Are the days longer here?

I'm so used to the days speeding by when I'm traveling, but so far that hasn't been the case. It's not that I'm bored and the days are dragging on. I guess it's because we do so much in one day that the days feel longer. Also, I think that being away from technology for the most of the day extends your hours. Like last night my apartment-mates and I stayed up talking for around 5 hours. Had we all had internet we would have been tempted to isolate ourselves in the thing that is supposed to connect us (the internet).

At first I was uncomfortable not having internet, but I find that not having it all the time brings a goal of mine full circle. You see I decided in January to make a New Year's Resolution. Most of the time I find them cheesy and easy to break, but the one this year has been different. I have discovered over time that my passion is people. Sounds strange, but I just love building relationships, telling stories, and learning who people are and where they come from. Unknowingly I suppressed and hid this passion in my life by filling my schedule to the brim, compounding responsibilities, and seeking to give 100 percent to everything. All of those can be good things, but not when passions, the things that make life rich, are suppressed. So, when I finally realized this I made the New Year's resolution to spend more time with people than obligations.

I'm so thankful I did that because, easing into this mindset change over the last few months has prepared me to be able to let go of internet and embrace true social networking. It has taught me the value and necessity of developing relationships through stream of consciousness as opposed to scheduled appointments.

As a side note (or rather my whole weekend) Rome was incredible. I finished of the weekend visiting the Colosseum and Roman Forum, but I'm glad to be back in Perugia. Have no fear I evaded all of the crazy Vespa drivers and pickpockets.

Jackie and her Peacock

Day 2 in Rome and I'm still tired from yesterday and more tired from today. However, being tired doesn't matter when you are seeing some of the most incredible pieces of art in the world. I'm learning so much about art, and I really do love it. Don't get me wrong I'm not going to pack it up and become an art history major, but I am very fond of Berninni's sculptures (which are EVERYWHERE by the way).

Also, tonight we had a traditional Italian meal. Meaning, we had 4 courses! The first course was a meat and bruchetta platter. The second course was a pasta with an egg cream sauce. The third course was a salad, pork chop and lamb chop. Finally, we finished it off with tiaramissu. Needless to say the food was great, but the company is what made the dinner a 2.5 hour success.

Pictures are up on facebook and it's off to the Colosseum for me in the morning and back to Perugia by night. Ciao bella!

When in Rome...

My first whole day in Rome is now drawing to a close. I am so worn out, but the day has been fun and full of adventure. Today we went to the Vatican Museum, where the Sistine Chapel is located. It was incredible! We went through much of the museum, but we still didn't see it all. We also saw the Parthenon, Trevi Fountain, and the Spanish Steps. We walked to all of those things, which was great because we got to see all of the little side streets that you would imagine Rome would have. Another cool thing is that there are fountains everywhere with good tasting water. Sometimes you can drink out of the big sculpture fountains, but usually the ones in walls and hydrant looking thing is a better bet. I threw a coin in the Trevi fountain tonight, so we will see if my wish comes true! Check out Facebook for pics and there will be updates tomorrow for the day's adventures. Buenanotte!

So I guess it's my Italian birthday??

Just when I think I'm too many miles from home to experience the pulse of Boiling Springs I'm reminded that I'm not far away by the stealthy hacking of Stephanie Renee Gibbs. In the Campus Ministries office at GWU, if you leave your Facebook up there is a big chance that your staus will be changed and your birthday will change to the present date. So, this morning when some of the students wished me Happy Birthday, I wasn't mad. Rather I will embrace this as my Italian birthday and be reminded that home is never too far away to warm your insides like hot chocolate and Taboo on a snow day in the foothills.

On another note, I will be leaving for Rome this afternoon. I don't know if I will have internet at all, so my blogs might be delayed. I brought my camera with me today so, keep a lookout for pictures of my apartment, Perugia and Rome flooding facebook. Right now I have around ten pictures, so if I uploaded them it would be more of a drizzle than a flood so, you will have to be patient for now.  P.S. Sorry if I misspelled anything. This Italian computer underlines everything I write.

Back from the Cappucino

So I had my coffee which was mucho bene, especially for 1 Euro! But I've also been doing some Google searching while at the institute since I don't have internet in my apartment, which has proven to be more of a hassle than expected. Anyways, Hello Kitty is super popular here so my apartment-mates and I were trying to figure out where and when Hello Kitty originated. Turns out that it started in the 1970's in Japan, so eiher Perugia is ultra retro or behind the times. Also, when we went grocery shopping the other day I bought what I thought was a wild onion. I love to cook with onion so that was a necessary buy. When I weighed and printed out my slip (have to do that before check out) the item name was listed at "finocchia" a.k.a the first part of my last name. When I started adding flavor to the pasta sauce the other night (I'm the head chef of Apt 54) I realized that whatever my last name stemmed from did NOT taste like an onion. So, I Googled it today, only to fins that it is indeed not an onion, but a Fennel. Who knew that finding my roots would actually be a root of the fennel plant! FIN-OHC-KEY- AH- ROW (Ive been pronouncing it wrong along with everyone else this whole time!)

Mass Transit

By bus, by train, by car, by moped or by foot, people are always moving here. Looking at Perugia an outsider would assume that there are no streets. Be careful though because, what you may see as a sidewalk, the Italian mototists will find room for two way traffic, pedestrian traffic and a bus stop.

Perugia also has the beatiful steps outside of a fountain outside of the big cathedral. This place is where every one gathers all the time. However, it is the most crowded after dark. You see in Perugia, it cost extra to eat and drink inside so people take their food and drink to the steps so they won't be charged to socialize. What does this have to do with mass transit?  Well, if you don't know where you are going you will be caught up in the mass transit of foot trafic taking you away to the steps.

Just a side note. If Europe has such good mass transit, then why is it so daggum difficult for me to get from Perugia to Stuttgart? Once again I'm not Italian, so I guess I can't understand their system...for now. Also, if anyone can tell me why we have a cord that rings a bell in our showers, I would love to know its purpose. Off for a cappucino with Hannah! Ciao for now!

Getting Comfortable

So it's becoming painfully obvious that I'm categorized by two things here. #1 I am American. There is no doubt about that. Even though I try to dress more Italian (dresses, skirts, and strappy sandals) and my name is Italian, I am not Italian. The second point also ties into this. #2 I cannot speak Italian. What I can do is speak Italian cave-woman talk through my phrase finder/dictionary (courtesy of the ever thoughtful Chelsea Usher) and I can use hand signals. So , yesterday I went to the Farmachia (pharmacy) for some cold medicine. Somehow I made it out of there with sinus medication, taken 2 times a day that makes me slightly drowsy. Thank you dictionary!

I'm still experiencing a bit of jet lag and mixed with my cold and depreciating eyesight everything seems a bit of a blur. The past couple days here have seemed much longer than 24 hours. To the point that it feels as if I have been here for weeks, can give directions, go on the Mini Metro and grocery shop. I wouldn't say I feel like a local (for resoning see numbers 1 &2, but I'm definately feeling more comfortable traveling throughout the city, but don't worry mom and dad I never travel alone.

For most of you that know me well, you know that I love being outside and I like to exercise. The problem here is not being outside. We are outside alot of the time, walking to class, eating at cafes and socializing on the steps. The problem is exercising. They only have one "modern" gym in the city which is very small and very expensive, a far cry from the $10 a month plans in the states. Luckily, (or unluckily) to get to class I have to walk uphill all the way and the way back is nearly as difficult due to our apartment being on the 5th floor. It's also helpful that we have no form of transportation other than our feet and even if we take the Mini Metro we need to walk to get there as well.

Needless to say, I'm tired, usually hungry, and awkward at best, but i'm trying. I'm trying to acclimate. I'm trying not to be homesick. I'm trying to cook. But most importantly, I'm try to learn.

I am on the Boot!

Well I made it to Perugia after an eight-ish hour flight and a three-ish hour drive. I planned to sleep for much of my journey, but that did not happen as much as I would have liked. Luckily, the Princess and the Frog was playing on the plane so I got to enjoy that for 94 minutes. Anyways, I eventually made it out of the airport onto a bus and through Rome to get to the Umbria province where the city of Perugia is located. Perugia is a hilltop city of 160,000 people, but I have not explored much of it with the exception of the corner grocery store. It was at this grocery store that I learned that you need to print out your own price sticker to pay for fruit, Crema does not mean yogurt, and it is where both meat is butchered and the Italian language when coming from my lips. Today we are going on a walking tour and I will be moving into my apartment, so I should have more to talk about then.

Intro To Travel

Hello all readers,

If you haven't heard or even if you have, I will be traveling to Italy this summer. While there I will be studying Italian and Renaissance Culture. The title "Exploring my Roots" aims to exemplify where I came from in my heritage and spiritually. I hope to upload pictures and lots of stories along the way so you can keep up with my travels and my educational journey. Feel free to comment or ask questions at any time.

Fin