Digging Deeper Into Me

One of my blog friends introduced me to this fun way of getting to dig deeper into who each of us are. It is called an interview meme. She asked me five questions to get me started, so enjoy...

1) What has been the biggest difference between Pre-STINT Chiharu in America and Post-STINT Chiharu in America?

I think this is one thing that I am still asking myself. I mean, I know I have changed, pegging down like an "Ah Ha! This is how I have changed!", I am still working through...(this and probably some of the other answers will be changed later, I promise. It's late, and I tend to just ramble thoughts at this hour of the night)


2) What is one thing about Italy that you can think of to bring to America and make it better?

The one thing off the top of my head is...SIESTA!!!! Those 3 hrs. in the middle of every day from 1pm to about 3pm where everyone just closes down shop and goes home to spend time with the family...now that's life! During my time there I have truly come to learn just how well Italians know how to enjoy life and cherish relationships and time with one another.


3) Where has your favorite place to travel been? why?

One of my favorite places to visit when I was living in Italy was our trips to the Fattoria Il Santo. To any other person it just looks like another old Italian farm. But to me, it is so much MORE! And it's not just because it's out in the middle of the Tuscan countryside. There are SO many sweet memories tied to that place...lots of laughter and funny stories, rich moments spent with the Lord and with friends, even hard times and sad times that I wouldn't trade for anything in the world! I could totally sit and write an entire blog entry just on this place alone.

And now that I am back in the states, my favorite place to visit is my second home, Florence. I left a part of who I am there. I LOVE the history there, how you are just surrounded by all the work of the great artists! It's the birthplace of the Rennaisance! And MOST importantly it is where my dear, sweet, friends who I hold close to my heart are!


4) Where was one place you wish you could go? why?

One place I wish I could've gone back and visited while I was there was Sicily. For those of you who don't know, that's where my parents and I lived for three years and that is where I graduated from high school. One city I would like to go back and visit in particular is Taormina. That was my favorite place to go when we lived there. During the summers my family and I would go to this one hotel there...I remember swimming in their pool, laying out on the beach, my friend and I getting our picture taken with our first Italian lifeguard, and an encounter with a jellyfish (story that will be told at a later time)...good times, good times.


5) What has been the biggest challenge in your life recently?

There have been quite a few challenges in my life lately. One has been working on my teaching certification...another is being patient in the Lord and waiting on His perfect timing with coming back to Italy long term. more to come later...keep getting kicked off the computer right now...