Lugano con Emilia

Lugano

It really is a magical place....

Especially when you get to experience it with someone special.

Ciao famiglia,
I've been thinking about you and Emily a lot... especially in a place where I shared so many memories with her.

Everyday on my walk to school I take in the view of the lake encircled by small snow capped peaks and a rainbow of colorful buildings. This panorama reminds me of how many times we stopped to appreciate Lugano’s beauty. On our long walk up the hill one of us would invariably say, “let’s stop at the make-out spot and have a romantic moment” (as we referred to this look out point where couples gathered, holding hands, kissing, staring out at the lake.) It was quite calming – maybe it was the beauty, or maybe it was a moment for our hearts to stop beating so quickly from our brisk walk up the stairs, a chance to catch our breath before hiking up the rest of the way to the Montarina. Either way, Emily knew we both needed a “time-out” just to breathe or appreciate our surroundings. She was good at that.

I visited our Italian teacher the other day (from Lugano) to ask her about intensive language schools in Lugano, which I’m considering investing in if I decide to stay here for the next year. At the end of our chat she told me how sorry she was to hear about Emily. She told me she looked through our old homework, which we were allowed to do in groups and that Emily’s and mine were always together, just us, as if we were one student. She told me that she believes that although our skin may die there is a part of us that remains and she said she thinks that Emily is watching from somewhere. I’m pretty sure I agree.

I told Magda about the scholarship you created and all the good that you are doing in the world and she was so moved that tears formed in the wells of her eyes. She is such a genuine and caring woman, I could tell that Emily touched her life as she did so many others.

La vita e` pazza senza voi. Mi manchi Emilia.

Love you now and always,

Meghan (Pierce)