| Only about a month to go... |
[21 Apr 2007|09:48am] |
So the latest is that I'm absolutely terrified when I think of my 7 month journey alone around the world. I'm so comfortable here with my friends, and I know that the life that I return to will be completely different from the life I'm living now. On two counts: 1) everyone is trying to figure out where they're going and what they're doing; 2) I'm moving to Milwaukee, so I won't even be returning to a place with all my close friends. [My hope is that plenty of my friends pick up and move to Chicago!]
This evening my roommate and I are attending a dinner party with a group of Kenyan professionals who are going to provide me with more information about Africa, Kenya and living there. I'm excited, I think it should be interesting. More than likely will cause me to get back to a state of excitement as opposed to this current state of fear that I am living in.
I think that I am going to bite the bullet and book my flight to Hong Kong and Australia (my procrastination has been in part due to my family not being good at my plans, and putting off going into debt). So far my schedule is:
May 21st - Dec 15th:
Ireland - That was the only flight I booked to visit my parents on each end of my trip.
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| Advice regarding airfare... |
[29 Mar 2007|07:51pm] |
I'm planning a trip for 7-8 months of traveling (starting in May).
My intentions are to start in NY (where I live), fly to Australia. I'm spending June and July in Australia/New Zealand. After that, I'm supposed to be meeting a friend in Africa for the month of August.
Then in September, I am either heading to Europe (I'm ending in Ireland to meet my parents for 2 months) OR if I can afford it, would like to go to Asia then to Europe.
My dilemna with any of the above is that I don't know if I should go ahead and just buy a one way ticket to Australia and then figure out the rest as I go along, OR if I should try and find out more information about "Round the World" tickets and things of that nature.
No one I'm friends with has ever purchased a RTW ticket, so I'm not sure the pros/cons of doing so. Any advice, information, experience would be great!
THANKS!!!
[I've traveled extensively through Western and Eastern Europe in the past, but never a huge trip like this to multiple continents.]
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[23 Feb 2007|03:04pm] |
I have a major problem - I don't have enough time and money to do all of the things that I want to do. Actually I think I could squeeze enough into the time frame and take out a bunch of loans...but I really wish I had someone to travel with for 8 months to see the amount of things I want to...
Basically, I want to go everywhere. I want to go to Africa, I want to go to Asia, I want to go to South America...
My top three travel goals/destinations (for no apparent reason) are Galapagos Islands, Egypt and Antarctica. Which, I have no current set plans to hit up any of them...and the only one that has the slightest chance of happening on this upcoming trip is Egypt...but wouldn't it be great to make it to the Amazon too...
I think I may at some point need to find a career that very strongly supports my travel desires. Does it even exist?
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| Stages of Planning... |
[23 Feb 2007|08:56am] |
Nothing at all is set in stone yet for my post-graduation travels, but things are beginning to fall into place a little bit more (very little bit). When I think about the 8 months of traveling alone I feel a combination of excitement and anxiety. I can't really comprehend how long that is to spend on my own...In the end though, it will probably fly by just as quickly as everything else in life has been recently.
I managed to spend all of 2006 away from "home" and I feel like I blinked and it was over...I'm loving life and enjoying it so much, just wish it would slow down a bit so I could enjoy it even more.
My current "plan" (cause we all know how great I am at making plans...) is:
Leave sometime mid- to end- of May for Australia. I want to start by flying into Melbourne, and probably spending the month of June living with my cousin down there, and taking care of her fabulous new baby (due in May).
The month of July should be taken up with travels to New Zealand to hike a glacier (Fox glacier), go luging, go zorbing...any types of adventuresome outdoor activities that Kate and myself fall into. I'm estatic that one of my high school friends wants to come and travel with me for a month. I think that we're going to have an amazing time together, and it will be nice to finally spend time together after years living away from where I grew up.
Originally my plan involved trying to visit friends and/or find a travel buddy to go to Asia with me - but alas, with the blink of an eye, my "plans" changed, and now instead of Asia, I'm going to go to Africa instead...A girl that I met last year while backpacking in Eastern Europe has three weeks off in August and wants to travel. I'm probably going to meet up with her in Kenya - and not sure what the plans are from there.
And surprisingly. (and I don't understand this at all) the part I'm most nervous about is returning back to Italia to live in Perugia again. I think it's just because I know what it was like before, so I actually will have something to compare it to. I could be disappointed, whereas, everything else is exciting and new...Of course I want my experience in Perugia to top my previous trip - but if it does...I can't even explain how amazing that would be. Because living there last year was probably the best experience I've had in my life - so anything better my mind can't even begin to comprehend.
So things are slowly falling into place...I'm going to try and pick up some minor jobs along the way. Make a few dollars to help pay my way around the world.
I have to seriously start looking into purchasing a "Round the World" ticket though, because otherwise the cost of flights would be tremendous, and waayyy more than I could afford.
i am a nomad.
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| Moving "home" |
[10 Dec 2006|12:28am] |
I don't so much think it's a question of where is home, but moreso a quesion of what is home? Does it even really matter? As long as I have a comfortable place to sleep and a plethera of friends that I care about and care about me. I have a family that I love more than anything. And I'm fulfilling so many of the life dreams that were only fleeting thoughts...
I got set on this path in life, a good path, something I didn't necessarily plan on or pick, but just seems like a good option to follow through with. That being this wonderful corporate job that I've just accepted. But alot of the fear that I had about accepting the offer was being tied down, and not able to pursue all the other things in life that I want...aka travel. Because that and photography seem to be the only things in life I really strongly pursue anyway.
Now that is beginning to look like more of a potential. For part of the year all I could think about was how much I wanted to return to Italy - learn more Italian, live in Perugia, be more involved with photography, work for the school...live out that side of my dreams before starting my career. Except I felt that I had to choose between the two lifestyles - and now it appears that I don't. I can simply postpone starting work for six months and get the best of both worlds. Which excites me to no end.
So not only do I get to return to my Italian life that I was so sad to leave, I get to go to Australia, and maybe parts of Asia. Plus spend time with my family, take thousands more of photos...I only hope that it doesn't drive me so deep in debt that I won't be able to recover. But hopefully I should be okay - I'll take out a few more loans, be smart about planning (hopefully), and pick up odd jobs along the way (also, hopefully).
So alas - this past year of my life was completely unplanned, unpredicted. Going to Italy to Study Abroad was a last minute decision. And as last minute as that was, moving to Milwaukee was never even something that had crossed my mind. I got a random job offer and accepted it - so I came back from six months from Europe, only to drive 16 hours to move out here. And as odd as some East Coasters think it is, I actually like it out here, and will be happy to return to start my career in January 08. But until then - the next year looks to be just as unpredictable as the last...
What a good feeling.
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| I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE! |
[29 Apr 2006|03:38am] |
I'm so sad. I've already cried once today about leaving, and just can't believe that the last four months have flown by so quickly. I wish staying another semester was actually an option, but alas, it is not a possibility. I tried being in denial for awhile, but it's starting to catch up with me...
Trying to make the most of our last day. I am angry with my knee because ever since we went to Florence last weekend it's been killing me. Just lots of unnecessary pain. It sucks...and I was doing so well! It scares me more than anything, just the thought that I might have to have knee surgery or something of that sort...
Sadness, sad sad day.
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| Wow |
[23 Apr 2006|12:37pm] |
Yesterday was absolutely and totally amazing. We woke up early, after a late night out to take a day trip to Firenze. Little did we know that we would have had to have booked advance tickets the the museum I wanted to see, but whatever. We ended up spending the day walking around and shopping. We climbed to the top of the duomo, and saw gorgeous views of the city. My knee is definitely not happy though. It was 463 steps up to the top, plus running around the city all day, it just didn't go over too well.
Our aim and ultimate goal was to get Japanese food. We found the restaurant last time just after finishing dinner, but were full so we didn't go...I can't believe I've gone almost 4 months without and sushi. They ended up being closed for lunch for some unknown reason and then for dinner they were full and didn't have an opening until 10:30. So so so so so so so sad.
Alas, I will have to wait another long while before I am able to have any...maybe some random country I end up in with the guys will have it.
Lots of craziness, been out the last few nights in a row, and probably the next few nights. I'm somewhat in denial about the program coming to an end. But even last night dreamed about saying goodbye...it was a very tearful dream. I'm so sad to see this end. I can't believe it actually is.
Maybe I'm just in denial about lots of things.
I'm not so much looking forward to going back home, I'm really glad that I have Ireland as a stepping stone to backpacking, 2 weeks of R&R combined with drinking and dancing. Fun times. I have to find out which of my friends from home are planning trips to visit so that I'm actually around when they come. Fun times. Perhaps we'll make it to England or France while Alley is there to explore a bit, haha, though I don't think that our wallets are going to allow us to.
Aside from all that...complete and total sadness.
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| wow |
[22 Apr 2006|12:41pm] |
so so so sad. time is going way way too quickly. i feel like we just got here. i don't want to leave perugia. i'm just trying to enjoy the rest of our time while we're here, but i hate when the thoughts of leaving sneak into my head. everyone points out that i'm not even going home....but that doesn't stop me from being sad to leave here. i'm excited for everything in store for the future...i just think this chapter of my life was too short, and i'm not ready for it to end. i wish i was one of the students that studied here for a year...but they definitely make that near impossible for a business major.
trying to do stuff for home while here is annoying as all hell...i hate that the only things that stress me out are things from home...it makes me want to go home that much less. not that it was the high to begin with...but i am starting to miss people. i thought it would kick in sooner, but moreso because i just haven't talked to some people at all since december, so i just miss knowing what's going on, how they're doing and stuff.
but i got in a few phone calls this week which was nice.
easter was amazing, we went to a bonfire for it. chilled around the fire for awhile with bunches of people. alley got locked out of the vineyard at one point though, and killed her phone...which sucks. and she's angry about, understandably.
we'll probably go out like every night for the rest of our time here. it's just fun, tonight is our friend theresa's birthday. last night we went to see jennie san sing in a bar. it was alot of fun, she's really awesome. the night before we drank on the step with random people and just had a kick ass time.
and now i must go and enjoy this beautiful weather.
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| TOP TEN IMMEDIATE RE-ENTRY CHALLENGES |
[05 Apr 2006|01:02am] |
Preparation...
There are many reasons to look forward to going home, but there are also anumber of psychological, social, and cultural aspects that can prove difficult--often because they are unanticipated. The following list was generated byinterviews with students, like you, who have been through the experience and survived nicely. However, you should take the process seriously by being realistic and thinking about it and your possible reactions.
1. BOREDOM After all the newness and stimulation of your time abroad, a return to family,friends, and old routines (however nice and comforting) can seem very dull. It is natural to miss the excitement and challenges that characterize study in a foreign country, but it is up to you to find ways to overcome such negative reactions.
2. "NO ONE WANTS TO HEAR" One thing you can count on upon your return: many people will be uninterested in hearing about your adventures and triumphs when you try to share those experiences. This is not a rejection of you or your achievements, but simply the fact that once they have heard the highlights, any further interest on your audiences' part is probably unlikely. Be realistic in your expectations of how fascinating your journey is going to be for everyone else.
3. YOU CAN’T EXPLAIN Even when given a chance to explain all the sights you saw and feelings you had while studying abroad, it is likely to be at least a bit frustrating to relay them coherently. It is very difficult to convey this kind of experience to people who do not have similar frames of reference or travel backgrounds, no matter how sympathetic they are as listeners. You can tell people about your trip, but you may fail to make them understand exactly how or why you felt a particular way.
4. REVERSE HOMESICKNESS Just as you probably missed home for a time after arriving in Italy, it is just as natural to experience some "reverse" homesickness for the people, places, and things that you grew accustomed to in Perugia. To an extent it can be reduced by writing letters, telephoning, and generally keeping in contact, but feelings of loss are an integral part of international sojourns and must be anticipated and accepted as a natural result of study abroad.
5. RELATIONSHIPS HAVE CHANGEDIt is inevitable that when you return you will notice that some relationships with friends and family will have changed. Just as you have altered some of your ideas and attitudes while abroad, the people at home are likely to have experienced some changes. These changes may be positive or negative, but expecting that no change will have occurred is unrealistic. The best preparation is flexibility, openness, minimal preconceptions, and tempered optimism.
6. PEOPLE SEE “WRONG” CHANGES Sometimes people may concentrate on small alterations in your behavior or ideas and seem threatened or upset by them. Others may attribute any 'bad" traits to the influence of your time abroad. These incidents with family or friends may be motivated by jealousy, fear, or feelings of superiority or inferiority. To avoid or minimize them it is necessary to monitor yourself and be aware of the reactions of those around you, especially in the first few weeks following yourreturn. This phase normally passes quickly if you do nothing to confirm their stereotypes.
7. PEOPLE MISUNDERSTAND A few people will misinterpret your words or actions in such a way that communication is difficult. Offers to help in the kitchen can be seen as criticism of food preparation; new clothing styles as provocative or inappropriate,references to Italy or speaking Italian as boasting. Be aware of how you may look to others and how your behavior is likely to be interpreted.
8. FEELINGS OF ALI ENATION/CRITICAL EYESSometimes the reality of being back 'home" is not as natural or enjoyable as the place you had constructed as your mental image. When real daily life is lessenjoyable or more demanding than you remembered, it is natural to feel somealienation, see faults in the society you never noticed before, or even become quite critical of everyone and everything for a time. This is no different than when you first left home. Mental comparisons are fine, but keep them to yourself untilyou regain both your cultural balance and a balanced perspective.
9. INABILITY TO APPLY NEW KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS Many returnees are frustrated by the lack of opportunity to apply newly gainedsocial, linguistic, and practical coping skills that appear to be unnecessary or irrelevant. To avoid ongoing annoyance: adjust to reality as necessary, change what is possible, be creative and patient, and above all use all the cross-cultural adjustment skills you acquired abroad to assist your own re-entry. For example, during your stay in Italy you have mastered public transportation and train travel in general. It is common to feel “land locked" and unable to use your travel skills in daily life as with your adventures that were such a part of your life abroad.
10. LOSS/COMPARTMENTALIZATION OF EXPERIENCE Being home, coupled with the pressures of job, family, and friends, often combine to make returnees worried that somehow they will “lose" the experience. You may feel that somehow the experience will become compartmentalized like souvenirs or photo albums kept in a box to be admired only once in awhile. You
do not have to let that happen. Maintain your contacts. Talk to people who have experiences similar to yours. Practice your skills. Remember and honor both your hard work and the fun you had while studying abroad.
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| March Update |
[04 Apr 2006|11:51am] |
Another month come and gone…and just as amazing as the first two, if not better.
Noteworthy:
I accepted a job with GE Healthcare for coop. I'm moving to Milwaukee, Wisconsin from July until December. So all of you expected me back in July…post-pone that another 6 months…and start looking up flights to Chicago or Milwaukee. : P
Went to a cheese farm, and saw cheese made from scratch (bought some too, it was yummy).
Had a puppy for a day and it was the most adorable thing ever! (Friend of a friend had five puppies that we could take care of for the day.) We named her Sake.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/bostonblueeyes/P1010850.jpg
Overview:
We started off the month with a visit with two of our friends, Dan and Lesia, who came to visit from Boston. Met them for a weekend in Rome (be very mindful of the Sistine Chapel hours when you go to visit) and then entertained them in Perugia. (They also took a trip to Venice which they loved).
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/bostonblueeyes/DSCF0712.jpg
Visited Florence for the first time. Literally in mid sentence to Alley I looked up and saw the David and my response was "Oh shit". Despite studying it in my Michelangelo class, I was still taken aback by the size. This was all of my Michelangelo class field trip to Florence and Rome. We got to see the Sistine Chapel, the Pieta, the David …I have to say taking an art class in Italy is very fulfilling…it is not just textbook learning.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/bostonblueeyes/P1010411.jpg
We left Italy for the first time since we arrived. Spent St. Patrick's Day in Ireland, not quite the same as the NY St. Patrick's Day experience, but wonderful all the same. It was great to see my family again…though I guess I can't complain, I get to see them a decent amount considering how far away they live.
Just got back from Spring Break at the Canary Islands…basking in the sun, by the pool, with a pool bar, relaxing by the beach, at the bar…life just doesn't get much better than that.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/bostonblueeyes/Italy%20-%20January/P1010723.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/bostonblueeyes/Italy%20-%20January/P1010813.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/bostonblueeyes/Italy%20-%20January/P1010726.jpg
PS – Ryan Air is horrible, miserable, and should not be flown. After all our added expenses, getting to the airports they fly out of, having to pay for hotels the night before our flights since they left so early…plus flying somewhere that wasn't our final destination…it would have cost the same for a direct flight…oh, and did I forget to mention…other airlines just don't cancel your flight for the hell of it?
Up and coming:
Final month – Napoli, Pompeii, Sorrento, and Capri (school trip) Sicily (for Easter) and Cinque Terra (for a weekend of hiking)…then back to Ireland.
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| Happy St. Paddy's Day! |
[21 Mar 2006|04:13pm] |
Such an absolutely amazing few days. We went to Ireland, and had a great time with my family. It ended up being the first time that we've left the country since we came to Italy. Though now we're leaving (in like 2 hours) for roma then tomorrow for spain to hit up the Canary Islands.
It was definitely a different experience being able to get off of the plane and into an English speaking country ... though as soon as I said it to Alley the people in front of us starting speaking in Italian...haha, so fun times.
It was nice, my uncle met us at the airport, had dinner waiting for us. Then we made our way to Galway, to go out drinking with my cousin and his friends. It was a great St. Paddy's Day. First St. Paddy's day (that I recall) having in Ireland...I'm happy I got a huge Green stamp on a page in my passport saying that I arrived on March 17, 2006...(it's the little things in life).
My goal is to fill my entire passport. We'll see how that goes.
OOH...I'm a citizen of Ireland now! I have my Irish passport and everything. So it will make travelling around the EU a little bit easier.
Saturday we slept all day...minus waking up for breakfast, and dinner...we napped in between each of them. Then after dinner we headed out to the bar in the local pub. Now I have to say, and I think Alley agrees, we both enjoy that more.
I enjoy it because of the interesting "histories" that I've developed with people throughout the years. The guys there are great...and it's always interesting because there's more guys (like 99%) then girls...most of the girls escape into the cities to go out, and don't bother going on in the local town.
But I always have a good time there. My cousins treat me so well...I managed (and Alley) to not spend a dime that Saturday night. People compete to buy us drinks (family, friends, bar owners...) then Thomas got us into the disco for free by telling them we were American...yay for free stuff.
Then Sunday we slept in a bit, and due to the harassment of family went out for a third night in a row...you have to love with it's your aunt, uncle and parents that are calling you lazy and boring for not wanting to go out and drink more.
Alley has learned alot more about the Irish this weekend and the way that they function...most of which I don't care to go into...perhaps it's easier to pick up on Irish cultural things because I've been there so much, and it's my heritage...when I get back (from Spain Sunday) I'd be interested to compare that to what I know of Italy.
I'm happy that I get to end my trip from Italy in Ireland and from Ireland backpacking...it should be a nice chain of events, and always looking forward to the next thing. By the end of backpacking I'm sure that I'll be ready to get back home again.
I best be going, I need to get all showered and packed up, and on the beach in Spain (like 50 hours from now).
More to follow!
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| Yay |
[16 Mar 2006|05:51pm] |
Heading to Ireland tomorrow for St. Patricks Day. It will be great to be with my family again. I'm excited.
I'm even happier that midterms are over with. Italian was last week (blech, I didn't do well). Michelangelo and Food Culture were today. I think I over studied for Michelangelo...which isn't a bad thing...but it was 4 short answer questions (which is scary in itself). Two had to do with art, and two with Michelangelo. But nothing like I was thinking...I definitely thought it would be more in depth, more questions, etc. etc. Who knows. I know I didn't fail...how well I did will be determined by his grading.
(I was pissed about our review being cancelled yesterday though...mainly cause we had no idea what to study, so we studied everything).
Food Culture wasn't too bad. He told us exactly what to study. My hand was a little sore, but I know I did decently well on that too...
So alas, now I'm a little bit less stressed...just waiting to hear back (IMPATIENTLY) about the job...and alas, ready to drink.
Oh...and totally totally psyched for spring break. Which is now completely booked. Yay! Canary Islands are going to be kick ass!
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[16 Mar 2006|10:38am] |
Two midterms today...like a half hour before the first one. Only 15 minutes in between. I keep stalking the internet to find out if I got the job, alas, no word yet. But hopefully by the time I get out of my 2nd midterm? Who knows. If I don't hear by tonight, I will be paying for an internet cafe this weekend.
Of the next 10 days, Alley and I are spending 9 of them out of the country. We are leaving for Ireland in the morning, come back Monday for less than 24 hours then leave for the Canary Islands for spring break, which should be absolutely and totally amazing. I'm so psyched...best get back to studying though.
Yay...
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| “Almost St. Paddy’s Day” |
[15 Mar 2006|11:53am] |
Wednesday March 15th – 1:03 am
I spent my whole day (and past few days/nights) being nervous about my interview. All the build up to it and all in all it went well…great even. So now I’m just nervous about the decisions that I’m going to have to make in the upcoming days.
I’m excited to be back in Boston with people, but I think if I can’t be in Boston, my first choice would be to be back here…but by Friday I’ll know whether I got the job offer or not…it’s just hard not knowing…not knowing where I’m going to be placed…not knowing who to talk to about it. Not knowing what is actually the best option for me.
I’ve spent the last while attempting to study for my midterms…but surprise surprise, it’s so god damn cold in our apartment, I can’t really feel my fingers anymore, so I decided to type this and then just head to bed.
I can’t believe how quickly time is flying by…way too quickly. It’s so scary, we leave for Ireland Friday, come back Monday, leave for Rome on Tuesday to head to the Canary Islands for Spring Break…then when we get back that Sunday night Alley’s mom is going to be here…
I dunno, March just started and somehow is almost over…our weeks/days here are dwindling. For awhile I reached a point where home seemed like a good option…and obviously I still know that it will be. I know that I’ll be happy to be back at home…but I’m just so happy here. Dan and Lesia coming has had quite the opposite effect on me than I thought it would.
When they got here I realized just how much I missed them (I hadn’t thought about it too much before) and while they were here I was preparing myself to be really sad upon their departure, and now they’re gone, and I’m happier than I was in the days before they came, and more eager to stay.
And I can’t really find the sense in that…except that in talking to them, showing them my life here…reinforced just how much I love it…or maybe it just made me want to escape reality that much more and leave in this cloud 9 world that I’ve created for myself for so much longer…
If I don’t get the job from my interview today, I’m going to pursue getting a position here in Perugia. I talked to Zach about it today, due to my dual citizenship, I have a really good shot at it…a remarkable one for that matter…(btw. I finally got dual citizenship…yay!) Both Dan and Lesh said that they would come back to visit if I stayed through the end of the year.
Though, the trouble with that being…I know I did remarkably well on my interview…haha, so…it might not even become an option, cause I don’t think I can turn down the job offer if it’s offered. The way I phrased it to Alley and Dan…I’m going to end up working in East Bumblefuck West of the Mississippi…a very encouraging way to advertise for people to come visit me.
*Sigh* I’m not worried, it’s not worth thinking about…but I’m going to have to…something will make my decision for me I’m sure.
Alley is excited now to go home, she wants to live with the girls. I do too. I don’t know why I have my hesitations. I think my hesitations have more to do with my life choices (job, and such) then it does to do with living with the girls. I’m actually quite excited at the thought…and I suppose there is a certain benefit to not having to be the one going out and searching for apartments.
Classes are going really well here. I got an A- on my first photo project. And depending on how my midterms go in my other two classes Thursday I will choose which course I am going to take pass/fail through school. We get to have one not factor into our GPA. I already know that Photo won’t be that class…so we shall see…either Michelangelo or Italian most likely…Food Culture if something goes completely wrong.
Speaking of which…I better get started on all those fun papers I’m going to have to write. I must point out, I’m quite impressed with my increased maturity regarding my work. I haven’t been procrastinating as much as in the past. My photo project I had done just under a week early. I’m staying up tonight studying for two exams that aren’t tomorrow, but the next day. I have three pages done for an 8 page paper due in 2 weeks. I have an outline started for a paper due in a month.
I rule! G’nite!
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| Such an amazing week/weekend |
[12 Mar 2006|04:38am] |
I didn't actually miss our friends until they were here...it was a weird feeling actually. But surprisingly things here have just been going super well, and easier to cope with being gone then I thought it would be...as in it's never felt like coping. Anyway, it was great spending time with Dan and Lesh, and I prepared myself to be really sad upon their departure, but thankfully that hasn't hit yet either.
This weekend Alley and I went on the Michelangelo trip with the school and it was oh so much fun. Part of it including going out to dinner/drinking with my professor, 1 of the umbra staff, and another girl at umbra. It was a blast. Then when we got back to the hotel the guys in the lobby (from the class) convinced him to stay for another beer. The dinner started with Laura asking something about Michelangelo, and my professor slamming his fist down on the table saying "Who the Fuck is Michelangelo?!? I need a drink!" That kinda sums up the night nicely. Haha, he's a really cool guy and fun to be around.
Then aside from that, today I'm going to try and get a shit load of work done, plan some stuff for spring break...and figure out how the hell to make 1175.04 last me through April 30. (keeping in mind that I haven't actually paid for anything for Spring Break yet...) Whatever, I'm thinking now I'll cut into my backpacking budget, then during backpacking just rack up some credit card debt that I'll pay back upon my return when I take out loans to pay for housing.
Things that I've come to accept in the past few days:
I will be lowering my GPA this semester.
I will be taking out more loans upon my return and going into credit card debt for the first time.
I will go broke off purchasing wine upon my return (cause I like drinking it alot).
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| February Recap |
[12 Mar 2006|04:36am] |
Another month has come to an end…plus part of March, but things have been really hectic and I haven't had time to email…
Miscellaneous tidbits about our life here in Italy:
It's true when they say all roads lead to Rome. I've never seen a place with so many signs that say "Tutti le direczione." Signs will point you in the same direction for cities that are all over the country.
I've decided that trying new things while I'm here. When we were in Pisa, I decided to try rabbit for the first time. When the food was being served to us, (knowing that we spoke English) he inquired as to who ordered Bugs Bunny…aww poor Bugs. It was yummy though.
Things I've learned this month:
How to make pasta from scratch. My food culture class had a chef come in and have a workshop to teach us. I want to try it again, but we have the directions in Italian which is kind of overwhelming.
We are in the process of making our own white wine. Two weeks ago we went to a session and did the grape crushing. (Imagine the episode of I Love Lucy). By the time I come home I should have a nice bottle of white wine to enjoy (though only one, so you're out of luck!)
At the beginning of February we went to a wine tasting class. It's something that I've always wanted to learn about, but definitely want to follow up with more classes in my future, there's so much to know.
Places that we've seen:
Venezia – This is by far my favorite weekend of our entire trip. I don't know if it's my favorite place that I've been to. (How can you compare a city with streets made of water to another other city?) We spent one day exploring Murano Island where we got to see glassblowing and just explore all of the beautiful glass shops.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/bostonblueeyes/Italy%20-%20January/P1000663.jpg Taxi Stand Venice
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/bostonblueeyes/Italy%20-%20January/P1000607.jpg Murano Island
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/bostonblueeyes/Italy%20-%20January/P1000710.jpg Sunset in Venice
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/bostonblueeyes/Italy%20-%20January/P1000591.jpg Gondalas
Weekend in Torino – My parents came to visit for the Olympics (awesome Christmas present, right?) We drove from Perugia, up through Siena, Pisa, Genova and then to Torino. Sadly the US Men's hockey team lost to Sweden, but it was great being there, hearing the US chants. I felt like I should have been all done up in American gear to support the US, but I spent my first 6 weeks in the country trying to not act/look like an American…it's hard to just switch back.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/bostonblueeyes/Italy%20-%20January/P1000913.jpg Pisa
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/bostonblueeyes/Italy%20-%20January/P1000999.jpg Olympics
My birthday was amazing! Thank you to all of those wonderful friends of mine that came out to visit for it! I'm so happy that you guys were all here!
Up and coming:
St. Patrick's Day in Ireland. Spring Break in the Canary Islands. (First time leaving Italy since we got here)
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| Email to Fonz |
[01 Mar 2006|03:29pm] |
Here's an update on my life...
I love my classes, dreading going back and taking business classes
again, but I"m taking photography, which is amazing. I'm going to end
up in the photo lab later tonight from like 7-10 (or 11 when it
closes)...If I can try and track down a scanner at some point I will
send you some prints, but otherwise I will show you them all when I
get home.
My Michelangelo class I don't need to be in, but I really enjoy. The
way in which we're studying him is interesing. We have 4 different
texts, 2 are biographies written by people who 'knew' him, but one of
the ways in which we read is to compare and contrast how they each
portray Michelangelo, and conflicting information from both authors.
(Condivi, and Vasari) Then we have 2 other texts which give more of
an overview. So we have reading in all 4 books each week, based on a
different piece or time period in which Michelangelo worked...It's
cool.
My Food Culture class is teaching me more stuff that I've wanted to
know than I expected to learn from the class. But it's literally the history
of food and culture....how history affected food culture is
today. But I was annoyed in the past few months that I couldn't
actually recall more from history as a whole (I never liked history,
so yeah, alot of knowledge I don't have...I will recognize names and
time periods and such, but don't have a straight history in my mind).
But this class has basically started and done a review of history, and
integrated food culture with that...how it ties
to social class, status, men vs. women, religion, etc. etc.
Then of course Italian...haha,
I love it all, it's the first time in my life where I've wanted to and
enjoyed going to and doing all the work for my classes.
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| A new day |
[22 Feb 2006|10:24am] |
Waiting currently for my parents who should be here in like 30 minutes.
New Things
Yesterday in my Food Culture class we learned how to make pasta (and bolognese) from scratch. It was really cool. We're going to get the receipe sometime next week, so after that I'm going to try it again in our apartment. But it was alot easier than I thought it would be (at least the type that we made in class). And it took us less than 2 hours. I just have to buy a rolling pin first.
Traveling
I'm going to Brussels this weekend, which should be fun, but I kinda regret making plans. I have been so busy lately and really just want to sit back with nothing to do again...I'm not good at that...going long periods with nothing to do. Plus since I've gotten so busy, I've been walking less and eatting more...no good. I'm excited though, next weekend (I can't believe it's so soon) Dan and Lesh and my cousin are coming to Rome. It should be a grand old time.
Language
EEK. I know that I've learned alot...but I haven't learned half as much as I should have. Our midterm is in 2 weeks (oral and written) and it's going to kill me. I need to study alot, and just haven't taken the time too...I have to get on that.
Time Management
How is it that I always have my plate so full...why can't I just let myself relax...have free time. Enjoy it while I can? I don't think it's in my blood. Haha, I just can't let myself sit still. But I have too much on my plate and just can't enjoy things for what they are worth. Why the inner desire to always be doing something or having something to do...or when I should be working on other things, just watching TV or something...bad Shelly.
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irish_shelly's journal
