Arts Lab 7.0: Annalisa Schettino | Month IV

The week before the vacation was full of mixed emotions. The month began with an intercultural event at the school, which I was not initially very enthusiastic about. However, I ended up enjoying it much more than expected, and the results exceeded all my expectations. I had the opportunity to experiment with quizzes, a tool I really enjoy and that I will definitely use in the future for educational purposes.

At first, I thought the students were not very involved, but I later realized how engaged they actually were when they prepared a large buffet for the festival. They amazed everyone with the food they made for our presentation, and their enthusiasm truly warmed my heart. Even though I did not feel entirely comfortable with the idea of countries competing against each other, the event turned out to be very enjoyable overall.

During the same week, we also had a Christmas event at Trinitas School, which brought me back to my childhood, when I used to prepare school plays with my classmates. However, the day I enjoyed the most was our trip to Iași, especially the visit to the Romani dressmaker. She is one of the most inspiring people I have met in Romania so far. I deeply admire how she created a social network dedicated to supporting the Roma community through education, culture, social development, and inclusion. What makes her work particularly special is that she achieved this by valuing traditional craftsmanship and sewing. Her presentation was very informative, and the display of her dresses was impressive. I felt privileged to be able to try them on.

The day before returning to Italy, I felt unwell for the first time since arriving, so I had to slow down and could not join the Christmas market. Still, it was nice to host Alexandra, the new volunteer from Suceava, at our house and spend some time chatting together in the kitchen.

A few days later, I flew to Rome with Monica. Returning to my country after three months felt surreal at first, almost like a lucid dream. In a way, this experience taught me to look at Italy with new eyes and appreciate it even more, including its quirks. I spent a lovely day with Monica showing her around Rome, even though I am not the best tour guide. I took her to a less touristy neighborhood, where we could watch the sunset over the Tiber, which is always a special moment for me. One of the highlights of the day was lying near the Colosseum, looking at the sky, and talking about our next project. Even during the vacation, it felt good to stay connected through work-related ideas. We also compared the sky of Rome with that of Târgu Frumos. The reddish, clouded sky affected by city lights felt very different after experiencing the clear, star-filled skies of Romania.

Later that night, I went to my uncle’s house, where I stayed overnight. Seeing my relatives again felt like shifting into another reality, as if I were living two different lives. The week I spent with my family in Naples did not go as smoothly as I had expected. I felt quite nervous and overwhelmed by their attention, something I am no longer used to. I am still reflecting on these feelings, but I see them as a sign that something is changing within me. During periods of transition, a certain amount of inner and outer chaos feels natural.

New Year’s Eve was quite unusual, as I spent it alone in Bologna while waiting for a night bus to Vienna. I took this as an opportunity to go to the cinema by myself, something I had really missed. At the bus station, I met a stranger, a student specializing in artificial intelligence, and we ended up talking mostly about art and Italian music. We welcomed the New Year together while watching fireworks through the bus windows near Padua. The following day, we explored Vienna together, visiting art museums and walking around the city. Although we were not particularly compatible, it was an interesting experience, and it made me realize how much more open I have become to connecting with strangers.

After that, I traveled to Timișoara, which turned into a small adventure full of unexpected events that made the trip even more memorable. I spent time with a German ESC volunteer working in schools, and it was interesting to exchange experiences. Walking through Timișoara under the snow felt magical. She showed me around the city, and I learned many interesting facts about it. One of the funniest coincidences was discovering that the only other person staying in my hostel was from the same city in Italy as me.

I returned to Târgu Frumos on the 6th, which gave me a couple of days off before work resumed. I spent them watching TV series with Salma while waiting for the others to return. I will always cherish those days, as they were filled with warmth and shared moments. I came back feeling motivated, especially after visiting several art museums during the vacation, which reignited my desire to paint. However, during the first week back at work, my motivation dropped, particularly while preparing for the residency. Although the topic is both interesting and challenging, I felt slightly overwhelmed. This may have been due to the cold weather or to readjusting to the intense stimulation of communal living. Still, I remain hopeful about my personal artwork and wish for it to turn out even better than the one I created for the Folcloristica project.

The month ended on a very positive note with a girls-only evening. We shared food and tea, talked openly about our feelings, and danced freely. That night made me realize how strong the bond within our house truly is.

This monthly report was written by Annalisa Schettino, our Italian volunteer taking part in a seven-month Arts Lab 7.0 mobility, co-funded by the European Union under the European Solidarity Corps.