Updates, reflections and realizations

Dear friends and family,

I have learned, over the past 2ish months, that it is hard to maintain a meaningful, interesting blog. I haven't posted an update in a while because, frankly, nothing interesting has happened to me. I have been giving more tours and getting to know the newest batch of interns, but that's about it.

One might ask, "well, why isn't she out exploring the city, finding interesting things to talk about?!" The answer to that question is that I work a full-time job, and I am tired a lot. I feel like a grown-up. Aside from this stint in Venice being a once-in-a-lifetime experience, I am beginning to see my time here as a warm-up for the real world, an incline between college and life.

This thinking all started a week or so ago when the new interns arrived and nearly all of my friends left. The only intern left from June is Whitney, my dear friend from Lake George, NY. Besides general experience gained over time, Whitney and I survived Biennale opening week, including brutal 18-hour workdays (complete with 6-hour guarding shifts in heels and formal gowns). We are seasoned pros, and the new interns - sans Biennale bustle - are learning at a snail's pace. There is something to be said for being thrown into something and working your way through it. It makes you tougher and wiser. Whitney and I are - by far - the toughest and wisest interns. So, naturally, we get a lot of questions. And responsibilities. And headaches.

Even though it may sound like I am complaining, part of me enjoys the attention. I like knowing about the collection and how it functions. At the same time, there isn't much more for me to know; I am simply a doer and teacher at this point. I like learning, and I think that my complacency is related to the lack of things to learn at this point in the internship. My mind and body are ready for something else.

Never, not in a million years, did I expect to leave Europe happily. But I will leave Venice with a smile on my face and arrive in the States with an even bigger one. I will always come back to Europe, but I will always return to the States again. That is something I didn't expect to learn this summer. There is something to be said for home even if you tire of it sometimes. I will miss the PGC when I leave, but my time here is almost done. For now, that is...

With love,

Lindsey

LIST: Interns and their countries

Canada: Amanda
France: Santiago
Great Britian: Catherine
Holland: Stefanie
Hungary: Zsofia
Italy: Fanny T., Fanny L., Giulia T., Giulia R., Francesca, Elisa, Roberta & Anita
Malta: Matthew
Spain: Cristina
Switzerland: Brigitte
Turkey: Sena
United Arab Emirates: Alia & Khalid
USA: Whitney, Renee, Sarah, Alex, Naomi, Kaitlin, Kamal & me

Whitney and I are the only two left from June. Sad. We will see how the newbies shape up.

PHOTOS: Festa del Redentore

Redentore is a Venetian holiday that commemorates the end of a plague in the 16th century. The city builds a bridge from the main island to the Redentore church on Isola Giudecca and puts on a fantastic fireworks show. It was such a good time.

PHOTOS: Castello Miramare, Trieste

Here are a few photos (in no particular order) from our intern trip this month. We went way up north of Italy to a city called Trieste and visited Castello Miramare. It was one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.

PROFILE: My favorite (only) Aussies

Australians are such lovely people. They are also they reason I just used the word "lovely". From left to right: Jilly, Rebecca, Cam and Kelly.

Jilly: Jilly is a rising junior at Wheaton College in Massachusetts. Like the other three in this picture, she is originally from Sydney, Australia. Jilly has a serious appreciation for food and is forever poring over guide books and reviews to find the best of everything. She is also a fabulous hostess. She and Marianna, another intern, have had two parties so far, and they have both been beautiful and tons of fun. For their most recent party, Jilly made a heirloom tomato and watermelon salad with feta and arugula. Yummm.

Rebecca: Rebecca is the big sister I never had. I am inspired by and in awe of her. She is absolutely wonderful, full of life and infectious energy. Adults love her, children love her, and she is the most enjoyable of friend to have. Rebecca has her Master's in art history and curatorial studies from the University of Sydney, and she is currently working in a contemporary Asian art gallery in New York. I miss her desperately.

Cam: Cam is the most mature, interesting and well-traveled 18-year-old I have ever met. He has model good looks and a heart of gold. A hug or smile from Cam will cheer you up in a split-second and conversations with him are delightful. He always wears acid-washed jeans, and his mother is a famous sex therapist. Those two things are not related. He is exceptionally intelligent and thoughtful, especially considering that he just graduated from high school. I look forward to seeing how his life unfolds.

Kelly: Kelly, like Rebecca, also has her Master's in art history and curatorial studies from Sydney University. She moved to Berlin after her stint at the Guggenheim ended last month. Kelly was such a huge help to me when I first arrived in Venice. As an assistant to my supervisors, her job was to make sure that all of us newbies were settling in nicely. She is an extremely warm and kind person, a great friend to have.

Well, that's a brief introduction to my favorite Aussies. My only Aussies, actually, hahaha. I hope you have enjoyed "meeting" them.

Love,

L

View from the PGC's roof terrace

Sigh.

Yoko Ono is following me around

First at JFK, then at the PGC. I can't shake her.























Yoko at the PGC in front of the tree she gave Peggy, June 2009