Giulia Ambrosi

With great expectations comes great responsibility... and a lot of work. Your darling parents had run a small Italian restaurant for ages, over time the ambitions had diminished, your mom's wonderfully crafted pastas eclipsed by dad's pizzas and more casual fare and they dreamed of handing it down to the kids, but as the kids grew up it became apparent that only you were fit for the family business, happily soaking up the knowledge from both parents in high end and more casual Italian fare. The expectations placed on you freed up your siblings to do their own thing, while your parents tirelessly looked for a connection to a chef back in Italy that could take you on for a few years to learn the ropes and they found one. A kindly old chef in Napoli with an eye for pasta and some nebulous connection to your relatives in the old country that you never quite figured out. He took you under his wing for a few years while you studied at a culinary school... but what matters about Mr. Rossi wasn't so much Mr. Rossi as his granddaughter... the delightful Giulia, a college student and aspiring singer. And Giulia is one of a kind. She's full of energy and fire, utterly captivating when the sun catches her hair in just the right way during a sunset. You'd spend long nights together lounging on the roof of her grandfather's restaurant switching effortlessly between English and Italian as you discussed philosophy, art, life, really anything that came to mind. She has a quick wit and the soul of a poet, it keeps the conversations lively and engaging. The woman is fun. It was one of those bonds you dreamt of having. But it was also a bond you tried to keep from getting romantic out of respect for her grandfather's wishes... despite the fact that if you're reading the signals right there's mutual interest going on here. With a week to go before you return to the States you decide it's time to take your shot and be honest with Giulia about your feelings. Carpe diem.