~~ BuSy As A beAvEr ~~

So...sorry i haven't written in awhile. I have been really busy...playing and working hard and traveling a little.

Two weekends ago, I went to Ancona to visit Stefania. I took the train their and back...it wasn't too bad and was totally worth it. Ancona is a beautiful port city on the coast of the adriatic sea. We spent all of Saturday and Sunday lying on the rocky beach and jumping in the sea!!! It was amazing. At night we went down to the port and had aperitivo and had dinner at one of her friend's houses. It was very nice. Sunday night I had to come home and didn't want to leave. If I didn't have school I would have probably stayed for a few more days. I packed for it and it was really tempting, but i decided against it. Must learn italian...

Anyway, back in rome i continue to work at the bar and am using this week to just relax and let loose. Starting the 31st of August, both Alessandro and I, begin school again. I am excited though, but sad that I won't have the same teacher. She was really good. She is moving to Germany to teach Italian instead. There are a few people continuing on with the class and a few people that I will miss...and also not miss...haha....One night a friend from class and I went to another girls house (who left to go back home) and made grilled cheese sandwiches and chicken nuggets italian style...it was classy...we even had vino :)


Well that's about all for now. I have to go get ready for work...I have to wear a shirt that has baby pink sleeves...not a fan....oh well.

CIAO A TUTTI!!!

~~ ieri sera....che strano... yesterday night...how strange.... ~~

Yesterday was a typical day until about 4...and then just weird things started to happen. A girl from school and I were walking to the metro and we were asked quite loudly if "we were fucking Germans or something?" because we wouldn't help a bum looking guy who spoke in italian and had the accent of an Irishman. Later, My friend Kim and I (yes my friends' name is Kim...I am not just hanging out with my self) were walking to a bar and we saw a really awkwardly strange couple...couldn't really tell what they were...we will call them PATS, I guess...once we got to the bar we learned how to play backgammon...just your typical bar game...sitting there we also saw quite a few interesting outfits...including a girl in a red block dress with green and white wavy trim on it...just like christmas...she looked like she just came from the international fair or something...these things are hard to explain unless you seem them in person except for this last thing...

On the way home from the bar...it was dark and we were walking to the bus stop...and we have to take a series of small streets...on one street there was a stoop where and old haggard woman was sitting...she looked like she was homeless, and both Kim and I thought that she was just pouting but as we got closer we saw that she was sitting there peeing...no biggie I guess...when in Rome...JUST KIDDING!!!! We scooted out of there and got on the bus...

Today, was just another day in the life...although after school I had to go have an interview for a job. There are openings at this bar called On The Rox. It is a bar that we frequent so Kim kind of gave me an in because she has been going there a lot longer than I have. So around 4 I headed there....but first I had to get fotocopies...that's what I had to bring...and as we all know by now it sounds easy but when it's August in Rome no one is here which means all the business are closed for the "HOLIDAY." So it took me 4 different places until I just happened upon a place on the way to the interview. Well at least thats what I thought it would be...I got there and I met with Alex for about a minute...gave him my papers and he said "can you start tomorrow...at 4?" "Sure" I replied and that was that...So now I have a new job...and my first day is tomorrow!!! HOW EXCITING!!! Apparently so excited that I left my Ipod there and didn't realize it until I was on the bus going home. I did reward my self with a GRATICHECA...It's like a hawaiian shave ice, but a lot better. I had lampone e lime. Raspberry and lime together...I tried Cola and grenadine the other day...molto buono!!! Very good!!!

That is all for now I need to get some rest before my big day tomorrow...buonanotte tutti!!!

PS...I think I might attempt to ride a bike in Rome tomorrow...eeek!

~~ L'OpeRA: CaRMeN ~~

Sidenote: Everything went well with the bank on Thursday...It was not the least bit complicated...so much different from what I am used to here.

Anyway...on to more exciting stuff...Friday after school we went for a quick lunch. We found a little bar near the school that is really convenient. The people there are really nice and the food isn't too bad either. One of the owners, I am guessing, is very kind to us and is patient as we attempt to speak in Italian. After our lunch on friday he told us he was going on holiday and would be gone for 10 days. He then went into his store next to the bar and got chocolates for all of us. It was so nice. The other day he gave us a bowl of ice cold cherries...on the house...I think we will be going there quite a bit.

After lunch I ran a few errands. I had to stop and get a metro card for the month and I can get a student card, but finding them isn't all that easy sometimes...The San Paolo metro station newstand usually has them but it was closed so I walked to my usually tabacchi which was open but were all out, I tried another tabacchi...CLOSED...then to the Garbatella metro station newstand...all out...Then I found a little tabacchi near the chinese restaurant...It was open and they had cards :) 5th times a charm I guess.

After that I went home and did some homework, cleaned a bit, read a book, and then got ready to go to L'OPERA CARMEN.

It was amazing. I have never been to the oper a before and I think if I ever go again it will be hard to beat this one. Really no words to explain the experience...It was outside at a theater calle the: Terme di Caracalla, the sunset and the moon rose...and the opera itself was wonderful...The atmosphere was just great. The only downside was almost 3:45 minutes long.

Yesterday didn't start out so well...the morning was difficult, but the day got better. I had a few of my classmates over for dinner and then we went down to the Isola. It's an island on the Tiber river that they have transformed into a little carnival of sorts. Alot of the places don't have air conditioning so in summer they move down to the river. There are places to eat, drink, play fooseball, shop, listen to music, lounge, get massages, and they also have a large outdoor movie theater set up, and I think the movies are even in English. It's a pretty great atmosphere. I went with Tara, shes from New York, Shawon, she's from Canada, and Jelle (Yell-a), he is from Holland...so it was quite the diverse group. Our class is a lot of fun and we all get a long quite well).

That brings me to today...I haven't done much of anything productive this morning...I sat outside and read for a bit this morning, and listened to the extremely loud cicadas chirping...It's constant all day. It's kind of annoying, but you get used to it until it stops and then you notice that they were chirping...or whatever that's called...and when they start again it's hard to block out. I think it's time to make some lunch...not sure what I am going to make...but I will figure something out.

Ciao!

~~ HuRrY Up ANd WaiT: ThE ItALiAN WaY oF LiFe ~~

I had a great run in with the way of the Italian way of life and I forgot to share...(sorry if this is so long...I am a bad storyteller) :)

To stay in Italy I have to get what is call the Permesso di Soggiorno...it is just really like a residence permit to stay here. Thursday I asked the secretary at the school where I had to go get it...she told me that I needed to go to the police station in my area...

I proceeded to go home and ask Fabiana where that might be...she told me I should try the Caribineri Statzione first...which I new where that was, so I went there...from there they told me to go to the Stazione Poilizia di Stato...Once their I tried explaining to the officer what I needed, and with no luck they had to get another officer who spoke Inglese...

I waited for him to come...and then explained to him what I needed. He proceeded to tell me that I needed Guilio to come down there and all this other hulabaloo...I didn't think that was right so I proceeded to tell him that in not so many words...He eventually called someone who knew what I was talking about and then he explained to me the next step....I had to go to the Ufficio Poste Italiane with a copy of my visa and front page of my passport...I shoulda known right?!??!?!

I got home and was exhausted from walking around...so I figured I would do it Friday. So after school the next day, another girl and I went to the post office, but before we did that she knew that we had to get 4 passport size photos, so we looked around and found a sign with that exact description...We went up there and the guy opened the door...this man had a white button down shirt, unbuttoned far enough to show off his grotesque amount of chest hair, linen pants, standing on a fur rug with darkened glasses, a couch in front of a mirror with cologne, hairspray, combs, some aftershave...bow chicka bow bow....it was strange...It felt like we were on set...awkward...it turned out fine...we got our pics and left

From there we went to the post office where we were given a large packet to fill out...all in italian...so we started to fill it out there and then decided to go back to the school...we got some help...found out we had to pay 15Euro for a stamp and 30 Euro for the permesso...ok...From there went to look for a fotocopie place...most Tabacchis make fotocopies but not all...we were 0 for 2 when we found a fotocopie place...then it was trekking around for the "Marco da Bollo" Stamp...that you had to get at the Tabacchi too...i would thought the Post office but what do I know...who buys stamps at the post office...so for the stamp we were 0 for 4 and ended up back at the first one that didn't have a fotocopies...I had all my photocopies and all my stamps...pictures...etc.

So back to the post office...There we waited in line for a few minutes and then went to the counter. The permesso, along with the stamp fee, and what we thought was a 30 Euro fee...was actually two seperate fees...which added up to more money than I had...So the lady was yelling at me and telling me I had to pay but I couldn't use a credit card just a bank card or cash...so she was telling this Italian man who spoke a little English that I didn't understand when i actually did...so I got a little upset and said...HO CAPITO!!! She stopped saying that after I said that.

So again we left...with one portion paid for I would have to go back either early saturday morning or Monday...My friend Kim works on permessos for the american school she works for so she looked over mine Saturday afternoon...and fixed a few mistakes that the teachers made at the school....they didn't really know what they were doing...and i also needed another fotocopie that I got today...that was another trip because today is August 3rd and everyone goes on "holiday" starting the first of August, but we were only 1 for 3 on Tabacchi's today....WOOO HOOO!

After class I went back to the post office and had quite a pleasant Signora helping me out. Although I almost caught her typing my address in wrong with Giovannipoli as Giovanni Poli....That's a big no no and an automatic stoppage if the paperwork doesn't match the payment...and now I wait to see if the paperwork will go through...It is not uncommon for it to get held up. So cross your fingers...If all goes well Kim said I should have my Permesso about a month before I leave...GRANDE!

Tomorrow after class I get to go deal with the bank...my debit card doesn't work...I think it got demagnitized or something. Thankfully I have a fluent Italian speaker going with me so...wish me luck :)

Oh yeah...and today I fell up the stairs at the metro this afternoon...GREAT!!!

Buonanotte a tutti!

~~ La DoLCe ViTa: PaRt 2: ThE FiRsT WeEK bAcK! ~~

Ok....So I am back...and begins the La Dolce Vita: Part 2....

On they way here I had a little bit of trouble with planes...The plane out of Chicago was in the hanger and not coming to the gate...who knows why...and they wouldn't tell us what time it would get there...they apparently had no idea...in the meantime they called my name because me and another girl were going to be missing our connecting flight from philly to roma...so they put us on a non-stop on alitalia, sweet right??? So we had to go collect our baggage (which wasn't in baggage claim when we got there, so we were scared it was on the plane to philly still), take the tram to another gate, re-checkin, go through security, get to the gate, and get our seats, all in 30 minutes...no problem. Every thing was always the furthest away...Alitalia was the last baggage claim, the last gate on the tram, the last checkin desk in the terminal, furthest from the security checkpoint, and we were only the third last gate. Thankfully I was with another girl so we got to go on this adventure together.

We didn't quite make it in the 30 minutes, but all was good. We could relax at the gate for about 20 minutes before boarding...The non-stop was nice but it was a long flight. I had the whole row of three to mylself before some dude invited himself to join my party...I got some free wine with my meals, terrible coffee, and some weird breakfast...half of a hot ham and cheese on mushy white bread and a funky donuty thing. Strange...

We got off the plane some 11 hours or so later...went through customs...and sure enough we were the last baggage claim furthest from the exit...should have known...I was just glad to be on the ground and safe...I had to wait for Giulio to get to Fiumincino because there was a lot of traffic for some odd reason...It was good to be back...

No questions asked, we stopped for a caffe and a cornetto before coming back home. YUM! He dropped me off at the house and then went back to work...I unpacked and hung around for a little bit and then took a leisurly walk to the studio. When it was time to get Alessandro from school I was excited...we were going to go surprise him at school but Fabiana had already picked him up and brought him home...He was still super excited to see me, and me him. He says my name now and it's super cute. Keeme...I guess he started saying it as soon as I left. He would point to the pictures on my desk and ask for me.

After that I met up with some friends for a bit at the normal watering hole and then around 8 walked to the studio and went with Guilio to the Pizzeria for din din...it was delicious!!!!

That weekend I just relaxed a bit...I was busy all weekend and even took the train to the beach with Stefania and another girl, sonia. It was alot of fun!

Monday, I started school. Our class is fun and quite diverse...from ages to places we came from...holland, slovakia, usa....65-25....It's fun and small so it is nice. I don't know how it will be once September comes but well see.

Now that it is August, there aren't a lot of people here. They have all gone on "Holiday" including Giulio and Fabiana...they won't be back until next Monday and it is quite quiet around the house. I am also taking care of Gaia, the cat from downstairs, while her family is gone too. I have been just hanging out and relaxing a bit. It is nice to have some downtime.

Right now I am trying to look for another job to make a few extra bucks for traveling and things like that. I am hoping I can find one at a bar or cafe or something. Who knows...for now I am just hanging out.

Til next time...