eminitaly

part way there

2005-07-17T02:36:00.000-07:00

Everyone but Vanessa and I left the room at 4.30 this morning. I was up until 1 or 2 slept really poorly until 4 when everyone started leaving, woke up and considered call Duff or home because it would have been 9 in the evening, and then slept poorly again until 7 or 8.

We finished up packing and left the hostel at about 11. after 30 minutes of rigorous lugging we are here at bar astra. the train we want to catch leaves at 1 and it is 11:45 now, so we will be here chilling until then. I was thinking about how I was sitting there wishing that it was tomorrow, and I came upon this chain..I wish it were tomorrow so that I could be wishing it was tomorrow then so that I could with it was the weekend so that I could wish that I would be seeing Duff so that I could wish school would start.

I think that I have this dillema because I am still quite young. I live far too much in the future. not the future in the grand sceme, but next week month etc. I wish I didn't, when I get too caught up in it I don't enjoy the moment. I have only two more days in this amasing country, who nows when I will be coming back, perhaps soon, but perhaps not. I did the whole future thing before I came to Italy, dreading the ikminant new thing that was heading my way, now I'm craving the familiar, though I know it will not be 100% satisfying.

I guess in this way I have not grown up yet. I think I have grown up here, but I can not necessarily name the ways. i think it will take perhaps someone I know well at home pointing things out.

I think I have changed as a person, but perhaps being here has just brought out different aspects of myself rather than actually change anything. I don't know, I will be in Rome this evening and all day tomorrow, then i will be home in time for dinner on tuesday..strange thought.

2005-07-13T07:47:00.000-07:00

brought Gretchen and Vanessa to Pisa today. had both Gelato and hot chocolate...but it was worth it.

Things are winding down, I returned my phone, and we have just two more days of performances. we do the Gala and we have a "singout2 tomorrow. If I can memorize the words I will sing Vedrai carino tomorrow.

Other than that there is not enough time to go into detail

movie

2005-07-11T03:14:00.000-07:00

once and a while being in this country is like being in a movie. I think what accentuates this is not necessarily what I'm doing but the amount of background music that there is while walking through a city.
It can actually be quite terrible at times...the little gypsy kids that parents threw an accordian at as soon as they could walk, but there are also some people who are actually quite good. I rode around the old walls of the city twice this morning. there are great views of mountains from the wall.
we have had two good performances, and we are doing the same two shows again tonight and tomorrow. I think that pehaps we will have wednesday off. I would prefer that we were occupied here in the mornings still, they stopped our italian classes, which I am not thrilled about, but I do appreciate the time to start my morning. the unfortunate thing about hte time in the morning is that it gives you time to be lonely and miss home.
Last night the entire studio program went out to eat at a very good pizzaria. It was lopts of fun I took pictures of us all dolled up because of the performance...I literally look like a doll because my hair is pulled back and my eyelashes are huge and I have really red cheeks.
it has been lots of fun here, but i am ready to head home. I know that home will still be hard because I have fewer friends there than in chicago, but I think that being with my faimly will be really nice to finally be able to do.

visit a brief chat

2005-07-03T12:43:00.000-07:00

Nina just left to arrive in Geneva tomorrow morning. Ryan will leave tomorrow night. It has been awesome having them here. I thought that it might be very strange to have my two worlds sort of interesect here, but it has been only fun and wonderful. Ryan found some awsome things in Pisa, including a great wool cap made in England especially for this one hat shop in Pisa.

WE explored Pisa...had a great dinner, and today we explored Lucca and had great Pizza for dinner. It has been really wonderflul to have them here to talk to, you don't realize how much you miss the people that you feel comfortable talking to until you have them there to chat with again.

I think that Ryan will com to watch the rehersals for my opera scenes tomorrow, something that I'm excited about at least. they are all really funny and well staged so that even not speaking ITalian he should get them.

much

2005-06-28T05:30:00.000-07:00

so perhaps I have not posted in a long while. I'm very busy get over it. This weekend I visited Marco and Floriana on sunday. WE went to eat lunch in santo lago, up high in the mountains. Great views on the way up of Pisa and Calci, especially cool in the eveniong with all of the lights.

I have been going to quite a number of concerts, I think that there is one concert every night, and I am in the midst of memorizing lots of music. I really like all that I am singing. My Figaro Scene is really fun, I wish that you guys could see it, I get to laugh and prance around making fun of Marcellina.

Both Ryan and Nina are coming this weekend, I am really quite excited about this. It is crazy to think that I really only hvae three more weekends...heck three more weeks., I think that I will be ready to come home. though I will terribly miss the intensity of all the music that I am foing. I could have inverted the lengths of the two programs that I did and been much happier...although I have much better italian this way.

Lucca is a pretty little medeval town surrounded by walls. I live in the hostel which is a old converted convent I think. There are highceilings, but it is still quite warm. One thing that I will be very happy to have again is screens. the Italians seem not to believe in them, thusly I have a great deal of nasty nasty bug bites.

Now that it is really hot I am appreciuating the pausa in the middle of the day. I am prefectly hapy to merely sleep come midday. I'm drinking more water than I ever have.

if there is anything important that I need to do before I leave Italy someone please inform me!

rock concert

2005-06-19T07:24:00.000-07:00

They are setting up for a rock concert across the plaza from where I am...they have lots of people come here in the summer...Crosby stills and nash, James brown...all very interesting.

Just a note...I don't know if anyone was planning on visiting me...for those of you in Europe, but you probably ought to tell me when you would like to come so that I caN MAKE PLANS FOR THAT ETC.

I am singing the part of SUsanna in a duet from le nozze di figaro Mozart of course, and the part of Bianca from La Rondine by Puccini. things are very warm here. I have alot of music to learn. I tried to running this morning, but I was still too sleepy and it was already quite warm.

I have started hanging out quite a bunch with people from chicago...Roosevelt and Northwestern. It always strikes me as so strange that singers in Music programs don't have to take any real classes, I approve of real classes. I saw my voice teacher as I was riding around today, I chatted with himn for quite a bit.

Next weekend lots of people are going on the trip with the Program to Bologna, I havn't decided what I am doing yet. I might try to see Floriana and MArco since they asked me to visit.

2005-06-15T02:25:00.000-07:00

My Italian is so amazing compared to everyone elses, not that it is that great in the end, though I do think that I will be comfortable taking the proficiency exam in the fall. Currently I am signed up for the next Italian course, but I may drop it as I am A. signed up for 5 classes...loop hole because of the music class only counting spring quarter, and I may feel like I don't want it after taking advanced Italian for the next five weeks, perhaps I'll pick up a lit course or somthing depending. I am also taking the Biology of gender, Terror and REligion, and Drama. I went to the questatura today about the error on my permisso di soccorso, I'm not entirely certain if she understood me, but she said that there shouldn't be an issue. If anyone gives me a hard time I can tell them that I did ask about it.I had to miss Italian class this morning because of coming to Pisa for this paper work, but everyone knew, it is very strange technically you have to sign out at the office whenever you leave the town...they are more loose about somethings and more tight about others.Meeting very interesting people. I'm going to be studying voice with a professor from the University of Indiana, he is supposed to be really god. I'm excited to study with someone who is old and male...interested to see what he'll do with me

Lucca

2005-06-13T03:23:00.000-07:00

I have arrived!
I had forgotten how much clothing and makeup that singings insist that they need. I was feeling really over packed, but now I don't at all.

I am really happy to be here though. I hung out with many older musicians last night, a conductor, kid from Yale...it's interesting to be one of the only people who has taken Calculus here...I feel all well read and educated. Not to mention that my Italian is worlds better than everyone elses.

The hostel is very clean and nice. I was alittle worries when a bunch of girls walked in wearing pearls...but again you know...singers, what are you going to do. All of the girls in charge are really young it's crazy, Sara Wollen-Danner who was so helpful (and excited to meet me) can't be 30 yet, and her assistent is even younger. They are all blond pretty with very perfect teeth. It is exciting to talk really intensly about music again, that is something that I don't even really get to do in chicago. We did a (about 6 of us who had dinner together) if you could only listen to the music of 3 composers for the rest of your life who would they be...my three composers of that particular moment were. Shosticovich, Bach, and Dvorjk, the response was oh yeah she's a theorist.

any how, posts will be much more infrequent as interenet is even more expensive here than it was in Florence, which was more expensive than Pisa. Phone calls will also be less frequent as they are more expensive now too.

anyhow I will do my best to cram things into these posts.

trip with dad

2005-06-11T06:42:00.000-07:00

It seems like I havn't posted in quite a while, I have been busy traveling around with my father about the country. I am going to try very hard, but there is no way that I'm going to be able to mention everything that I intend to and there will probably be subsequent updates that say oh I forgot to mention this that and the other thing.

ok

attempting to start at the beginning:
May 31: Dad arrived in Pisa, he came in about an hour later than expected, but that really was not an issue. we went out to dinner with the preogram. That was interesting because when we left Dad had many of the same impressions of people in the program that I have had. Jeremy's can be kinda annoying can't he...I'd use the work asshole but ok...he was hitting on (?) Margot and trying to make her drink more alcohol...and CArlos is a bit sour isn't he...he also put the boys into place as he actually knew what he was talking about with wine as opposed to pretending to know what he was talking about.

June 1: we hiked Cinqueterra with Margot. It was really very hot, but lovely to hike. the first two streatched are lovely, but the last few are not nearly as nice, I would suggest to skip those and go instead on some side trails up mountains. Margot had 11 bottle of wine she wanted to get through customs, I don't know what she decided to do as she said technically you're only allowed 1 litre of alcohol. I hope she didn't try to smuggle them because as I now know (from my dad going back into the country) that they x-ray everything that comes into the states. Had dinner back with Floriana and MArco...best dinner I've had there yet. You could tell Marco was really excited, he litereally bounded to the door when we came in. They even bough more water and wine glasses for the occasion (they only had 3 matching water glasses, and wine glasses I think)

June 2-3: We were in Le Marche pernounced Markay not with the french pronunciation that the spelling implies. We stayed at this really cool agriturismo...it is essentially a bed and breakfast on a farm. We ate dinners ther as well as breakfast, quite quite good. the VErdiccio...which is a white wine...was amazing. He made it there from Grapes he had grown. It was as my dad put it, not oily as some white wines get, and not too oakie or fruity...essentially too easy to drink. We hiked the mountains behind the farm ona quite warm day. Mario the owner was a really chatter box. loved his life and his land and loved to expound upon the fact that we were in a paradise, and that eveything we ate they made right there. all in Italian of course, he was really fun to talk to.

June 4-5: The sibillian range, we decided that these mountains are the spine of Italy. REally some breath taking views, high high up above th tree line (I think). Came back exhousted every day from the hikes. The temperatures were quite cool up in the mountains. THe hotel we stayed at was not quite as nice as the first, but nothing to sneeze at either, the only unfortunate thing was that the woman who appeared to be in charge was a real sour puss, not particularily interested in anything I had to say, even when I was ordering food in the restaraunt.

June 6-8: we were in Rome, the first night that we were there a thunderstorm came through and the weather was quite pleasent. One might even say cool. the weather has been cool ever since. we saw many museams and walk all around the city. Many hours of walking, exhausting in a different way than hiking mountains, but exhausting non-the-less. Very cool to see all the art that you read about.

June 9: dad left, I went to one more museam and then headed to Perugia. IT was really quite cool in Perugia, I wandered around the city looking at things. the hostel there has really nice sheets incase anyone ever wants to go, it is unfortunatly alittle out of the city.

June 10: went to ASsissi with one of the girls that I met in the hostel. she was 32 from Australia, had been traveling since January...as they do, the australians do much longer travels. The church of saint Francis is quite cool, there are three levels, usually churchs don't have levels, but this one did, church, baptastry, tomb. I then made my way to Florence.

It is cool here too. I wandered over to the hill that Duff and Daniel had told me about. Wandered the city, looked in some museams.

Tomorrow I head back to Pisa to pick up my bag from Floriana and MArco, and then up to Lucca. I am, quite tired, it might be all the traveling and walking that I have done in the past two weeks, I hope it is just that I am tired and not that I am getting sick, though I do not expect that this is the case. Met another Girl named Emily at the hostel here, her birthday is august 1...I think we'll go out to dinner together tonight. I don't actually mind going out to dinner alone at all. I actually do it once and a while in chicago even, but it will be fun to have someone to talk to.

I didn't get into the Drama class...what? I put it as my first choice...I have third year standing to get that class...oh well.

hope exams went well and thaqt move out had no trajeties. I am perhaps screwed for singing my piece come monday, but I will give it my best shot and smile and such. there is not too too much more that I could have done to prepare.

cherries

2005-05-30T01:28:00.000-07:00

I went to another party at Roberto's with Floriana and Marco. It was alot of fun. It was so hot yesterday and Humid. There are great big cherry treeds in his back yard and all the cherries were ripe. We all ate far too many beautifully shiny red and purple cherries and picked baskets full. I think I will attempt to make a cherry pie this evening...even thoug I have no clue about what to do with cherries. There were some really beautuful moments.

When the sun set it glowed a bright red and the world was pink. at the same moment a thunder storm was passing in the east. SO one way was the sun set and the other there was a thunderstorm and of course a wonderful breeze. Later we built an enormous bon fire. There were lightning bugs every where making the fields seem electric or magical. the bon fire was made of alot of brush so it was a sparky fire. the sparks of the fire flew up to the sky where they tried to join the stars, however they fail and instead snowed down upon our heads. Everything was quite beautiful.

I am excited to see my father...who is coming tomorrow?! that is really crazy. Hopefully it will rain sometime and break the heat so that hiking around the countryside is bearable.

2005-05-25T04:59:00.000-07:00

It is quite funny, whenever I call to make reservations for my father and myself at Hotels, the first thing that they ask me is if it is a wedding....ummm no, my father and I are traveling...and it's not only if I say for two people, even before I said the number of people it was for they asked me if it was a wedding. They must get a premium price for weddings.

Anyhow, I think that we now have a place to sleep every night. I alo have a place to sleep every night for the three days that I will be on my own. The first night in Perugia, the the second two in Florence. I trid to gte a room in Siena, but it is virtually impoible for one person. For 2 3 or 4 people it would have been easy, but just for little old me? not so much. I will have to go another time to find out about the feasting, but at least I know that if Doran and Nina decide to come we will be able to find a room.

Today was the reading Exam, it was not too bad at all. Afterwards there were some students and their teacher watching a film of an english spoken test, they were prepareing for this test. It was interesting because they asked them all sorts of strange open ended questions, I think they were looking for things like modal verbs...hypothesis.

I think that part of the reason that I was homeick yesterday is that I allowed my self to dwell in the future too much. I do thi alot, anticipate feeling lonely and thus feel lonely at the time. It is quite silly, especially since I have a great few weeks infront of me. I guess though that it is beginning to be along time that I have not only been away from home, but away from lots of friends. It is a beautiful day, no clouds at all and quite warm...if I were running around it would be too warm but I'm just walking around today. I think I will go running later this afternoon, when the sun goes down alittle. I went running on monday...my legs hurt so good as my father would put it...I guess.

I am working on writing up my Calvino and studying for my grammer exam tomorrow...I need to make sure that I do not have different tenses mixed up in my head.

jumping in the mouse

2005-05-24T04:22:00.000-07:00

It has been quite a while since I have last posted.
This weekend Margot and I went to the beach. The water was so much warmer than the Atlantic ocean. the beach is completely dominated by bath houses. MEaning it is covered with rows of umbrellas. We of course just walked on down to the water, no one's making me pay to use the beach.
I think I kept MArgot on the beach longer than she's ever been, but I had lots of things for her to cover herslef up with so that she would not be burned.

One thing I'm fed up with here are the Senagalese men trying to sell you fake designer glasses and lighters etc. They are everywhere, and they won't just take no as an answer. They are even on the beach...leave me alone! I don't want your stuff. They either try to make conversation with you or try to make you feel bed...I just want to buy one coffee.... I know I'm coming off as really bitchy and terrible right now, but it is too much. That and since bathing is significantly less here they all smell.

Now that I am a terrible person:

I made an amazing cake on friday, it was chocolate with whipped cream and strawberries on the inside and ganasch on the outside. It turned out quite yummy. It was a fun weekend, after Margot and I went to the beach we went to go see the new Star Wars movie. Seeing it in Italian only enhanced the fact that the script was really poorly written. That said I did like it. I really like that George Lucas made the Darth VAdar character more complex. Not that you turn out likeing him, but I like the fact that there is a certain amount of desperation in his fall. Yoda's voice in the Italian dubbing was quite dissapointing. Just an old wise man voice....not right! not right at all! There was also alot of Lucas being like I need too tie everything up...so stop all diologue for the last part of the movie. My favorite scene must be the NOOOOOO!!!!! scene.

that said:

Congradulations to Christian on his Masters Thesis! Very excellent.

Sunday I was at the beach alittle again as Floriana and MArco worked on the boat. Afterwards we rode our bikes to the flower festival that was along the river this sunday. Lots and lots opf people. We than all went out to have a beer together, it was really quite fun. Oh the pizza Marco makes is quite quite different from what our conception of Pizza is. First off he lets it rise a second time, and then the things that he puts on. Sunday's pizza had Tuna, Capers, Anchovies, Artichoke, Olives, tomatoe sauce clearly and then after it had cooked for a bit smoked cheese on top. These things may not sound like they would be good on pizza, but they are. I will make Pizza Marco style one night for everyone...I will also add his favorite dish "Jumping in the Mouse" to my repetouir. he really means to say jumping in the mouth...but does not pronounce it correctly...little things like plume cakes...plum cake...smile this...smell this.

Today I am a bit home sick, but I think it is because everyone is becomming really excited to go home. The summer I will have though is much better than the summer I would have if I were going home at the end of this program, so I am happy.

another movie

2005-05-19T08:55:00.000-07:00

the movies that we watch here are too long. They are not bad, but they are 3 hours long every thursday. Tomorrow Star Wars comes out here, I'll actually go see it.

Floriana is letting me leave my big bag at the apartment fo when Dad an I are wandering around. We are beginning to have a plan. We have a big quiz tomorrow. We reviewed and reviewed grammer, and now finally at the end we learn about 3 new tenses a week. Oh well. I hope that I know enough to go into the right level this summer so that I will not have to repeat alot of grammer.

Speaking of Lucca, Zander actually replied to my e-mail, he was very pleased with the program last year and is going back again this year. I go home in exactly 2 months counting by numbers, and have been here 2 months counting by days. It is strange to think that I'm half way through, because in a certain sense it feels like I have less time left than the time that I have spent here. I guess that it is merely an anticipation for the new.

cello

2005-05-17T05:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday evening as I was walking through Piazza Garibaldi there was a man playing his cello while accompanied by his boom box. It made me so nostalgic for my cello. I immediatly wanted to play it. There were also little girls dancing infront of him. It was a neat moment.

I neglected to mention the man that Annie (another student) and I met on the train. He had a really think accent from somewhere...perhaps he was from the part of Austria that speaks Italian, and the train was loud, because of these factors it was difficult to understand him. However he was really into animals. He had a snake at home he said, and wanted a lion or a cheetah from Africa. When I pointed out that it may be illegal to bring an animal from Africa into Europe...he was like oh that's ok give it a shot and then it will sleep in my backpack, then when we get home...roawr...yes he sort of growled. He also invited us to a disco techa in a town that we passed through on the train. you know as it is convenient to go to towns you pass through on the train.

today the teacher really complemented me. she said that she was really pleased with the improvement of my Italian, that it is coming natuarally to me now, and that I have probably improved the most in the class. That was really exciting because I really struggle with written stuff and grammer and there are moments where I feel that I do not improve. Yay...it made me feel really good.

Floriana seemed really tired when she came in last night, but they then did go out to see some friends, so she must not have been that tired. Not that much happened today as it was a class day. we still have one more class, in which we are writing the play. People in general are pretty negetive about this project, and Lin (the tutor/teacher) is really excited about it. She has such high hopes for it. We'll see what turns out.

venezia

2005-05-16T08:52:00.000-07:00

Venice was so wonderful, at lòeast once you got off the main roads. On the main roads it was a bit like how I imagine Disney land must be. crowded with tourists..quite surreal. It really is a beautiful city though. Very much unlike anything that I have ever seen.

we stayed in a hotel alittle bit outside of the city proper.
It did not smell the way that people (duff) kept on stating that it would. there were at moments a sea smell, but then one must expect that in a city built on water.

I have to say that it was not really as I immagined it. I had a story tape of Vivalidi as a child, and I really imagined it to be different, my imagination as a child actyually put a darker edge on it. The part that was most different was the cemetary. my imagination had it not like a normal cemedtary, I understood the idea of its construction, but it was not the cherry bright brick walls that it actually is. There is just much more light than I imagined. It is of course the city of water and light.

Florence on saturday was also quite nice. We saw many works in the Uffizi, there were two works in partucular that reminded me of art that my grandmother would show me. one of a young girl with her hair cut short in a blue dress with long pearl earings, the other was of the reclined venizian courtizan. I bought postcards of them both. something that also struck me, was the birth of Venus. Of course you say, it is one of the most famous works there are, that is not why however. The face of Venus is very eeerily similar to my memory of Duff's sister, meridith's face. I kid not.

I can tell that collges are beginning to let out in the states. I am beginning to be more and more surrounded by English when I get onto trains. on the trains today it seemed that there were only english speakers. We met up with a group of students from Melborn university, they were creating a scavenger hunt for the group of them to do throughot the Tuscan countryside. It was quite amusing to listenj to, it reminded me of planning sessions with my collegus on the ropes course. "ok we need a game what do think is cool" sort of thing. The campers think that we know what we're doing...no no we're toatally doing it on the fly...I guess that menaas that we do actually know what we are doing.

This weekend I again remembered how much I love doing m,usic programs and have been reignighted with exctiment for the program at Lucca. They of course just sent a list of clothing that they want me to have...much of which is either packed up tightly in Chicago or I flat out do not own., actually I think that I actually only do not own one item of "import" nude character shoes. the rest of which I have here or I just neglected to bring here.
oh well. My friend from Tanglewood...Zander is doing th program!

movies

2005-05-13T04:44:00.000-07:00

Students are argueing whether you should go to the gym while recovering from a cold. IT has become too involved and it has become an argument....sigh

I am going to Florence again tomorrow, and then I am continueing to Venice with Margot nd her mother. Margot is taking her to Siena today. I am glad that my father is coming after classes and exams, it seems inconvenient to have someone you want to show around while you are in the last week of class before finals. Even if they are not the hardest classes in the worls. WE still have a number of projects that are about to need to be finished.

I am alittle tired today, I didn't sleep well last night, but I think it was because I hve been getting too much sleep and I tried a "coffee" yesterday. Of course this coffee had a huge spoonful of Nutella in it so it was really much more like nutella with coffee flavoring. But then the Italians seem to like their coffee very sweet. Very few people take it with out sugar.

I am trying to figure out a Hotel for my father, it is strnge but he is coming quite soon and I actually need to anticipate it, and try to help come up with a plan for the time that he is here. As of now we really only have a sketch of a plan. I am also realizing the meaning of not having sung this quarter...I am feeling vaguely unprepared for the beginning of the progrm at Lucca. I am not overly concerned, I just am aware of the difficulties.

I might go to the movies tonight..,.I am not sure. I will for sure however see Sin City...which comes here the 27 of may. I feel that something will be lost in dubbing as it always is, but I'm excited non-the-less. I expect I will see it again if it comes to Doc. I also think that I will see Episode 3 when it opens here. I feel like perhaps seeing it in Italian will add some depth or something.

Oh! quite exciting, I understand I think about 90% of what is said to me. Therefore movies are now quite easy to watch. and books are easier to read. I can not expresss my self equally as well, but it is exciting because I definatly understand almost everything. Hopefully by the time I leave I will express myself almost as well!

The Boat man

2005-05-11T07:35:00.000-07:00

we have an assignment that we have to interveiw a local, a shopo owner most likely and then make a little presentation on them. I was going to talk to someone from one of the fruit stands, but they always seem so haggard and busy, and really not all that nice to be quite honest. So today as I was riding to school I had an exccellent idea. There is an older man who sits behing his little truck type thing (truck is totally wrong because they are little little little) and builds model boats. and I figured that I would talk to him. I found out today in class that we're presenting next week, but that's ok because I had this idea. So today I went and sat down and chatted with him.

He was really cool. He was first a boxer, then a photographer and now he makes model boats. He works on each boat it seems to me for about 2 weeks. he buys kits and then he makes them, they look really complicated an cool, he has worked on them I think he said for 20 years, but I am not sure about that. The thing is that we had a long conversations but I couldn't necessarily write a report about him. I can say that he wanted to be an archeologist, but clearly that didn't happen. He took my photo, and gave me some picture of some boats that he has made in the past. We talked about the varying dialects in Italy. It was really fun and interesting. It is nice that I can now have conversations esssentially with whom I please now. My Italian isn't perfect, but it is functional enough, and I understand most everything that people say to me.

I have now read 7 of the 12 chapters in my Calvino book. I need to really prepare for art because we have to write alot of stuff on things that we have seen, but we need to know dates and facts. which of course sort of slip in and out of the brain. I picked up my photos from the shop. I will send half of them to Duff so that those of you in the dorm can see them and I will send the other half home with dad so that those of you in connecticut can see them. My letters that I sent last thursday arrived on tuesday I think...that is quite impresive I think.

My white bike has new breaks!! so that it actually stops when I wish it to. oh I do not know the person who commented about the game that Margot and I were working on... who are you?

I might try to go see life of Brian tonight in Italian...the only issue is that It is being shown at ten...which for little old me is kate...isn't that funny that being out at 10 seems really late to me here? Anyhow I think that is all I have to say for the moment.

2005-05-10T05:57:00.000-07:00

Today I happen to be in a chatty mood. I have already written two long e-mails. Saddly the a and s seem to need alittle more loving than the other keys on this keyboard....oh Italian computors....they are all at least 5 years old. Not really, just this computer lab.

For those of you who don't actually know, Hitchcock tied with Max P for winning scav hunt. I have to say that I am actually glad that we didn't win Scav. Honestly part of the fun is this insurmountable goal, and the intense competition. If there wasn't intense competition it would not be nearly as fun...as winning wouldn't mean as much. I will write more later but clss has started

yahoo!

2005-05-09T08:06:00.000-07:00

I'm actually glad thta we did not out right win scav hunt. In the end scav is made great by the intense competition, if it were simple we wouldn't do it.

Saturday we all went to Firenze...we saw David and other amazing sculptures. WE also went into the Duomo and to the ponte vecchio. AAll of which very enjoyable. Margot and I had to rush back inorder to see if our scav labors were paying off. I went in today and dropped off my pictures to be developed. I will send a set home with dad and depending how I'm feeling about Italian mail I will send a set to Duff for people in the dorm...I will mark all the pictures so that people know wht they re of.

Sunday was another party virtually identical to the one last week. I realized this weekend that there are only two more weeks of classes here...dunque I ought to get my book read so that I will be able to talk about it...because I will have actually read it. I am vaguely hungry...I think I will get a waffle anyhow there is clss in here

scav

2005-05-06T04:57:00.000-07:00

I don't think that I can post my pictures because the computers here won't let me down load the soft ware to do this....anyhow I will e-mail the pictures...MArgot and I are busy working on scav hunt....believe it or not.....I have been looking through the list and posting when I cn...Mrgot is making world of wrcrft item...I am helping....only sort of...because my creative juices apper to be lacking...I am much better at building things. WE love the pictures...and we are busy busy and happy!
ciao!

soon pictures

2005-05-05T00:22:00.000-07:00

I have pictures but I don't know how to post them...hopefully I'll figure that out soon.
I feel much better!

the weekend

2005-05-02T03:26:00.000-07:00

After my last post Margot and I went to see a movie...HEad in the Clouds...of course dubbed into Italian. Understood it mostly.
Yesterday I did not go with MArgot and CArlos to Cinqueterra because I wanted sometime to just sort of do alittle work and breath. Floriana and Marco were going to have lunch with a bunch of people outside...so they invited me to come. Let me just say that lunch means all evening. We were definatly there until 10 and had both lunch and dinner there. It was alot of fun. Someone had a house out in the countryside.
There were quite afew people there...including some Senagalize. The food was really good too...much more party than picnic.
the entire afternoon was spent eating slowly...and smoking splits. they were surprised that I smoked nothing at all but were't difficult about it in any way. They wanted me to sing so I sang a song or twwo for them.
Apparently may first is a festival here. I think it is a labor type day....I think it is a communist holiday...there was a hunge concert in Rome that was on the television. there was alot of talk about "li bamabini della sinestra" children of the left. Lots of talk about how ITaly was great.
There were some interesting groups and there was this guy who apparently is important...was a doctor now plays music...but he was terrible. Not in tune at all. There was an eight year old girl there with us...I talked to her about what groups were good and which were not.
Anyhow...I got only alittle work done in the morning...but it is not an issue as nothing is due until tomorrow anyhow. I hope that Nina has found her wallet! We had an exam this morning... Ithink this one was the easiest so far.
I am excited to hear lots of stories about scav hunt. I have to say I'm not sad to be missing the lottery....people get so stressed out about it.
That's all I can think of right now

I'm alive

2005-04-30T10:25:00.000-07:00

I realize (as my mother pointed out) that I have not posted anything in a bit.
the weather is amazingly beautiful here. mid 70s and sunny, my favorite. I have been wearing my strraw hat and have been happy.
we went to some amazing etruscan ruins today. nice walk in the out of doors and very interesting to look at the ruins.
duff called me while I was on the train home...it was nice to chat with him for a moment.
Ima about to be kicked off but I'm still here!

the 13 a battle to the death

2005-04-27T10:11:00.000-07:00

today has been a wonderful day.
IT was wonderful and sunny and I could wear a t-shirt. class was fine this morning, and then Margot and I went to the flower festival that was in Lucca. the festival was actually less wonderful than we had hoped. It wasw more potted plants and such, but we were able to find very pretty cut flowers to bring to our host families after some searching.
We were very curious about flagolino, this is a wild strawberry liquor that is generally made only in the mountains, so we bought a small bottle, and then got a tirramisu at a cafe and two glasses...yes the waiter looked a us alittle strangely, but none-the-less. It was dissapointing in exactly the manner that I expected it to be. Namely it had alcohol in it. I mean I see something red with wild strawberries floating in it and I expect something like the juice that we get in our strawberries when we sugar them. Of course I expected there to be alcohol in the Fragolino, I'm not entirely silly, yet somehow it was a dissapointment. not bad though by any streatch of the imagination.
It was really nice just to wander around Lucca. VEry calm warmer day. really my favorite kind of day where it is warm enough to not need a jacket and long sleves but not hot by any streatch of the imagination.
in about a half an hour the group is meeting to go to dinner together. We are going to a restaurant that Carlos Margot and I went to when we came back from Perugia. VEry good appitzers, I havn't tried their desserts yet and I am very excited about trying them. It is a scicilian restaraun, they are better at desserts than other parts of Italy because there is alot of French influence in their desserts. More excitingly I am hungry...food is so much better when you are hungry.
Perhaps you can tell that I am killing time...I am in no particular rush for once and I find myself rambling.
I read Sebastian's recent blog entry about his friend Kyle. I remember him talking about him a the talent show last year. I can not even begin to comprehend dealing with the loss of a best friend. I just think good things towards him at times like this. I think his time in China is actually beginning to come to a close.

An interesting thing here is the beggers. Almost all of the beggers here have little puppies. they are sooo cute...I guess it works thus they have them but it is accordian, puppy or lieing postrate with a sign. then there are the Africans. It is intersting the Europeans have such comtempt for racism in america as virtually all of the africans that I have seen are selling purses or sunglasses on the corners. And there is alot of mistrust/hatred of Gypsies.

I am thinking about writing alittle story about my almost daily battle/race with the 13. It is like a looming orange storm on the horizen that is ever coming closer. Our brave hero has only the choice to beat it for the other only choice is death!!!!!!! THen in a race to the end where there looms the fateful corner they speed....
that is to say that the stupid bus seems to always be going on the route at the same time that I am riding on my bike....stupid bus getting in the way of a pleasent bike ride.

the Plants on the porch are looking bigger and healtier every day. I actually have quite a bit of homework that I need to do, but we have had activities to do everyday, so I havn't done it yet...not to worry...I can demolish busy work with a single swipe of my hand!....and I do this all without filling my betùlly button with matchheads and then lighting them on fire...which is a decidely bad idea....I won't name the inspired one who came up with that idea but his name starts with Du and ends with ff. As far as I know he did not actually carry out this idea....I hope

herbie

2005-04-26T08:14:00.000-07:00

so exciteingly my flight was canceled from Milan to Pisa last night. oh man were the oldr people on the lfight pissed. I just had a mom moment and asked what alitalia planned to do to compensate for our inconvenience. thus today I will go try to get money back at the travel agency. so I took a bus home with the rest of the people on the flight...got home at 3 in the morning...unfortunate, but not too terribble as I could sleep until alittle before 9.

IT turns out that MArgot only went somewhere on one day this weekend. people went places without her and then asked her why she didn't come or call..even though she did. I think people are not terrible nice...anyhow she turned out to have a really nice weekend anyhow.

this should be actually a fun week. the program is having dinner together tomorrow. And we are going to a museam and ROselle..

oh interesting thing. the GErmans have something called curry wurst. which is wurst cut up with ketchup over it and curry powder sprinkled on top. it is actually really good. I might start eating my hot dogs that way. IT is really nice and clear and sunny today! horray!

Germany

2005-04-25T01:02:00.000-07:00

I am in Germany! I am leaving later today, but since Doran needs to be in lab I am taking advantage of his internet connection to update.

The flight here was very easy and in little planes. FLying over the Alps was really quite spetacular white and craggy in the distance and then green in the valleys. We have had a good time hanging out together. It has been really quite nice to talk to Doran. We have had lots of intersting conversations. Doran it turns out has a strange obsession with Gummies. I do not mind Gummies but I have to admit that I do not have the same love that he has.

Saturday we went to Ludvigsburg. This is still in Stuttgart, but if we were in Italy it would not be, the city is much bigger than anything that I have seen yet in Italy. We stumbled upon a huge Market in the square, we bought some olives and some cookies to munch on, we then saw a bike demonstration...they were clearly trying to sell bikes they had this guy jumping over peopleand onto a car and such. what made it impressive was he did it all with out ramps all totally in himself these jumps. We then continues to a castle. Ther were two wedding parties there. We decided to wander the gardens instead of the inside. The gardens were wonderfully expansive. The formal Gardens were inspired by Versallias, it was quite easy to see the French influence in those gardens, very ornate bushes that were low. In back there was a green house and a cafe (of course) and a bird sancuary. that was really cool full of manderine ducks and flamingos and other unlikely birds. what was the most surprising and intersing was that there was a giant fairytale park back there. We did not expect it at all. It was really fun to walk around. there were lots of voice activated things like yo ushouted at Rapunzel to have her let down her hair, and there were LOTs of other fairy tales.

There was even a laberinth. of course we walked through it. IT wasn't that long or difficult, but it ws still fun. I feel like my life has been taken over with the concept of Labyrinths. Between reading all of the Borjes that I have been reading, and Nina talking about the Laberynths that she has been doing. One things that we have seen in now two places was the playgrounds here in Germany. I guess they really understand kids...because they have the best thing ever on plagrounds...wather pumps that go into different canals and such. This ione we saw had a spiral water irrigation thiing that allowed yo uto take wather up from the ground into another pool. Playing with streams and water is totally any kid's favorite thing. We thought that that was really neat.

Oh afterwards we tried to find a retaurant...it had sprinkled alittle bit in the evning but it had stopped. It is really hard to find a restaurant here that is not Italian. CLearly we were not going to go to an ITalian restaraunt as that would be folly for me. We figured that the Beer Garden would be a good German thing for us to do, except it was closed...there had been hardly any rain...we were disapointed in the Germans. Luckily we ended up finding a really nice tasty restaraunt. WE had very good beer and different Wursts with saurkraut. They do serve saurkraut warm...I though maybe that was a crazyness of Ryan but no...it is really done that way.

Sunday we tried to find this Russian Chapel that Lonely planet said was on the top of a hill. We walked the entire bus route (because it was short) that they said would take us there, but saw nothiong of the kind. We did however have a reallynice walk through the countryside. There were really expansive vineyards...I don't think the Germans are particularily known for their wine, but it looks as if they make it.
We then ate Dorners...these are like Gyros but slightly different. These shops are everywhere...even though yo umight think them to be a Turkish thing...it appears that they are the salty quick meal of choice here in GErmany.

I am bringing MArco back what I think is what he asked for. He asked for a GReat big white radish...I think that this is horseradish...I bought him one...apparently yo ucan not get this in ITaly. I hope it is what he wanted...if not it isn't a big deal.

anyhow it has been a lovely little holiday, and I will head back to Italy.

the New Pope

2005-04-20T05:36:00.000-07:00

so there is un nuovo papa. It seems that the general reaction from the ITalians is actually negitive. From those I have poken with, they all are not happy with the fact that he is a northern European. I think the impression is in general that he is too conervative. MY reaction is that he is 78. I understand the benifites of an older pope, but there are definatly disadvantages as well. MArco was like "look he just died" as his reaction. Floriana just hoped that the news could start to be about something else. I was surprised that it only took 3 days to come to a decision.

Today is a long day of classes and cold in a strange way. It isn't cold persay, but it is not warm and it is somehow bothersome. It seems that it is definatly warmer in both Chicago and Connecticut right now.

A quick note about something else. MArco about once a week maybe will make me eggs for breakfast. This beleive it or not is a dilemma as I have no idea what prompts him to do so and can not predict when he will make them. There are two potential outcomes to this. I have taken a shower and he makes them while I'm in the shower, thu by the time I e them thy are no longer warm and the yolks are hard. If I do notice he'll serve them to me but then poor the extra butter from the pan on to the eggs...blech. anyhow

speaking of eggs. we were in the grocery tore yesterday, doing really a silly assignment...writing dowprices of food item in the grocery stores anyhow the eggs are not refrigerated in the store. they are just on the shelf. I don't know though if that should be concerning...I mean the egg is closed and people have always eaten eggs and only refrigerated them for a very short time, it was just interesting to note.

horray!

2005-04-19T08:07:00.000-07:00

horray! I am definatly going to Germany this weekend! I am really excited, I found a plane fare that was at least €60 cheaper than the train, and that is with out a seat garenteed on the train....overnight. so totally the airplane.

I think that it will be very good for me to see Doran, he goes at a completely different pace than everyone here, totally ok to just wander and explore. However there is one daunting thing: it is one thing to explore here where at least I speak some Italian. I really speak no German, so I will have to depend on people speaking English and interpreting signs. I'm sure that I will be fine actually, it just struck me. However much I feel that I don't really speak Italian, I can certainly communicate eventually what I need to, and especially after a month (I will have been here a month tomorrow! crazy) I can get around without really anytrouble.

I think the most trouble now is on the phone. it is just so much harder to understand words when they are spoken over the phone. I do think that I am still improving though. It has been a verygood day or two for me. I definatly have a job to go back to this summer, my dad is coming for part of the break that I have and we will explore, and I am going to Germany this weekend. Not to mention that I have just been reminded of how lucky I am to be so loved by so many people. I have family and friends who are both intensily interested in what I do and how I feel.

now some observations. There has been the feeling...or I have had the feeling that we have had more and more homework...and it has a draining feeling. I have figured out why. Clearly I have much more work to do in Chicago...so what should the issue be? It is that this work is not particularily intellectually challenging. It is really just busy work that you have to get through. congegating verbs...inserting vocabulary, going to the supermarket and writing down the price of food...read a passage then summerize it. This is why I think that it feels like alot...simply because none of it is particularily engagin.

I have also made an observation about the group that I am with. I have to say that the dynamic of the group makes me generally sad...not because of personal hurtfulness, just as a human being. The students really go out of their way to get at each other's bad sides. What I mean is that they have constructed negitive oppinions of certain people's personalities and therefore say and do things to bring out that aspect of the person's personality that they find annoying to justify their dislike. this sort of intentional meaness for lack of a better word is just distressing. It is mean for absolutely no reason at all, I wish that people would not do that to one another. I definatly get the feeling though that most people do not like the group as a whole. It is an interesting mix of personalities to say the least.

I have an art quiz tomorrow...it should be a fun little quiz. I like her classes they are interesting, new facts and such...I think that language classes are not particularily interesting for 3 hours straight...I am finding myself getting antsy near the middle or 2/3 of the way through.

Other than that I do not think that I have anything spectacular to say..I had a hard time falling asleep last night...I was thinking about happythings so it was not a terrible thing. I was thinking about my brother coming to chicago in october...yes I know that is totally far away and that there are many exciting things between now and then...but I am still excited about the idea. I want to be able to show him lots and lots of fun things.
Horray!

quickie again

2005-04-18T08:28:00.000-07:00

only alittle time.
this weekend I saw both Siena and Perugia. I think that Perugia was actually alittle far for a day trip, but it was nice...except for the rain. It rained all weekend. the weeks are beautiful, and the weekends...rain!
We did get chocolate in Perugia...as it is the chocolate capital of Italy...it came in big blocks...we tried cutting it with my sad little key chain knife...as we were doing so both Margot and I commented that we were going to slice her hand open...then of course we did...not really. only a superficial wound...la...lacier..something I forget the word. My poor little knife has now shed blood I also forgot the word for pilgeramage. and now I remember it as I just wrote it.
If Doran is able to respond to me then it looks like I wioll be able to go to Germany this weekend.
bought a great straw hat in Florence!
oh man
just what I wanted
that's really all that I have time for now

summer

2005-04-15T04:11:00.000-07:00

I am waiting for it to be summer. It is quite lovely, but a part of me is ready for summer. The amount of work significantly increased this week. It still is nothing compared to chicago, but there is the ever looming fact that I need to read an entire Italo Calvino work, and I don't want to leave that for just the end. Other than that, I met an italian sudent the other day who wants to improve her English and work woth someone who is working on their Italian. So I moight meet up with her one night next week. Hopefully that will work out.

This weekend we are going to Siena as a group. I hope that it is fun and that the negetive parts of traveling with a group are not too apparent. I am thinking that if it is at all pheasable (for a number of reasons) I would like to try to visit Doran in Germany next weekend because I have three days. If I can find a price, and it is ok for Doran that is. Basically it is merely a thought right now, but I think that it would be good for me to see someone else that I know.

celebratory loss

2005-04-14T03:56:00.000-07:00

For weeks, months, even years my comrades and I fought in a country I don't deign to recall, perhaps at first forcibly though now inadvertantly. It seems now in old age that the time was unimportant, trivial in determining a life. Yet images, those though I may struggle to forget, remain and determine a past perhaps I wish was not. There are very few stories I tell of this time, but this is one of them.

In that gray green land full of the mistakes of my youth we waited anticipitory for the end of time. Of course the end of our time in the war, we had plans of course. The most immediate of which lay under the seat of the Jeep that we drove across the country. I was in command of these men in the Jeep, but more importantly we survived together. Safely tucked under the front passenger seat was a celebratory gem. Perhaps we found it in the tattered remains of the French countryside, perhaps it had always resided there, I can no longer be certain.

Finally the anticipated moment came and that which we had greedily treasured and protected could now be unveiled. Whether the sun glinted more off its surface or off our eyes could not be determined, even without the fog of memory. Yet at that fateful moment the first law of nature took its course, and there to our amazement our treasure made its way to the pavement. And the bubbles of our celebration slowly ran away between the cracks of stone and into the earth, leaving only shards of green and spots of light to appease our joy and sorrow.

for my grand father because it is really his story

yay!

2005-04-12T05:35:00.001-07:00

no reason for the yay really.

I went and had a waffle today...so good there is a little waffle house type thing that makes delicious food that is not quite a waffle. the dough is denser and sweeter than a waffle, very delicious. I think they might be made with crack though because I would really like to eat more of them.

the thing that I forgot yesterday was about Italians and PDA. Italians are much more affectionate in public than Americans. I don't mean just kissing to say hello. I mean couples are far more affectionate in ways that I think Americans deem only for private.

and I gues my point about the trucks that got alitle rushed at the end, was alittle about economics, but I guess more importantly that they are in groups in trucks. or maybe it just is that guys in trcuks are generally sketchier than guys who drive cars (sorry daniel).

I have noticed that it is easier to express myself in Italian. I was talking with Floriana and Marco about all sorts of things last night, and everything just is coming faster and easier. I am glad. though I still am definatly having trouble understnading questions when they are asked me.

2005-04-12T05:35:00.000-07:00

weekend

2005-04-11T08:18:00.000-07:00

I had a very interesting weekend.

MArgot and I went to La spezia to walk on Saturday. there was un piccolo cataqstroph however. The problem was the trains. The trains in Italy are terrible in general, but this was worse than usual. Bought the tickets and look at the schedual, the next train for La Spezia leaves from Binario 2. we go, the train is on time, everything is great. However 20 minutes later we're in Livorno...livorno? that is completly in the wrong direction...but maybe just maybe it is a strange regional train...I keep my cool...then it starts moving again, however the movement is distinctly wrong. It is slower and the engine is making the wrong sounds...My thoughs...oh no! the train is being taken off the track...into a depository, sure enough after the train goes forward and then backs up we're in a depository. NOt a huge problem we'll just walk to the station and return to Pisa. Ufortunatly there is a CHinese woman with us who speaks only alittle Italian, no english...well I think we didn't try English really. Anyhow she doesn't understand that she's in the wrong city. anyhow we get back to Pisa and make it to La Spezia on the Next train...no problem really.

La Spezia is a pretty cool town. Built on a mountain. we found a great shop for Meringues of all things. we walked and had a good time. Margot was and still is alittle upset about the house lottery. I know some of you know this b ut my host family definatly calls Margot...MArgot le catestroph. It is my host father's opinion that she needs to smoke a joint everyso often to make her calmer.

Sunday it was windy and cold. I went to several curches asking about choirs. It turns out that the rehersals are on Monday nights at 9. it may not be possible for me to go that late. After all the riding of my bike in the rain I decided to bake a pie. Margot came over because her family's grandmother was coming over. the pie turned out really well, but I think that the chemistry of the butter is different here. the crust was definatly more pastry and buttery like than when I make it at home, the tell tail sign was when I rolled out the crust it was too easy to roll. anyhow my host father was juyst like...a tort with out eggs? it is a miricle!

We had a discussion about how to make meringues. he was making some...let the eggs stand and then decided to beat them again..of course the whites just fell and became goop, so he tried to make it into a cake. he added two MORE eggs and flour...I tried some this morning, it was really eggy tasting not terrible, but not amazing either.

I had somthing that I ment to say other than all of this but I can not remember it.

perhaps it is my theory on Italian men who honk their horns at women. It has been my experiance that only men in trucks honk their horns. I think that it has to do with economics etc...more money...car...probably married...manual labor (3 men in truck) honk.

Things are getting abriviated because I only have so long on line here.

I think this is plenty for today.

il torre

2005-04-08T04:37:00.000-07:00

so everyone remember the tower that I rode my bike to last week? well Margot and I went there again and found a way up. IT was a really lovely hike, especailly so because there were lots of signs prohibitting us from going up to the tower. but as I said to Margot, that is what is needed to make an adventure complete, the feeling that you actually should not be doing something. IT was fantasatic. we first climbed up to the tower. great views of Pisa and the surrounding cities and the mountains. I took pictures and hopefully they will turn out. it was alittle hazy yesterday so we'll see.

we then climbed up another mountain right next to it. I got to hear all about Margot's life. It was fun....it confirmed some susspicions that I had about here, and explained other things about her personality, none of it really surprised me though. It was a really nice long hike.

Carlos is another student in the program because mia asked.

Margot was flipping out about the lottery for housing because meagan got a low number. I did my best to calm her. I think the bike ride did her alot of good. though she did call me twice during dinner...and my poor gelato wasw just sitting there melting away...gelato is a very important and serious thing, not to me melted, you know...

anyhow I have been watching the plants grow on the balcony, and making excursions into the world...nothing particularily amuzing to report today...except the group going to venice was really bikkering alot today. I am very pleased that I am not going with them, individually they are all ok, but together their personalities really grate against each other. IT is quite gray today...looks like rain.

cioccolate

2005-04-06T05:37:00.000-07:00

today I had cioccolate con panna at la casa della panna.

the italians drink their chocolate the way they drink their coffee...dark think and bitter. topped with sweet cream it was amazing. getting hot chocolate at an american coffee shop will forever be inadiquate and terrible. Not that it was ever particularily amazing, they tend to make milky dirnks that are slightly brown. there was I think no milk in the drink that I had here.

Tonight I am going to a movie. I am not sure which one. I have the rest of the day off and I think that I will enjoy the sun. I expected the day to be slightly worse than it is. It is wonderfully sunny and a good temperature.

the weather is not looking like it will be nice this weekend, so I may not go hiking afterall. we'll see.
carlos and Margot are having a little "spat" again. who is more right...blah blah blah.

we had a test this morning, or rather it was a quiz. it was long though, and all the things that are difficult for me. It was fine though.

I will off and enjoy the day

colors

2005-04-05T05:44:00.000-07:00

in response to Sarah's comment:

I think that those colors will become more prevelent in the summer. Today the sky is a lighter weaker blue than I imagnie htat you imagine (heehee)

In case you all were wondering all of the key boards here are fairly terrible, usually one or two keys do not work, so that is why my writting is ridden with typos.

the yellow and green, yes and no. It is still early spring, but much of the world is green. the houses are painted subtle oranges and yellows. the roofs are generally rusty red.
the river here is not that clean, it is green I would say, a darker green but not a sickly one, alittle like the chicago river in terms of not being that clean, the connecticut river is much cleaner than the arno.

the weather is chilly (read upper 40s to lower 50s) in the morning, it generally warms up to the upper 60's though. In the sun it can be quite warm some days, but it is still jacket weather, at least lighter spring jackets. It is by no accounts hot yet.

speaking of colors; I did my wash yesterday and the water must be much hotter than at home or at school because all of my underware is a sort of dirty pik color now, not that that's a problem, luckily the only white things in the wash were socks and underware.

I think maybe this weekend I will try to go hiking in the countryside, though I am still rather unclear on that. In general it depends on the weather. I watched an interesting documentary on the coast and islands of Italy. there were very pretty wvistas.

anyhow that is the most I can write about without really having anything to say :-)

the weekend

2005-04-04T08:32:00.000-07:00

first a quick comment for ryan before I forget.
some variation of retarded park is very popular here. everyone parks where ever no matter what side of the street they are on...so it is not unusual to see two cars front to front, or back to back. they are not usually double parked though. i also saw a toy car that I almost had to buy for you, until I realized that it would drive everyone crazy...it drove around playing a song and honking, it's doors would also close and open.

note: retarded parked is when someone is double parked in the wrong direction.

saturday I went to bologna. while waiting for Margot and the train Carlos and I had a strange conversation with an older man. he kept on asking me vero or sbagliato...true or false...right or wrong...to which I was like che? che e vero o sbaigliato? he wanted to know whether the world was true or false. I think that the whole thing made Carlos alittle uncomfortable.

Bologna was very pretty...I took pictures of different places and helped MArgot take pictures with her stuffed armadillo for the house. SAn Petronio was really quite beautiful...very big and bright lots of light. the stone was pink...altogether very lovely. we also had a wonderful lunch. I had cabonara...which was alittle different from how I make it but not totally.

Carlos spent the entire time spounting his pleasure that we went to Bologna and not Milan like those other silly uninformed peple. I think that he just needs to be right, or best at traveling etc. for instance whatever food we triedwas compared to how he makes things....he would say things were bvetter than his but he would say it with surprise...anyhow just a brief analysis of CArlos.

oh while we were there I watched a french girl smoke really really slim cigarettes while she talked...perhaps a story...they were really thin almost stylish cigarettes...you know were a cigarette to be particularily stylish.

then I came baclk alone while they looked for a hostel. It turned out that they came back really late because MArgot got pinkeye again (the other eye afew days later...it happens) anyhow Carlos was alittle annoyed at that.

Sunday I went to Bologna with Floriana and MArco. I guess that the market is part of what they do for money. I read and explored the city and wrote. I really like Lucca. I think that it is beautiful and peaceful. I am very pleased that I will spend the summer there.

today I did not have class until three. Marco is growing Pot out on the Balcony. he was like have you seen my garden...these pots here?....yes....what is growing?....ummm grasss....marijuana....how big will it get....(points to the ceiling) two meters...maybe the cops will come and arrest me. he says that the bird eats the seeds as well. that strkes me as alittle strange....but I guess not entirely.

today i really sunny again. I am getting some freckles on my nose.
the pope died...supposedly the country has 3 days of mourning, but everything appears to be continuing as normal...not that it shouldent't of course.

there are a ton of documentaries about the pope on television though.

things are fairly regular here now...I go places...do the little bit of homework that I have.
peaking Italian is definatly getting easier...not tons...I still have alot of trouble...but I have noticed that I need to look iup ,much fewer words when I am writing, that is areally good feeling.

bike ride

2005-04-01T03:00:00.000-08:00

yesterday I went on a lovely long bike ride in the afternoon. I rode all the way to Calci and Capronna. there was a really neat tower on top of a cliff that I wanted to go into, but I was worried about getting back intime while it was still light so I didn't press the issue. Marco made a big deal about me going "so far" in such a short period of time. But it was on Bike and it really was not all that far.

Tomorrow I am definatly going to go to Bologna. I am going to go buy my ticket after this.

When I returned from the bike ride floriana told me that we were going to have a guest for dinner. It was a young man who they had met in GReecre last summer while sailing. HE is in the Italian Navy, very handsome nice person. We had a really nice dinner too. little fishies on toast, spicy pasta, and home made GElatto.

Today I am going to different Churches to talk to them about being in their choir. Rosanna wrote me a letter to help me out with them. She will also talk with the University chorus, but they accept people in November so it may not be possible. IT is nice out, I still am very happy for a jacket in the morning and the evening, but lovely none-the-less.

I do not have much else to say as I am hungry and have had class in this room for 3 hours.

feeling better!

2005-03-31T02:18:00.000-08:00

so I was not very happy, but perhaps it was because I expected to not be happy. Such a big change in location and culture is very difficult. But I think I am doing better.

I am much happier. Yesterday I got a wonderfully long e-mail from Nina and I talked to both Lorah and Sarah on-line.
Talking to Sarah did me alot of good, because she reminded me of something very important. She reminded me that TRaveling is sonamous with adventure, and in doing so she reminded me of who I am when I am with her. I am not necessarily reserved and quiet and sad. NO! I am out going, secure, and adventurous. and so I will endeavor to be so here.

I normally wake up around 7 and then toss and turn until 8 when my alram goes off. I then eat breakfast with Floriana and Marco. I bike to school which is almost exactly a twenty minute trip. I have Italian classes in the morning most mornings, one day a week I have art in the morning, or a tour of a different city. Then I have a break in which I frantically check e-mail and try to update everyone. I usually only have 30 minutes for that so when things are brief that is why. then I usually have a second class. afterwards I go out to eat in a small shop here or there depending on my whims. Today it is very nice, so I plan to sit and read somewhere as I have explored the city alot on foot and think that I'm ok not exploring today. Then I go home, I read for alittle bit, or do homework. we then eat dinner and talk about the day. after that I do alittle more homework or reading and go to bed.

This saturday I think that I will try to travel to Bologna. I do not have a huge amount of commitments but enough I think. The program has trips planned for some saturdays during the quarter to Florence and sienna and calci and Lucca. I think that Floriana and Marco will take me to Lucca on Sunday.

Talking to people from home via e-mail or aim when I am able to be on at a resonable hour really makes me happy. NOw the only thing to resolved is my Music theory GRade...will he ever post it?

some time!

2005-03-29T04:37:00.000-08:00

I am really glad that classes are starting now. I have been in a bit of a limbo because I have not had that much to do.

Honestly it is quite difficult to be over here. I would prefer being with friends that I really know well. I also think it is hard because I live quite far away from the center of town.
I live with Floriana and Marco. Floriana is a DOctor of Archeology and MArco I think goes to school and works in a food shop of sorts. I am not entirely clear on this. they are in their mid-fourties. It seems that MArco is a little bitter about the fact that he can not see a retierment of anysort in his future. he asked a number of questions about Pensions in America.

They live in a small one bedroom apartment. this is alittle awkward because they gave me the bedroom and sleep in the other living room/dining room. At first I felt really bad about this, they decided to do that themselves, and itàs also a little extra income for them. Their apartment is about a 20 min bike ride from where I go to school. they also have a tiny tiny little Fiat. What is funny is when they picked me up just seeing MArco, he looks alittle like the sort of person that you are instinctually sketched out by. He was wearing sweat pants that were tie died/ stained and a hat a fleece sweatshirt and in general looked disheveled.

however much for his "complaining" they have a quite nice life I think. Yes their aparment is small, but there are only two of them. also they have a very nice sail boat. they say that it is not nice, but it is. It is a sail boat I wish I could have. About 30 ft long I think with a cabin to live in. they live about4 months in the summer on the boat. Not a bad lot if you ask me.

Yesterday I went to the beach while they worked on their boat. I was in an isolated place, and then I walked down. It seemed that the entirety of Pisa if not more towns was there at the beach. MAny people were fishing, all they youbng men playing soccer.

I have to say that the fashion of the youth here is not particularily attractive. It is very 80's for the guys, tight jeans jean jackets even the hair cuts are mullety. The girls wear tight jeans, short skirts and boots, cool stckings, or really baggy jeans with a sport type jacket. Itall makes me look very frumpy, and I'm distinctly not.

I am alot happier now than I was. I was feeling really lonely. IT is strange being so far away, I'm not sure yet if I like it or not.

quikie

2005-03-29T01:39:00.000-08:00

I have to get back to class in 5 minutes. but a quick observation for nina especially but really everyone.
my Italian teacher looks sooo much like the character in the Incredibles that is the clothing designer.
and she sort of has a personality to match.
I have lots to say but I have to go to class.

pretending

2005-03-17T21:34:00.000-08:00

perhaps I'm pretending that I'm not actually going.
not because I don't want to go, I certainly do, but it's intimidating to be so far away from people who mean quite alot to me. Of course I know that missing people in anticipation is always worse than actually missing them. As Joe said to me anticipation is always keener than reality.
I just have a bit more of a music final to do. I've been procrastinating horribly.

yesterday nina and I went to the point. We had an adventure! Nina was joking how she makes all of her life an adventure. I understand. My father brother and I have quested and adventured as long as I can remember. My brother will actually come home and talk about the adventures (called as such) that he had.

Anyhow, we walked and then skipped rocks out on a flat stone at the very tip. It was beautiful. the sun was setting, the sky was light pink and the water was light blue. We looked at everything and described how we would photograph it. The pussy willows were blooming...blooming? or fuzzying? AS we returned the sky was the spectrum of blues that you only see at that time of day. The kind of blues you can never replicate.

It was an all together quite satisfactory evening.

2005-03-11T13:47:00.000-08:00

I am exhausted.
but they said I can get my visa on wednesday. so I'm actually going.
mostly I need to sleep.

I'm into the Lucca program! so I'm definatly going to be in Italy from March 23 to July 19.
2 more papers
2 more exams
3 more performances

!

the first!

2005-03-02T12:40:00.000-08:00

I am going to italy for a quarter! I might be going for longer if they ever e-mail me about my opera program, but I am definatly going for at least 10 weeks! That is why I decided to start blog, so that I can tell people all the amazing things that I am doing with out needing to send out mass e-mails...which are fun too...but less so.
so I had a debate whether to call this emitaly or eminitaly. I like more syllables, plus emitaly sounds alittle like admitedly...cool but confusing.
I thought to start it now because I should be researching and writing a paper.
It's on Dawn Upshaw.
It could have been cool, but alas will not be.

Interesting facts: I learned today that I could sell my extra wisdom teeth pain killer pills for $5 a pop. I won't.
Mozarts letters are pretty easy reading, I fully recommend them.
Puccini was not nearly as amusing.

I will probably not update this much until I'm actually in Italy, because it seems silly to talk about how much work I have and how long rehersals are, that is not all that interesting to read, and many of you hear this daily anyhow.

so.....