the in-between moments

In the process of getting my bearings today I instinctively looked for Table Mountain. After four years of using Table Mountain as a personal GPS, I sometimes find myself looking for it to lead me safely home. When I did not see it, it dawned to me that this weekend marks exactly a year since I 

have seen the majestic Table Mountain. A year since I said farewell to a season in my life called Cape Town to begin an adventure to the seemingly unknown. I remember being asked a version of this- ‘so you’re leaving…what next, where are you going’? A year on that series of questions is still asked by everyone including myself.  No distinct answer has been found but in the process I savour the moments in-between finding an answer to those questions.

Primavera in Italy

One moment is such: driving through the rolling hills of the Langhe Region in Piedmont, trying to find the way back home to not so little Città di Bra. The views are spectacular, breath-taking and all those other adjectives that you could throw in there. Primavera having begun a few days ago the hills are literally alive- there are green budding leaves on trees, pinkish clouds of blossoming trees hovering over the landscape. The vineyards appropriately trimmed for the winter as slowly beginning to awake from their winter slumber. Simply put, the picturesque romanticized Italian life that everyone imagines, even myself.

The rolling hills of Langhe

 At moments like this I feel extremely blessed to be living in the Piedmont region of Northern Italy in this season of my life. When else will my academic calendar consist of actively participating in 15 hours worth of wine tasting lectures? Learning about quality and taste analysis of wine? When else will I say that a day-trip with my friends through Barolo, Barbaresco,La Morra, Neive and Alba can be considered as an academic extra curriculum activity? One to cement in the knowledge of the wine growing regions of Piedmont, and Italy in general. A road trip that allows you to see the towns and villages that are synonymous with some of the finest Italian wines-dare I say some of the best wines in the world. When else will it be possible to walk into a food related shop, say that you are a student at UNISG, have the shop keepers get animated and decide that it is their God given right  to tell you everything about every product in their shop and convince you that it is the best in the world?

As idyllic and picturesque as these adventures all sound, there are grey dark clouds that hoover over the sky line, gusts of wind, thunderstorms, torrential rains, fog, hail and snow storms. Days when the icy rains of reality fall, questions are asked, prayers are sent, and the waiting game is played. On these days navigating through the adventure that is life is nothing short of difficult. Locating my metaphorical Table Mountain is a challenge. In its beautiful nature as my Solid Rock, my Mountain always reappears through the storm, (not that is has actually ever gone anywhere) leading me safely home.

These darker moments are savoured as well, as they are the ones that allow for the idyllic ones to be as wonderful and memorable as they are. None of the ‘good times’ would be as good as they are without the humorous, generous, loving and utterly amazing people who have been a part of the adventure. I am eternally grateful for having these people in the adventure that is life.

Cape Town Farewell with my 2011 housemates

A spring road trip with my 2012 housemates