It has been a few days since I wrote last. Things are getting pretty busy here. The days really wear me out. No matter how much sleep I get I always seem to be tired, tired and hungry. In Italy there never seems to be a minute where I am not thinking about food, gelato, cornetti, pizza, I want it all. The first few days mensa (our cafeteria) was horrible but it is getting better (or I am just getting used to it). Everyday the menu includes pasta, pasta, pasta, meat, vegetables, salad, fruit, desert. The thing is we can only have fruit or desert, one kind of vegetable, one kind of meat, and all the pasta we can eat. I'm not going to complain about it, I'm just going to say that I should be able to have yogurt and desert! Not one or the other.

This weekend was a busy weekend! Thursday night some of my friends and I headed out to a wine bar in Campo di Fiori. It was a lot of fun, we dressed up (I wore my new high heels!), and went out on the town! Friday I went back in Roma and wandered around Trastevere for the day. I have been doing so much walking! My legs are exhausted at the end of everyday. Although I am looking forward to having awesome looking legs by the end of this semester!

On Saturday I went to Hadrian's Villa. It was a cool site to see. The ruins are awesome.

The rest of the weekend I spent planning trips with my friends to go to Barcelona and Florence! I can't wait for the weekends I will be traveling! It is definitely something to look forward to! When I think in terms of the weekends and making checkpoints of the weekends I will be traveling to other countries my time here doesn't seem quite as long.

I've been here for about a week and a half. I've cried twice, and the rest of the time I have been having a really great time. I definitely am homesick for everyone still in the States, but it helps immensely to have some really great friends here. They are definitely people I can talk to when I'm sad, happy, lonely, scared, whatever emotion I might be feeling, they will be the people that will make my time in Roma the best it can be! It also really helps to skype with people at home. Although it doesn't always work even the little glimpses of their faces brighten my day. The messages I get from everyone also help me to feel like I'm not totally missing things going on with them.

The top three things I miss the most from home...

1. My family, friends, boyfriend, pets, etc. (In no particular order)

2. Toilet seats (They really don't have toilet seats here, easier for boys, much harder for girls.)

3. Mexican food (I was told I would miss this but I did not think I will miss it this much this soon!)

This week should bring some interesting things! I will be writing again after Barcelona! Stay tuned...

Ciao for now amici!

Assisi

I just got back from Assisi yesterday afternoon. It was one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. It is almost a tie with Sevilla, Spain which I love to death. I spent three days and two nights in Assisi, and had so much fun with some really great people.

Assisi is a mountain town, and consists of only hills. I got such a workout while I was there, by the end of the trip my legs were shaking when I stood on them. We stayed in a semi nice building, that actually has hot water. The shower though is one of the most interesting I have ever used. The bathroom in itself was about 5ft X 5ft with a shower head in the corner, a toilette in another corner, a sink next to that and a drain in the floor! If I had wanted to I could have brushed my teeth, peed, and showered at the same time! I did not, but it was an interesting idea to entertain. The rest of the room was also small. My bed and my roommate's bed were only two inches apart from one another and we practically cuddled every night.

The most interesting part of the trip to Assisi happened the first night we were there. I was with a few of my friends outside a wine bar taking pictures. This sixty-year-old man came up to us smoking a cigarette and speaking Italian. He told us his name was Georgio and he attempted to make conversation with us. He ignored me for a while then randomly noticed me and started a conversation. He got out his comb and told me I would look much better with my hair out of my face. For his amusement I pinned my hair up and thought that would be the end of it...definitely not. My friends and I went into the wine bar to get a glass of wine and Georgio followed us in.

He's a very funny man. He told us he is a starving artist, and we decided he is the town drunk. Throughout our time at the bar he continued to approach me: winking, kissing my hand twice, blowing me kisses, and kissing me on the forehead. He told everyone in the bar how beautiful I am and that I am the best woman in the world. Very flattering, and also very crazy coming from Georgio.

We left after all this to get dinner back at our meeting place and decided to return to the bar when we finished. When we returned Georgio was still there. I tried to hide from him, but no such luck...he found me. He continued his flattering comments throughout the night. I didn't get anymore kisses on my forehead or hands, but I did get two love poems written in Italian! Oh my gosh, most interesting night ever. I still don't know exactly what they say, something about sunrises, and the loneliness without me. Crazy, but its something I definitely won't forget. That night everyone at my school knew about Georgio and the love letters. It was definitely a fun night! I did walk home with a bunch of people just in case Georgio really was crazy and tried to follow me home. He did not, so all is well!

The next day we headed to another mountain town, Buggio. More hills, churches, and beautiful views. It was a long bus ride, and a fun time in the town but I was happy to go back to Assisi! That night was fun, a lot of wine, a lot of pictures, and a lot of new people. All in all the trip was a blast!

I am now back in Rome, ready to start this new day and see what it holds. Hopefully each day will be better than the next. We'll see...

Day Two ( ! )

Today is much much better than yesterday, so far. I am all rested and really enjoying myself. I am meeting so many new people, and making a lot friends.

I just got back to campus after exploring Rome a little and eating the most wonderful Nutella gelato. While I was in centro the group (which was about 20 people large) got a little lost on our way to the Trevi Fountain. We ended up asking four different people for directions. Thanks to Tim, who speaks wonderful Italian and asked for the directions, we were able to find our way there. It is a sight to see if ever you can get to Rome. I threw a penny in and made a wish, then headed out. After a lot of pictures.

Next we headed to the Spanish Steps. There are a lot of steps. Climbing them is a workout but a very fun workout! Seeing these famous locations in Roma is a little overwhelming. It is really just hitting me that I am living in the eternal city for the semester. There are amazing adventures in my future and I am going to take advantage of them all!

I think each day it will get a little easier to be away from home. Although I know I am going to miss everyone so much, my time here will get easier, and I will have a great time.

On the downside of things...
I still haven't gotten the phone that I really need. I think it will make me feel a lot more comfortable here to know that I can call people and that I will have a phone for emergencies. Also, the cafeteria here is bad. Bad pasta, bad meatballs, bad, bad, bad! And they have cups the size of a thimble. Not cool.

I am dedicating this post to my sister, Georgine, because I miss her, and she told me to write this post.

Ciao amici!

First Day

The first day here has been pretty rough because of the lack of sleep. I left Chicago yesterday at 4 and haven't really slept yet, but we all need to fight the jet lag and stay awake.

The plane ride in itself was an experience. It's difficult when the flight attendants don't speak english. The first of a few funny things that happened was I ordered an OJ when the drink cart came along. I didn't get OJ but instead some sort of red drink that tasted pretty funky. I'm positive it wasn't orange juice and still have no idea what it could be. Later, my friend Katherine and I ordered wine, I got a full plastic cup worth and Katherine got about a quarter of that, so we had to even it out. It was funny to us, not so sure it's quite as funny in writing.

I can't even explain how much I am going to miss everyone while I'm gone. It's already hard but I know this experience will be worth it. I mean, what's better then spending 4 months Italy?

Presently the winter here is the opposite of winter in Chicago. To start, it's green here! There is no snow in sight and it is WARM. We were walking around Monte Mario today with no coats and short sleeves, it was great. Tomorrow my friends and I plan on venturing into Roma and start exploring. Then it's off to Assisi for orientation. It should be a lot of fun!

I will try to put pictures up soon, but the internet here is acting up.

Arrivederci Chicago

I leave Chicago today for la bella Roma, and I can't wait to get there, but the anticipation is making me crazy. Here I am sitting on my couch at home trying not to freak out in the four hours I have until I leave for the airport. All I can do is think about how much i'm going to miss Chicago, the people not coming with me, my dogs, cats, and the food. Then I tell myself, I'm going to Rome! There is so much to see, and learn, and so many adventures ahead of me! This will be an experience unlike any other, which I will get to share with new friends, old friends, and best friends. I can't express how much having one of my best friends, Katherine, there with me will make these four months so much fun, and I can't wait to meet her at the airport in four hours!!

The hardest part so far has been packing. I have two suitcases for four months in Italy. While I was packing I looked and every shirt I have and asked myself "Would they wear this in Rome?" ... "Maybe." ... "Ok, it goes in the I don't know pile." And my 'I don't know pile' overtook the 'yes' and 'no' piles. In the end I think I did a pretty good job putting together the best Italian look I could. My current worry is that I won't be able to fit my stuff + the things I buy in Italy, in my suitcases when I come home, but really, what a thing to worry about because the fabulous things I bring home will be worth leaving any of my old clothes behind.

I have everything I need (I think, I hope) and those nightmares of leaving my passport at home will not become a reality, so I'm ready to go.

Look for pictures, there is sure to be many, and skype me if you can at Adrilano!

I'll be sure to write again soon!

Ciao!