Posts

Very proud parents!

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 A few months ago, I went to a talk by Mary Robinson. The night before, I decided to bring her memoir which I had read the year before just in case I got the chance to ask her to sign it after the event. The talk was incredible. At the end, when she was free, I approached her and asked if she would sign my copy of the book. She leaned in close to ask my name and mentioned that she had written the book together with her daughter. While she was signing it, my friend snapped a really nice photo of the two of us. I was so happy I got to meet her and have the book signed. That evening, I sent the photo to my parents, because in our family, we like to share the little (or big) moments of our day. Then, in July, I went back to Italy to visit my parents. As soon as I walked into the house, I froze, staring at the mantelpiece in disbelief. I looked at the photo in front of me, then at my parents, then back at the photo, then back at them, unsure if I was really seeing what I thought I was s...

The Late Bloomer Beginner Pianist

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It was a warm evening in May, and I was sitting in the garden, sipping lemonade and enjoying the gentle breeze. I was in the middle of a perfec and calm afternoon when I remembered Bruce Springsteen was performing at Croke Park that night. I really like the Boss and I had been trying to get tickets for weeks, but they were overpriced, and I couldn't find a resale ticket online or asking anyone if they knew anyone reselling the ticket. Then, an idea struck me like a lightning bolt, why not go to the concert anyway and see if I could find a ticket last minute? After all, when you go to concerts, there is usually someone outside selling tickets, right? With so much optmism and energy, I jumped to my feet, full of enthusiasm, and decided to give it a shot. I got ready, hopped on my bike, and pedaled furiously toward Croke Park determined and optimistic as the concert was nearly going to start. When I arrived, I parked my bike outside the Croke Park hotel and rushed toward the gates. Bu...

The map of Ireland in rainwater pond

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Let’s kick off this blog with a photo I am genuinely proud of. It had been raining for days (surprise, surprise), and I was walking through one of my many favourite places in Dublin: Trinity College. Wrapped in sleepy thoughts and dreaming of my usual cappuccino (can't start the day without), I glanced down and suddenly stopped, there it was a puddle on the pavement, shaped exactly like the map of Ireland.  As if that wasn’t magical enough, reflected in this miniature, rain-soaked Ireland was one of my favourite buildings on campus, the home of Trinity’s geology department. I have spent so many lunch breaks inside that building, admiring its grand staircase and beautifully intricate ceiling. That building has always felt like a quiet hideaway in the middle of the city—perfect for reading, daydreaming, or just pretending I had everything under control. So there I was: standing in front of Ireland in puddle form, reflecting a building I love, in a place I adore. If people can see sai...