There are certain moments in life that you’ll never forget. Moments in which your mind is clear, your heart is full, and your eyes smile. These are the moments to live for.

A Moment Like This

As I frantically searched for parking in downtown Chicago, a city I have never been to, and wogged (walk/jogged) to the Italian Consulate, my stomach was full of knots and my mind was racing with thoughts. I signed in at the bottom level and took the elevator to the 18th floor where I was greeted by a security guard who wasn’t expecting me. I showed her my confirmation email for an emergency student visa appointment sent to me by the consul herself. Finally, I was directed to the benches that face the visa window and told to wait.

I sat patiently in the dimly lit consolute room for 2.5 hours. With only 3 hours of sleep, I found it amusing that the room was so dark, perfect for napping. Instead of slapping myself in the face to stay awake, I would take out my visa and Dichiarazione di Valore applications every few minutes to check, again, that everything was there. As the time was approaching noon, which is when the consulate closes, and continued to watch people with previously set appointments approach the window, I started to feel incredibly nervous. The security guard noticed my expression, I’ve never been good at hiding my emotions, and told me to talk to the visa window to remind the consul that I was there waiting. I sat back down.

Finally, the consul waved me over. She was a beautiful, kind woman from Sicily and she remembered me from my emails. She took note that I needed my visa in 4 days and asked if I was picking up. Since I live in Colorado, not Chicago, the $53, over-night, pre-paid envelope that I provided was good enough. She said that everything was filled out correctly and I would be granted the visa.

The consul accompanied me to the restroom because both of us had been waiting for the past 3 hours to answer nature’s call. She told me she could grab her colleague when he was finished with a meeting so I could ask him questions about the Dichiarazione di Valore. I submitted my documents to him and was assured that everything that I provided was in order. Everything was done. I did it. In 3 weeks I traveled to 2 states and 6 cities to gather and submit all of the necessary documents for enrollment in the PhD program of my dreams. As I walked out of the Italian Consulate, I couldn’t help but smile. I was released from all the stress and fear that had consumed my life for an entire month. I wasn’t in a hurry to get anywhere, I was free. I realized then, that this was a moment I would never forget. This was a moment worth living for.

What I Learned

First of all, I learned that I can be a pretty nasty person when I am nervous. I am easily offended or aggravated and I always feel in a hurry and like other people are getting in my way. This is something I need to work on. I am glad that I was able to be composed when speaking with the individuals responsible for processing my documents. My positive energy with them was reciprocated and they were happy to answer my questions. This doesn’t make up for the way I was with people not involved in processing my documents. I’m lucky that my family loves me so much, even when I am a monster.

Next, I learned what it feels like when a dream comes true. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the people, experiences, pain, suffering, stress, everything that has brought me to where I am today. My Italian host dad kept saying this summer, “It is almost incredible,” everytime yet another amazing opportunity would arise for me. I traveled to Italy last spring for a ski trip and now I am returning as a fully-funded PhD student. I see what he meant, it really is almost incredible how amazing this life is. It is literally magic to watch life fall together. To see the puzzle pieces find their place. To feel the moments of pure bliss when you accomplish seemingly impossible tasks. I learned from this experience to hold onto these blissful moments and never let them go.