Sabato

Saturdays in Siena are kind of the opposite of Saturdays at Guilford. Everyone is awake and out on the streets, even though it is rainy. This morning I went to a little caffe to do some homework and have a cappucino (only eighty cents!) It was nice. On the walk there I saw so many little Italian babies. At the caffe there were a lot of tiny old women talking and drinking espresso.

After I finished reading Dante (for Heather's class) I walked down Banchi Di Soppra, which is like the main road, to do a little exploring. I found an art supply store, and expensive stationary store, and another book store. I like this book store better than the one near my house. They have a larger selection of English books and art books. There were all of these books of "erotic sketches" by various artists. They also had a lot of adorable children's books that I can't read. Cats seems to be a popular theme for children's books, and just in general. My host family has a kitten named Speedy that loves to climb on me and Claire or take naps with us.

My host family is great. Virginia made us dinner last night, along with this orange flavored dessert. She asked if she was a better cook than her mom. They are both really good cooks. Virginia said she would teach me how to make tiramisu and some other things if I wanted. The food here is amazing, but the way they eat is different. A typical breakfast is coffee with bread and jam or maybe cereal. Lunch is quick, slice of pizza or a sandwich, and dinner has a pasts course, then meat and vegetable, then usually fruit for dessert. They also eat dinner much later, between eight and ten

Ciao Ciao Ciao

That is about all I can say in Italian. I also know some food words. But I learning, slowly but surely I am learning. We had our first Italian lesson yesterday. So, I still cannot put pictures on here. The button has just disappeared. Apparently in Italy you cannot upload photos to blogspot. Weird.

Anyway, I feel like I am finally setting in, jetlag is almost over, I have my internet situation figured out, and classes start on Monday. I saw a grandmother singing to her little granddaughter while she pushed her in a stroller down the street today. Also, the bookstore has the most amazing and bizarre art books.

Italy is overwhelming. This city is beautiful, I wake up to church bells, and cappucino is only eighty cents. I found a caffe today called "Nanini" that seems like good place to do homework or read. It is close to the school and to my house. I have to say I miss the Greenleaf and everything that goes along with it.

I feel a little bit in shock right now. The first few days nothing seemed real and now it is all coming together a little more, which in a way is even more jarring.

But it is good. Everything is good.

Here I am...

Jet Lag is still ruling my life. I have wanted to write since getting here yesterday but I just now found internet at the public library.

Some thing about planes.
-I often have an overwhelming urge to talk to strangers and ask them ridiculous things like how they feel about past tense or if they too think ginger ale tastes better at 40,000 ft. Or most importantly if they find the world to be a strange and wonderful and amusing place, as I often do.
-Also, I seems to think my best thoughts when flying over Canada.

My host family is very nice. Only one of the daughters speaks English but we have all been able to communicate with each other, mostly. Our host mom is a wonderful painter, there are all of these mast copies she did hanging all over the house, moslty Van Goghs. The house itself is so beautiful. We have a terrace and can walk out to it from our room.

Oh, and before we got to Siena Rebecca, Chelsea and I had to get bus tickets from Florence. This is significant because it was the first time I spoke Italian. I walked up to the counter and asked, "A che ora passa il prossimo autobus per Siena" and the guy said "Brava, Brava, " and told me in Italian. When I stared blankly and gestured for him to write it down, he told me in English. So clearly I am still working on this whole speaking thing.

I want to put up pictures but for some reason it is not letting me right now... I will figure it out and hopefully have some up soon.

Overall I not sure how I feel. I am happy to be here, but miss home. I think that a lot of it is still getting over jetlag and getting accustomed to new surroundings. Once I get into a routine I know I will feel less crazy and sleepy all the time.

Packing...

This really sucks. I'm not good at planning ahead so figuring out clothes for three months is really challenging for me, especially since I have to account for all types of weather. Packing for college was hard but if I forgot something or brought things I didn't need I could send them home or my mom could send things to me. That is not really an option now.

I leave in three days. My mind is exploding.

I probably don't need to bring my apron, right?

Home Again

My time at Guilford was wonderful, if bitter-sweet. It was strange to be there with all of my friends starting classes and me just kind of sitting there waiting for people to be finished with things. Saying goodbye was hard. I am excited to be leaving for Italy, but of course I will miss everyone.

Alethea was the last person I said goodbye to. We walked out to my car, she wasn't wearing shoes, I can't remember why. We put my stuff in the trunk then it was time for me to get in the car and go. She hugged me and we just stood there. I started to pull away but we just kept hugging. Finally I got in the car and I rolled down the window and she held on to the door so I couldn't drive away, but eventually she had to let me. She stood in the parking lot waving while I waited to turn left onto the street and kept waving while I drove towards the light. I was waving too, and Jesse passed me on his bike, he shouted goodbye and the two of them stood there until I couldn't see them anymore.

It was the best goodbye I could have asked for, I think.

Less that a week left. I can hardly believe it.

Finally Bought A Phrase Book

I've learned so much already. For example, "Voglio fare l'amore con te" i.e. "I want to make love to you" was the phrase on the first page I flipped to. But I have learned some useful things as well, like "Quale autobus va a Siena?" "Which bus goes to Siena?" and "Dove sono dei locali/bar?" "Where are the bars/cafes?" And knowing how to say "I want to make love to you" will probably come in handy, if only so I know what other people are saying. I can't believe I will be there in two weeks, it is still surreal. It probably will be until the jet lag wears off.

Two Weeks Until I Leave,

but I am heading to Guilford first. Monday I am driving down, not sure what time and completely not sure where I am sleeping. Either my old apartment or acid (the bloodstead's sofa,) maybe both. I need to get out of northern virginia, but more importantly I need to get out of this country. I don't want to feel like I am running away from anything, but maybe I am, just a little. Either way I'm happy to be heading to Greensboro and leaving is going to hard no matter how many good things are ahead of me.

Following Becca's lead (hope you don't mind, bear) I am putting a map of Italy up here. I'm going to be in Siena, though I don't know how to draw an arrow pointing to it... just find Florence and head south.