Sidebar: Al Italia

Sidebar is a new way to give you a little more personal peek into my life so that we can get to know each other a little more! Especially because I always find it easier to believe and take advice from someone when you actually know them as a person rather than just a semi-anonymous voice behind a blog.  I’m excited to share more about my day-to-day practice as well as life outside the law. And I figured this was as good a time as any to start sharing since this month was actually interesting!

If you follow me on instagram or snapchat, then you know I went to Italy in the beginning of July for my summer vacation. We tend to take one big trip a year, if it’s possible.  I had been looking forward to this one for a while because, I mean–it’s Italy, what’s not to like?!

I really enjoyed the trip, but full disclosure–there were hits and misses. I’ll start with the highlights–Florence and Sorrento. Florence, was the first city we visited and I really loved it. The first full day was magical and busy.

The David was incredible to see in person, but for me, The Birth of Venus just was stunning. I’m not very artsy or poetic, so I struggle to “get” art and be moved by it, but the Botticelli was so detailed and beautiful.  Florence is worth it just for that.

 

The food, gelato, and wine was yummy in Florence–we ended our last day by walking up Michaelangelo’s Plaza, which gives this amazing panoramic view of the city. It’s not as bad as Sacre Coeur, but there are quite a few steps to walk up–you may get a bit huffy.  But the view at sunset is so beautiful and surreal.

My next favorite place was Sorrento/Amalfi Coast. We stayed at Sorrento, this little picturesque seaside town.  Lemons everywhere! So it kept bringing out my inner Beyonce 🙂 There were little shops, a lively square, and we could take a bus/boat to the neighboring beaches. We did two days at Positano beach. I got super tan (my always goal, even though it’s so bad!), and had yummy food and just were able to relax and swim in the Mediterranean. It was awesome.

  

 

We also visited Venice, which was beautiful but a little boring (though we were only there for a day).

 

 

Then we ended with Rome.

Rome was hard lol. It was 90+ and we were outside constantly so the heat was overwhelming. The Colosseum was massive, the Palatine Hills had a ton of awesome stuff, but the Trevi Fountain was closed (thanks Fendi!) and so were the Spanish Steps. C’est la vie. The last day was spent at the Vatican.  The Sistine Chapel was a highlight. I’m a lapsed Catholic and don’t think I’ll ever really practice again, but there’s something about the Church and its traditions that moves me.  Seeing the Creation of Adam in person was also an experience–it’s actually a lot smaller than I had imagined.

 

 

 

So those were the hits, the misses were just the incredible amount of travel by train, the food sometimes wasn’t the best (I’m super picky/have food issues, so of course, only I would find Italian food lacking). And it was SO hot.  But overall it was an incredible trip. I doubt I’ll go back (because let’s face, if I get to do do-overs in Europe, I will always opt to go to Paris).

The trip was about 9 days, without the travel days so it was a lot of things in about a week and half.

Outside of vacation, work has been really busy BUT I am the queen of delegation and have gotten a ton done (even on vacation) because I trusted (and trained) my intern. I mostly do administration immigration filings (U visa and VAWA, mainly) but I have also started doing some employment litigation and a few immigration asylum cases. Both the immigration defense and employment cases require a little more time and practice because I’m pretty well-versed in U/VAWA so can knock them out pretty easily but need more experience with the other type of cases.  But one of my goals for the end of the year (or beginning of next lol) is to submit my application to be admitted into the federal bar. Yikes. That would mean I could actually appear in federal court–something I never even thought I’d do in law school. Really crazy how your career ends up shaping out!

Other than the trip, my month was filled with watching every day of each convention–I know most people cant stand it, but I love election season!

What was the highlight of your month?