So today is Wednesday, which means only one more day until Spring Break; in that time, I have a test for Jan's class and my Italian midterm. Jan doesn't know my name yet, which is heartbreaking, especially because I consider him my little Belgian Wafflecakes. Oh well, I will prevail over the tests and the sorrow and make it to Tunisia.
In a few days I will be in Africa. In preparation, my roommate Adam and I have been growing our beards out. Mine is not quite a fist yet, but I hope I blend in. Since I'm a horrible person, I have entertained the idea of bringing my broken iPod to barter with in the markets. Mike warned me that I could be the victim of an honor killing if they find out it doesn't work, so I don't know if I will take the risk. Going along with the iPod thing, I'm thinking of buying a shitty mp3 player from Euronics, the Roman version of Best Buy. I saw some onsale today for like €16, which is not bad.
Last night we went to Scholar's for karaoke night with Marissa and her friends from her program since they are visiting Italy for their Spring Holiday. Italians love the idea of Irish pubs, so coupled with karaoke, Scholar's last night was especially novel for them. I guess they like pubs for the same reason we do, since its a place to stand around with people, get wasted on drink specials, then try to take advantage of drunk American girls. Who knows. Haha some guys dudes were in suits and smoking cigarettes in the bar last night- 2 eprops, amici.
Way more culturally exciting than Scholar's (which is definitely hard to top, lolz), I went to the Borghese gallery. We saw some awesome displays of opulence, including a few sweet Bernini statues. No cameras were allowed in the museum, so I didn't take any pictures. Not that I would post them anyway, but just so y'all know.
In weather news, it was very sunny and beautiful today and yesterday. To celebrate, I sat in Piazza del Popolo and then hiked into Villa Borghese for some scenic views. I guess it was the best thing I could do as a loner that wasn't studying. Either way, it was wonderful. Unfortunately, the rain has returned. It's ok though.
Oh, I have no clean clothes. Hopefully I remember to do laundry, which is a perpetual stuggle, btw.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Night Life
At night, I emulate the ancients and drink skins of wine, usually blacking out. Not really, but the wine does flow cheaply here, the cheapest being a liter box for €,89, or a 5 liter jug for €5,45. But who's counting?
On the whole, we have been trying to experience the night life like Romans. The closest that I've come to that is by going to a club called Init that Bob found. It was fun, and I was able to get my dance on. We also go to the cocktail bar called Stairs in the Trastevere area; since Italians are irrational and inefficient, they have open bar for €18 on Thursdays and Fridays, giving out top-shelf liquor. Idiots.
Aside from trying to go to new places, I've found that we drink at American style bars or Irish pubs. It's not that I am rejecting Italian culture, it's just Italians are the same here as they are at home- not fun to drink with. So we go to Irish pubs and spend way too much money of beer.
The idea of Italian drinking is to be seen and to maintain a bella figura, or seem in control. For Americans, it is a bit different. So I've been trying to reconcile these concepts with other American college students...
On the whole, we have been trying to experience the night life like Romans. The closest that I've come to that is by going to a club called Init that Bob found. It was fun, and I was able to get my dance on. We also go to the cocktail bar called Stairs in the Trastevere area; since Italians are irrational and inefficient, they have open bar for €18 on Thursdays and Fridays, giving out top-shelf liquor. Idiots.
Aside from trying to go to new places, I've found that we drink at American style bars or Irish pubs. It's not that I am rejecting Italian culture, it's just Italians are the same here as they are at home- not fun to drink with. So we go to Irish pubs and spend way too much money of beer.
The idea of Italian drinking is to be seen and to maintain a bella figura, or seem in control. For Americans, it is a bit different. So I've been trying to reconcile these concepts with other American college students...
Daily Life in Rome
As I detailed in a previous post, I have class Monday- Thursday. They are going well, and I am establishing a routine, which is cool. Basically, I wake up, take the Metro from Cipro to Flaminio (Piazza del Polpolo- uscita lato destro), walk to school, get a cappuccino from the vending machine and go to class. After Italian, I eat lunch with Haley, Matt, Bridget, and Mike, sometimes with Evan and maybe we even seen Kelsey! It is honestly one of the best times of the day. After that, I usually try to do homework in the computer lab, then I finish classes if I have it. Most day I walk home, go to the GS, get my eat on, then sit around and talk all night. I don't do much for school- midterms start tomorrow, so we will see how that works out for me, LOL!
Laundry is hard as shit to keep on top of, so I've been hand washing my clothes a lot. Also, I snore so loudly that Bob has trouble sleeping. Sorry, man. He made a song of clips of me snoring. In small news, I broke my iPod kind of, so that really sucks.
I am making an effort to cook more instead of spending money on pizza or something. Best food in Rome is from this Rosticceria near my residence. Other places that are good are near school, just a simple Pizza Rustica and Mondo Arancina. Good stuff.
We go out a lot. Next post.
Laundry is hard as shit to keep on top of, so I've been hand washing my clothes a lot. Also, I snore so loudly that Bob has trouble sleeping. Sorry, man. He made a song of clips of me snoring. In small news, I broke my iPod kind of, so that really sucks.
I am making an effort to cook more instead of spending money on pizza or something. Best food in Rome is from this Rosticceria near my residence. Other places that are good are near school, just a simple Pizza Rustica and Mondo Arancina. Good stuff.
We go out a lot. Next post.
Let's try this again
It has been a while since my last post, perhaps a bit too long. Many of my fans (I love y'all) have requested that I update, so I will do my best to write about how my life has been.
I guess one of the most exciting things about this experience is the opportunity to travel around Italy, Europe, and the world. Thus far, in Italy, I have seen Rome, obviously, Todi, Sutri, Via Cassia, Viterbo, Hadrian's Villa, Tivoli, the catacombs of San Sebastian, Venice, and Florence. All of these trips have been interesting, exciting, mentally stimulating, and visually arresting. Unfortunately, I saw the first few unfamiliar cities under the guidance of Rob Huber, a Renaissance Johnny Depp douche bag with a dumb hat who blows into the microphone. Oh well, I will live, and he is very knowledgeable. As for the catacombs, I took a daytime excursion with Bob, Matt, Adam, Bridget, and Mike to see them last weekend. Again, our tour was not long enough, but we saw other cool things like the Appian Way and huge chickens. Great times. I went to Venice two weekends ago for the beginning of Carnivale. Bus2Alps, ftw. Not really, we got lost on our way there and it took 11 hours to get home. It was still an amazing day; honestly, too many cool things happened that I can not even type them up. Finally, I just got back from a weekend trip, Thursday through Sunday, to Florence with Matt, Kelsey, Haley, and Ashley. As expected, we had a great time. Unexpectedly, I got a leather jacket. I am considering smoking again to complete the look. Updates on my health to come.
In all seriousness, I am so fortunate to have been able to participate in these excursions. I realized this weekend how lucky I really am, all thanks to my parents. They will never see the things that I am seeing, never experience the same things, never feel how I am feeling; they made a conscious decision to allow me to do this instead of them. So, thanks.
In case anyone is wondering about my travel plans, I leave for a 6 day trip to Tunisia this coming Friday for my spring break. Upon return, I may travel outside of Italy again. I will return to Florence on March 12th when Jon visits from Oslo. The following weekend, I'm hoping to go to Cork. The second weekend in April, I go to Ravenna and Aquilea with Jan for our class trip. Over the second to last weekend of the program, I think I may be going to Prague. Finally, after the program, I'll venture to Oslo. Then, who knows.
As I said before, I'm so lucky and thankful for all of this. Next, more musing about Italian stuff.
I guess one of the most exciting things about this experience is the opportunity to travel around Italy, Europe, and the world. Thus far, in Italy, I have seen Rome, obviously, Todi, Sutri, Via Cassia, Viterbo, Hadrian's Villa, Tivoli, the catacombs of San Sebastian, Venice, and Florence. All of these trips have been interesting, exciting, mentally stimulating, and visually arresting. Unfortunately, I saw the first few unfamiliar cities under the guidance of Rob Huber, a Renaissance Johnny Depp douche bag with a dumb hat who blows into the microphone. Oh well, I will live, and he is very knowledgeable. As for the catacombs, I took a daytime excursion with Bob, Matt, Adam, Bridget, and Mike to see them last weekend. Again, our tour was not long enough, but we saw other cool things like the Appian Way and huge chickens. Great times. I went to Venice two weekends ago for the beginning of Carnivale. Bus2Alps, ftw. Not really, we got lost on our way there and it took 11 hours to get home. It was still an amazing day; honestly, too many cool things happened that I can not even type them up. Finally, I just got back from a weekend trip, Thursday through Sunday, to Florence with Matt, Kelsey, Haley, and Ashley. As expected, we had a great time. Unexpectedly, I got a leather jacket. I am considering smoking again to complete the look. Updates on my health to come.
In all seriousness, I am so fortunate to have been able to participate in these excursions. I realized this weekend how lucky I really am, all thanks to my parents. They will never see the things that I am seeing, never experience the same things, never feel how I am feeling; they made a conscious decision to allow me to do this instead of them. So, thanks.
In case anyone is wondering about my travel plans, I leave for a 6 day trip to Tunisia this coming Friday for my spring break. Upon return, I may travel outside of Italy again. I will return to Florence on March 12th when Jon visits from Oslo. The following weekend, I'm hoping to go to Cork. The second weekend in April, I go to Ravenna and Aquilea with Jan for our class trip. Over the second to last weekend of the program, I think I may be going to Prague. Finally, after the program, I'll venture to Oslo. Then, who knows.
As I said before, I'm so lucky and thankful for all of this. Next, more musing about Italian stuff.
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