The Art of Arrangiarsi

This is a photo of me walking through JFK at 3 am so glad I was going to be sleeping at my sisters instead of the floor of an airport. 

I am a very habitual person, I like a clear routine and plan. Travelling internationally has taught me that sometimes sticking to the plan isn’t always possible. I learned this after being de-boarded off 2 flights, missing 2 connections, being re-booked 4 separate times, and a 15 hr layover in New York.  However, certain habits I practice on a personal level helped me to stay calm in reaction to events around me. In the end, this does impact the world around me in a holistic sense, when I can react to events calmly, then I can help others in my surrounding community effectively. 

In terms of mapping my impact, when I examine my habits from the perspective of myself, my inner circle, my community, and the world, I find that even simple habits I practice can impact the world around me significantly. For myself, that looks like journaling and prayer to stay grounded and centered mentally, making an effort to try new things, utilizing artistic outlets.

In my inner circle, that looks like a good communicator and an even better listener and prioritizing quality time with my family and friends.  In my community that looks like volunteering and engaging in events and activities where I can spend time in the community.  In the world, it looks like empathy for those who are struggling or those who share different values from me. Making solid efforts to stay educated on issues facing individuals outside of my community. Within each of the spheres, the biggest connection I found was the connection of my reaction to events around me. I can choose to react to certain events with frustration and anger, or I can choose to stay calm and work through uncomfortable situations. Those choices directly influence surrounding spheres. 

For instance, on my way to Italy, I had my first flight deboarded with no reason provided, which then led me to miss my two connections. I could have yelled and cursed at the person at the desk, rebooking my flight. However, taking deep breaths, praying, and remaining calm helped me to work with the agent to get on the next flight out. That flight was also deboarded, which caused me to miss another string of international flights. At this point, I was frustrated, and when the gate agent offered another flight plan that involved a layover in a city I did not plan on, I was initially opposed. I do not like plans changing. It was worse enough, I was rebooked 2 times now, I was having layovers in cities I never intended to be in. At the end of the day thought trusting the agent, I ended up having a new layover in a completely different city than I intended. Thankfully, that layover was now in a city where my sister lives and so I wasn’t stranded in a random city to sleep in a random airport. I ended up at my sister’s house with a nice warm familiar bed. 

That agent rebooking my flights had no idea where my sister lived, and if I screamed at her and told her not to change my flight to a different city, I probably would have slept on an airport floor that night. However, I kept calm, which gave me the ability to trust that gate agent when she handed me a new string of tickets with a completely different flight path. In the end, I was a day late to my destination, yet everything worked out and I got to spend quality time with my sister.

Upon reflection, one habit that I would like to develop through my summer experience is to be more patient with people and accept spontaneous moments. In Italy the program directors have a term for this, “Arrangiarsi”which translates to “making do” or “going with the flow”. So certain habits like journaling and prayer and taking deep breaths have really help me develop a spontaneous attitude which then helps me react to the community and environment around me in a positive light. 

– Leasah Jean-Francois