ThE fIRsT FeW dAyS!!!!

The first few days have been kind of crazy. I am learning new things every second and just trying to soak everything in. After I had unpacked on the first night, Giulio came to pick me up at the house and we went and got Alessandro. From there we went to the studio where he works...and now I work...we finally got off the main roads and I saw what Rome is really like...very narrow streets, laundry hanging from the windows...it's just amazing. The studio is right near the city center. There are actually pillars from old Rome built into the walls. It's so neat. Hard to explain. I met our coworkers whom are both very easy to get a long with. Funny too. Fabiana came to pick me up from there and we went home. Alessandro and I ate dinner. I was going to wait for Giulio to get home around 9 but I was too tired and probably would have fallen asleep on my bed, which I was starting to do anyway. Jet leg.

Thursday I got up at 8:30. Got dressed and made some coffee (espresso). Giulio and I took Alessandro to school and then headed to one of the Government buildings to get me a "Social security number" so I could open a bank account here. It was interesting. A lot different then here. Didn't have to wait forever and while we waited went and had breakfast...mmmm donuts.

From there we went to the studio (http://www.studioromoli.eu/index.html). We jumped right into working. We are building a scale model of a spa type store. It's going to be pretty cool. We worked on that til about 11:30 then made some coffee, worked til 1, ate lunch and had coffee...delicious pasta...schnitzel...artichoke...and a coca light :) worked at the studio until 4 and then Fabiana came and got me to get Alessandro from school. Tonight was important because we went to the Colesium for Fabiana's exhibition, which was quite magnificent. AMAZING!!! We were late and Ale (ah-lei is what we call him and easier to type) wasn't a happy camper. It was breathtaking. I got to meet Giulio's parents. They were very kind but couldn't speak much english. His dad even said "See you later alligator" to me when they left us. While we walked around Everyone was staring at me. One, because I am American, and Two, because I wasn't wearing a coat and everyone else was. It was almost 60, but for them it is cold. After that we went to get pizza next to "Magic Sound" The pizza was delicious and fresh...I ate a lot and then they told me we were going for Tiramisu...i never turn down dessert...thank gosh because it was delicious, but I sure was stuffed.



This morning we got up and did it all over again. We stopped at the bank this morning first, but had no luck with getting an account for me. Both people that we had to speak to were gone for the day, even the person in charge of changing over the dollar. So we have to go back on Monday morning. At the studio I met some of Giulio's students and we all went for lunch together. The boys ate McDonalds and got made fun of. It smelled just the same as home but the sandwiches were smaller.

Back at the studio, I worked on the model until about 4 and then Fabiana picked me up. She drives a moped everywhere so she has to come to the studio everyday to get the car. After school we went to the baby supermarket...just stuff for babies...and then the regular supermarket. It was great. Everything was fresh...bread, fruit, meat, and fish, which we got for dinner. We came home and i played with Ale while Fabiana made dinner for him. I taught him his first english word today, "ball." He loves the puzzle that I got for him too with the ABC's. He likes to make the animal noises with me. We had a very good dinner tonight eventhough it was fish. Rhombo fish, potatoes, bread, and a blood orange. Coffee and chocolate for dessert!!! YUM! I am trying to catch some of March Madness, but they are getting to be a little late and it's time for bed. Ciao

~~ Takeoff ~~

I sadly left home at 6:45am on the 24th. It was a sad and rainy drive to O'hare. My mom dropped me off extra early with my two huge bags and some carry-ons. One of which I left in the car...not on purpose but it was my camera so my mom circled back to get it to me. Once in the terminal I walked around for a bit and found a Jamba Juice. My favorite!!! My good experience at Jamba ended when the kid ahead of me started talking bad about the badgers and how we weren't in the tournament anymore. He whipped out his Penn State ID and showed it to me and proceeded to say "Penn State. Now that's what it's all about. There's no doubt that Wisconsin will always be inferior to us. " I simple said to him, "and who didn't make the tournament this year?" and turned around. I walked back to my gate and sat down with satisfaction. Not long after so did a family of 6 with 4 kids under the age of 7. And yes I got stuck sitting behind them on the plane. I did get lucky with a window seat and no one next to me. The flight was bumpy, but tolerable.

We landed at Dulles and I just dreaded the 3 hour layover with so much time to analyze my situation...I tried to keep my brain occupied with books, sudokus, and phone calls, but I still had no concentration. I stopped reading after I read the same paragraph 8 times. We finally boarded and yes the TSA was randomly checking passengers, and of course I was one of the last to board and one to get pulled aside. If you know how I pack the outcome wasn't pretty. It took me 15 minutes to get all my stuff back in place after they emptied both my bags. Everyone was already seated and of course I was in the 3rd last row, in the middle.

I got settled and got lucky again. I had no one sitting to my right and a really nice guy the next seat over. If it weren't for talking to him throughout the flight I think I would have went nuts, because when he was sleeping it was like I had a terrible case of the "what-ifs." What if this family is crazy? What if he doesn't come get me? What if I can't understand them at all? What if I can't get a hold of him and I am stuck here? What if my phone dies? and so on until, Jude, that was his name woke up and we talked about something else...basketball, Rome, how to say bathroom in 3 different languages. Again this flight was extremely bumpy. We kept having to go up and down to avoid all the turbulence and my ears weren't really a big fan of that. Once we landed I departed from my buddy Jude, who was going to transfer flights, and I was on my own. EEEK! It was 7am on the 25th here in Rome and I was all alone.

I went to baggage claim and my bags came off one right after the other...I have been getting lucky and i was convinced something bad had to happen, but again luck was on my side. Not taking more than 5 steps out the baggage claim there was Giulio waving me down. I was so relieved. We talked all the way to the tiny car. He spoke English very well and I felt like I already new him. We drove around town for a bit (and I thought China had crazy drivers, there are no real lanes, everyone drives every where. there are no parking restrictions...front ways, parallel, perpendicular...anything goes) and then stopped for an "Italian breakfast," a croissant filled with chocolate and some cappuccino. YUMMY!!!

We came back to the house and I met the family. Alessandro is super cute...not as cute as brooke or katie :) The flat is a lot bigger than I thought it would be. It has three bedrooms, a kitchen, a living/dining room, a bathroom, and an awesome balcony that stretches the length of the flat. My room is super big and a great view of the park across the street through the trees. We took Alessandro to school and then I came back to unpack and get settled. I took my first shower in the tiny tub and made my first meal of pasta with tomato sauce...The area is so pretty. There's nice people and good food. I think I am going to like it here...