As Seen On : Annie Etling
Friendship is so weird. You pick out a random human you’ve never met and you’re like, “This one, I wanna go on adventures with this one.”
I saw that on Instagram today, and it made me think of my friend Annie.
We met in the summer of 2007 in Milan, Italy. We had both been hired to teach at the American School of Milan; Annie, from St. Louis, to teach high school math. Amy, from New Hampshire, to teach middle and high school digital art. I knew I liked Annie right away, but never seemed to have the time or opportunity to make the friendship happen; She had a boyfriend. I did not. She lived in the center of Milano in an apartment that she had found on her own. I lived in the housing provided by the school, matched up with another teacher as my roommate, and closer to the school and corn fields than the duomo and piazzas in the center of Milan. Annie had a Smart car and quickly learned to hold her own on the Autostrada. I walked, or rode my bicycle or hopped on the 222 bus to school, or the 24 tram into the city center.
Fast forward to the next school year, September 2008, when I had moved into an apartment in Porta Romana with my friends Rebecca + Lisa, just outside the center of Milano, and just across the street from Annie. She had recently broken up with said boyfriend and all of us had just finished our first week of the school year and felt as though we had been hit by a bus.
I texted Annie: What are you up to this weekend? Her: I’m going to a 4 star spa/hotel in Lugano. Me: Want company? Her: Sure!
We all hopped in Annie’s car and headed an hour north to Lugano, Switzerland, our bags packed with our bathing suits + a Vanity Fair that one of us had from our flight to Italy a few weeks before. After hot saunas + cold plunges, massages + fruit platters, we were lazing around in our bathrobes and we started asking each other the questions from the Proust Questionnaire, on every last page of the magazine.
What is your idea of perfect happiness? What is your greatest fear? What do you most value in your friends? If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? What is your greatest regret?
You try asking someone those questions, kindly and patiently. Try answering those questions, vulnerably and honestly. Try not sticking with that person for the rest of your days.
What is one of your most treasured possessions? That one, my friendship with that one.
Annie wearing the Lua Dangles [photo by Jesika Theos]
Annie, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Hi! I am Amy’s friend, Annie. I am from St. Louis, Missouri and I currently live in Denver, Colorado. I am close with my three sisters, Colleen, Ellie, Katie, and their families. I love being an aunt to Rowan, Linden, Liam, Oliver, Silas, Cecilia, Bailey, Carter, and Jordan. I am surrounded by incredible friends from high school, friends from all of my past teaching experiences, neighbors, and extended family. I got my little Luca, a Bernedoodle, a year and a half ago.
You were in education for over 20 years and recently made a big career change…please tell us a bit about your life as a teacher, coach and assistant principal, and now as a relationship manager for WeFi Technology Group.
Most of my career has been spent in education. As a teacher, department chair, cross country coach, and Assistant Principal. I have worked at three wonderful and very different schools. Regis Jesuit High School in Denver, Colorado, Clayton High School in St. Louis, Missouri, and The American School of Milan in Italy. Teaching mathematics and forming relationships with students brought me a lot of joy. While teaching was a passion of mine, I began to feel burnt out and unbalanced with work after being an administrator. After deciding to leave education and try something new, I was offered a relationship management position at a channel finance company owned by a family I got to know well at Regis Jesuit High School. WeFi has an office in Zug, Switzerland, where the international side of the business is located. I will be transferring to the Switzerland office in March. I am excited to meet new people, travel, embrace a new culture, and grow, both personally and professionally.
What did you love about teaching? Is there anything that you miss? Or don’t miss?
Every day was different and brought something new. High school students are pretty great (most of the time!). I enjoyed getting to know my students and I enjoyed trying to make a challenging subject easier to learn and more relevant. Educators are interesting and amazing people to work with. I miss my colleagues, I miss working with students, I miss working in a “passion” job. I don’t miss being tied to a school calendar, or the emotional impact the job had on me.
What do you enjoy most about your new path?
My current job is more flexible and I no longer have to work in the evenings or on the weekends. I have also been able to travel all over the US to meet with customers which has been a new and fun experience for me. And the opportunity to live and work in Switzerland is really exciting for me.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I am getting reacquainted with having more free time outside of work. I spend most of my time with friends and family. Usually on walks, hikes, cooking together, and exploring new restaurants. I’ll blame Italy for my love for wine. I spend a lot of time on my front porch with Luca 😀
Annie + Luca
How did you and Amy come to know each other? Do you remember the first connection or your first meeting?
Teaching at The American School of Milan brought me to Amy. We both started at ASM the same year. We didn’t become friends right away but I admired her and was curious to get to know her better. Shortly after a breakup, I decided I wanted a weekend away. I planned a solo trip to Lugano. I remember talking to Amy and our mutual friend Rebecca right before I left. They asked if I wanted company and I said YES! So, we drove to Lugano, found a great spa hotel, and bonded over The Proust Questionnaire in Vanity Fair in our robes. Ha! We have been close friends ever since.
What is the foundation of your friendship with Amy?
I call Amy one of my soulmate friends. We just get each other. And it is easy. Full acceptance, no judgments, and unconditional care and support. Even though I haven’t lived in the same place as Amy since Italy (15 years ago!), we have made it a priority to see each other a few times each year. I’ll visit her, she’ll visit me, or we will plan a trip together. We like the same genres of music, we like seeing live music, we appreciate good food and wine, we like exploring new places, and we like movement (whether it be walking, hiking, biking, yoga).
What adventures have you shared?
Oh boy! Endless. The most epic adventure was a three week road trip down the west coast. We started in Denver and drove to Canada and then went south from there. We visited Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and LA. We have gone back to Italy together a few times. One memorable moment was arriving in Venice, finding a great place to eat, and sitting there for several hours enjoying just about every course they had to offer. And then there was a trip to Greece with Amy, Rebecca, me, and my sister. Always lots of laughs and crazy adventures.
What pieces of Amy’s can you be seen wearing?
I almost exclusively wear Amy’s jewelry. My everyday earrings are typically the Disc Studs in rose gold with the Una Studs in my second piercing. The Una Studs are the sole reason I got my ears double pierced. I often switch out the disc studs with the Gemma Threaders in gold. My everyday rings are the 14K yellow gold Selma Ring and Neve Ring. I wear those stacked. On the other hand, I wear the Petra Ring in garnet.
Depending on the day, event, or outfit, I like to change up my necklaces. Recycled Glass Necklaces are fun and come in great color combos. I often wear the Arbus Necklace. The first necklace I received from Amy was the Quill Necklace and I thought it was the coolest thing ever!
Do you have a favorite?
It’s hard to choose. Amy is always creating new things. When I think I have a favorite, she creates something else I admire. My new favorites are the Maia Drops and the Lua Dangles.
How are you most often seen wearing this?
I am a casual dresser so most days I stick to my everyday pieces. I like to change it up and get a little bit more creative when I am getting ready for an event or going out for a special occasion.
Is jewelry the first thing you think about or the last thing you adorn with when it comes to outfitting for the day?
I didn’t prioritize wearing jewelry much in the past. It wasn’t until Amy started her business and I began to collect a number of her pieces. It is the last thing I put on after getting ready.
Thank you so much for reading our latest installment of As Seen On and learning more about my dear friend Annie.
And ASO readers, please enjoy 20% off of Annie’s favorite AVE styles through the end of February. You can see her complete ASO collection here. Discount is automatically taken at checkout.
If you or someone you know wears AVE jewelry and is interested in being featured in our “Ode to the Wearers", please reach out. I’d love to learn more about you and what you wear.