 4 of my friends to meet for a post-work aperitivo: sit down, chit chat, grab a cocktail and something to nibble on. When I tried to arrange this kind of impromptu gathering with my sisters or friends upon my return to NYC, the responses I got had changed from, "Si, certo! A che ora?" to "Great idea! Let's figure something out for next week!" Sigh.

Professionally

I resigned from my position as a research engineer with STMicroelectronics at the end of August, and in early September I was thrown into university with a transition abrupt enough to make me want to pinch myself to make sure I was really in Brooklyn and not in Agrate Brianza anymore. I have started my PhD at the Polytechnic Institute of NYU, majoring in Materials Chemistry. Last semester was full of old experiences made new again, like making friends in my classes and pulling all-nighters at the library in preparation for exams I felt completely unprepared for.

There was one interesting aspect of returning to university that was definitely unexpected.

long time no blog

So it's been what.. almost 6 months since I last posted something on my blog! Horrible. I actually forgot that I even had a blog until I got into a discussion with my internet un-saavy mother last night about why people even have blogs. I opened up mine, and started reading some of my posts to her. I actually realized that what I had written about was kind of entertaining, and that I should pick this up again.

I did stop blogging for a reason, however. This was because my life was in a period of change, and it was stuff that was difficult to deal with in my head, let alone on my public blog. I think I've gotten things sorted out in my head now, however, and I couldn't be happier with where I am.

The last time I posted anything, I was getting ready to resign from my position at STMicroelectronics and move to my hometown, New York City. That was in August 2010. Now it's January 2011 and I have settled back in my old NYC ways. I am no longer a young professional, but now a mature student. I've gone from living in my own fabulously chic apartment in the center of Milan to squatting in my mom's apartment on Manhattan's east side. I have gone from eating fresh mozzarella and tomato caprese salads to bagels and lox.

The change in scenery has been refreshing to my senses, and I hope to post more about what I'm up to these days soon! ciao ciao