Summer Nostalgia
Hot, humid, and sunny - that's how I would describe my summer days.
The school term would finish at the beginning of June and we would be off for three months until the next term, which started in September.
The professors would bombard me with summer homework: books to read, math exercises to do, and essays to write. It almost felt like you were taking summer classes but in the comfort of your home.
The moment summer started, I would feel a sense of freedom: no more waking up at 7 am, no more pulling the night to finish writing an essay, and no more going to school on Saturday (yes, in Italy, high school students need to attend school on Saturdays).
The idea of being able to wake up at any time and binge-watch TV shows until the next morning excited me. However, not all my summers were spent at home. I was fortunate enough to live in a very touristy country like Italy, where so many of my summers were spent exploring other Italian cities and nearby countries.
My favorite part of my summers was the family picnics we would have with friends and relatives. Each year, we would choose to visit a different spot such as Como, Venice, Cinque Terre, or Trento. My favorite of all was when we visited the Lake of Como: A Canvas of Colorful Villages, Breathtaking Natural Beauty, and Timeless Elegance - that's how I would describe this picturesque place in a few words. It is for its exquisite charm that it holds the title of a beloved spot for many Bollywood and Hollywood wedding destinations.
Our picnic to Como would consist of sitting by the lake and enjoying bites of samosa, fresh watermelon, and plates of succulent pasta with our close friends and family from the community. The day was spent in chats, jokes, and lots of laughter.
I very much enjoyed the time with my little cousins and sister - quarreling, walking around the lake, and of course, taking pictures. I found joy in these little moments which sound so ordinary, yet so enriching as they capture the present moment and make these episodes so memorable and meaningful.
Walking around the Lake of Como would bring me peace and harmony, just by watching musicians playing serenades, tourists savoring their gelatos, and people being carefree.
I would forget the worries of life and be fully present in the moment. It was during these moments that I wished time could pause, just so I could savor them a bit longer.
The smell of the water, the sound of the birds, and the aroma of the coffee from the nearby coffee bars served as a reminder that beauty lies in small and mundane things.
You don't need to go far to experience life's wonders.
