Allora!

Postcards From Italy

2008-12-01T21:42:00.000-08:00

Music by Beirut

Rome, Siena, Florence, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Amalfi coast

Home. Home. Home.

2008-12-01T17:37:00.000-08:00

Well, I am home. The trip is over and NaBloPoMo is over as well.

In Rome we went to church and then retraced our steps...We ate pizza at the first place we had pizza. We ate gelato at the insane place with a million flavours. We threw another coin in the Trevi Fountain and got lost a bit too.

Spending all night in the airport was an experience. Full of uncontrollable laughter and incoherent sentences.

Waving good-bye to Sharlie and Kimberly was sad, but I will see them again.

Now I am back and it's weird having a cellphone and hearing people's voices and weird that everything is in English.

Came Home to the Following Family Changes:
Katie moved out.
Caleb grew half a foot.
Tyler is engaged!!!

Anyway, brain not working...so this will sadly fade off...

2008-11-29T16:15:00.000-08:00

I can't quite explain the feeling I got when I realized Blogger was talking to me in Italian again. I clicked Entra with much joy.

Staying in a hostel with someone who hitch-hiked around Europe. Hardcore.

Well, tomorrow we spend the day in Rome and then I fly out at 6...

More to come later.

Muszeums

2008-11-28T14:22:00.000-08:00

Muszeum Number 1 was a dark exhibit of Hungarian Holocaust History (alliteration unintended).
It was depressing, as we all know the Holocaust is, but it was pepper with poorly lit rooms and dark walls and heart beat sounds that had shivers running up and down my spine.
There was a cool synagogue-type room with glass chairs of some of the victims. I thought it was really pretty.

Muszeum Number 2
MODERN ART!!! I just adore it.

We also got a good view of the Hilly Buda Side

A Few of Many

2008-11-27T11:21:00.000-08:00

Things I am Thankful For:

-my family
even though i only talked to them for about 30 seconds today, i still felt the love and the fact i am so sad to be missing them right now makes me remember how much i love them
-the oppurtunity to travel
it's been so good for me, i can't even explain really.
-the kindness of strangers
the various guys who have helped us with our huge bags, the countless people who have given us directions, the lady at the bakery who smiled at us despite us butchering the pronounciation. and just the fact that even though we are in a foreign country we don't have to feel completely alone.
also people you can just strike up conversations with just as soon as you figure out if you have a language in common.
-friends
who express their concern and miss me and put up with me on a day-to-day basis.
-my nearly perfect schedule for next semester
which i will probably come to hate by mid-march
-diversity in food.
because i get bored easily and love food from other countries SO much
-different languages
because they fascinate me greatly. i really want to learn them all.
-having a tredmill at home
because i'm going to need it this upcoming month.
-really great roommates (old, current, new, temporary)
because life would be a lot harder without them. without someone to have sleep conversations with. or throw things at from bunkbeds. or dance around with. or to
-living in Oregon.
because no matter where you go, if people have heard of it they think it's beautiful :p
-Jess from Gilmore Girls
i do not know why i love him so much, but i cannot stop
-The fact i don't absolutely love Thanksgiving food
i do miss my mom's sweet potatoes, but everything else i can live without, which is good otherwise i would be heartbroken right now.
-that my computer has a 2 year warranty
Europe did not agree with it.

today for thanksgiving we woke up and ate amazing bakery goods (which we refer to as vanillaicia crossaint and double eyeglass cinnamon goodness and cheesy cinnamon roll thing) we went to an art muszuem (peter would be so proud). this cute little lady led us around and told us all these things we already knew about italian art, but we pretended we didn't know. we also went to the zoo. where we saw your average animals and watched pelicans eat fish for about ten minutes which was actually really entertaining and disgusting at the same time. they trapped them in their pouchy-beaks and then swallowed them whole!! then we wandered around and looked at some castles but almost froze to death.
so we came back to the hostel and ate nutella on toast and cinnamon cereal. not a bad day.

we have had some really good food since we've been here.
i just wish i knew hungarian.

also, got this email from my wonderful little brother:

i now u are in Italy but HAPPY THANKSGIVING

"a glimpse behind the iron curtain"

2008-11-26T11:28:00.000-08:00

sharlie wrote i <3>

these monuments used to be up all over Budapest, but were removed from the streets in 1989-90 after the collapse of socialism.

it took us much longer than it should have to get there.

Starting to feel Hungary

2008-11-25T10:55:00.000-08:00

I am tired of mediocre looking postcards. Some of them that I’ve found in my travels are 100 times worse than pictures I’ve taken. Maybe I should start making postcards. I might.

After a seven hour train ride and a fifteen minute luggage pulling adventure followed by an interesting elevator and outdoor balcony, I now lay on an Ikea bed in a room decorated with Ikea things (which I am only assuming from what I know about Ikea and the fact that we passed one on our way here, as I have not actually seen the inside of an Ikea in my lifetime). It’s a cute place. It smells like a hostel, but that never hurt nobody. And it’s only costing us 336,000 hufs.

Budapest is a lot bigger than Zagreb…or Siena. When we arrived in Hungary a parade of people came through to check our passports. They lined up and all checked them individually, because everyone looking at it at once would be irrational. And they came in pairs so one could look at the passport and the other could stare at us and speak three different languages. Then they wished Kimberly a happy birthday and asked us if we had, “Cigarettes? Beer?” no. “Cocaine, ecstasy? Heroine?” Nem.
The flags on their hats were Italian flags flipped sideways and I really wanted them to speak in Italian instead of Hungary. And then I felt for a tiny moment like I was the main character in Farewell to Arms (or maybe it was The Sun Also Rises) because he talks about the Italian policemen during the war. And I pictured it as such.

I really want to learn every language. I do not need to be fluent in more than a few, but I want to know a little bit of everything.

Also, wikipedia said Croatians invented the ballpoint pen but it was actually a Hungarian. Good thing I decided to go to both.

and all you see

2008-11-24T06:58:00.000-08:00

the morning was spent catching up on sleep as well as a jaunt through downtown and a frantic bread store where we fought crowds for delicious bread products.

our hostel has exploded with luggage. we are in big trouble because we have a 40 lbs limit from Hungary to Rome. but we also don't have to worry about that...for a few more days.

meet at the church like planned.

˝we are going to get food, it is not...fatless.˝

we indulged in greasy croatian delights at the college with our new friends.
and i ate squid.
right now i am at the college and the y and the z on the kezboard are in opposite spots.
then did some exploring around the sites.
and hung out at the church for a while.

then went in search of lavender chocolate, which was recommended to us.
and it just happened to be sold to us by the most beautiful boy in the world.
who accidentally charged us almost double.

because we were so full from lunch we ended up not spending the money we took out so we stocked up on food at the Konzum.

and i am very very sad to leave.

Zaaaaaaaaaaaaagreb!

2008-11-22T13:42:00.000-08:00

After saying goodbye to our friends in Venice we went about exploring some more, getting food and preparing mentally for Croatia.

The policija stamped our passports on the train at 3am. We slept awkwardly in the seats and played a bit of musical chairs trying to get comfortable.

A taxi driver gave us directions after we stood on a street corner for a while with our luggages and a map.

Once on the street to our hostel we were met by a guy who greeted us with a "Ciao. Hello." then an "Opa!!" when he almost dropped the garbage can he was carrying.

Our room is orange with yellow and blue flames on one wall and a sun on the other wall.

We got a brochure with a walking tour and went on it, Kimberly guided us through the heart of old Zagreb.

Grocery shopping was an ordeal as suddenly chocolate bars were 8 dollars and other things were in the 100s. When asked if we wanted a bag, Sharlie responded with a "Yes. Si...Ya..." Me: Da. "...Da" Another look to me to which I responded "Hvala" which was then repeated to the lady who was already laughing quietly at us.

I have no idea what will happen when we go to Hungary with its 200 huf to 1 usd. I have no concept of money anymore we have converted things from Konas to Dollars to Euros and back again and still not sure how much we're spending.

Today we found the church and followed the sound of voices up the stairs. We said an awkward "hi" and people laughed and spoke English to us. Sunday School was an intense ping-pong of English to Croatian. The teacher spoke in English while someone translated, then spoke in Croatian while the same person translated to English. Then a guy answered a question in Croatian and then another one in English. Everyone was translating for everyone. And we just sat there and smiled. Singing hymns was fun/difficult too.

But we made two friends who are going to show us around tomorrow.

Everyone in church asked us what we were doing in Croatia. Like, they really did not understand why we sould possible come here. Heh. And they all talked to us and were happy.
"You must come back...I will recognize you by your smiles."

it's cold (really cold) outside, so we're watching Gilmore Girls:
"why are you smiling?"
"i was just thinking about pudding."

Venezia in pictures

2008-11-22T04:32:00.000-08:00

quick stop in Padova where we were locked in a temperature controlled room which they then used to adjust the temperature in the church in order to preserve the frescoes...bought shoes.

First impression of Venice: Too cramped with narrow streets, too touristy. But the church was really pretty

Friends made: 2 australians, a couple on a cruise, a middle aged world traveller (who has been to the Amazon four times), a bulgarian man and his wife, two girls who work in Utah, and a Californian who speaks perfect Italian

at first playing with the pigeons was really exciting and funny

they kept landing on my head, i didn't even have food on me.

they did crazy tricks like the above-seen double decker pigeons

but it went from being exciting to being less than exciting (see facial expressions):

we took a taxi to Murano where we saw one man make a tiny fish out of glass and gave it to Sharlie. This was after the adventure to find a glass blower that involved hopping fences, walking across a decrepit bridge and hopping another fence.

we all got weird rooms, some without bathrooms and some without showers. we were split into two and threes, but we came up with a plan so we could all be in one room...

tre ragazze...uno letto.

birthdays celebrated: 1

we sang to Kimberly in English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and made-up Croatian

went to Burano where the houses are painted bright colours so that drunk sailors could find their way home.

i fit in nicely.

then gravity disappeared...!

one of my favourite things was the winged lions that gaurd all of Venice.

ciao, Italia!

in honor of my last full day of the program, Lynzie and I showed up to the morning meeting wearing our sheets as togas. People laughed and raised eyebrows but no one was really that surprised. Sadly no picture was taken though.

Top Ten Reasons Not to go Back To BYU

2008-11-21T11:56:00.000-08:00

1. boys
2. No Kimberly
3. Sales tax
4. paying rent
5. real classes
6. pizza is not as good
7. climate that kills my skin
8. the testing center
9. dirty snow
10. teachers that don't just bust out in opera in the middle of lectures

Top Ten Reasons To Go Back To BYU

2008-11-20T11:55:00.000-08:00

1. boys
2. college life (social)
3. apply to the film program
4. snow
5. no more one-on-one classes
6. having a kitchen
7. Life Club
8. Indian food
9. clean air
10. fort building extravaganzas

Things I Miss About America

2008-11-19T11:42:00.000-08:00

. Mexican food
. being in the same time zone as friends and family
. 1 USD=1 USD, no complications
. having several pairs of shoes
. free water
. ice
. Indian food
. Smoothies
. 24 hour grocery stores
. normal toliets

al contrario,
THINGS AMERICA SHOULD EMBRACE
. contradas
. public drinking fountains along the roads
. Nutella
. gelato
. fresh food
. painting houses bright colors
. smaller cars
. 1 euro pizza places

Things I Have Learned From Mamma Luigia

2008-11-18T11:37:00.000-08:00

.Stir clockwise. Always
.When doing laundry: if it opens, it is done. if it doesn't, it's not done.
.If it is on the table, eat it, if not it would not be there.
.Non sono i vestiti, sono la persona
.''I don't steal, I don't kill...sometimes it's okay to lie.''
.Cooking should be fast, easy, and delicious
.Before going out or having your picture taken you should put on bright red lipstick

Life Decisions I Made While in Italy

2008-11-17T16:02:00.000-08:00

. ~~cut my hair short~~
. date someone who speaks Italian
. be a filmmaker
. be more passionate about life
. come back to Italy
. work on penmanship
. go on a mission
. Learn more languages
. wink at people more often

Life Threatening Things that May Happen to Me While in Italy

2008-11-17T11:33:00.000-08:00

.Hit by a car
.Run over by a vespa
.Smooshed by a bus
.Electrocuted by my adapter (it sparks everytime I plug something in)
.Fig overdose
.Brain explosion from trying to understand
.Second-hand smoke cancer
.Asthma attack from climbing stairs
.Falling over the balcony that is my room

L'Ultimo Giorno

2008-11-16T11:10:00.000-08:00

Today is the last.

I spoke in church today. I prepared a legit talk and it went pretty well (the first talk that I have actually written out). Anziano De Ruovo told me I did a great job and that my pronounciation was good, which is really the only thing I wanted to hear, haha. We shook hands while talking and did not realize we were still shaking hands after three sentences and awkwardly dropped them.

I am going to miss him and he sounds exactly like my brother, Tyler, when he speaks English.
Speaking of English, I cannot speak it very well anymore. It is hard to string sentences together.

I managed to pack everything in my suitcase but it is beyond buldging...Poor thing might need to be put out to pasture after this trip.

I still have not really registered that I am leaving tomorrow for good. Why would I be leaving such a lovely place? But I knew all along this was temporary, so it is not really so strange to leave.

Our host family at lunch said, ''Why don't you stay another month or so?''
The missionaries told us we should just stay...The branch will be half as big once we leave, which is really sad.
When I look at the tower in the Campo I think it is telling me to stay as well.
We wrote a song about this feeling, but never finished it.

I really cannot put today into words...
Tomorrow we are off to Padua and Venice.
The next few posts will be some of the lists I have made here.

ciao -- it means hello and goodbye

2008-11-15T11:53:00.000-08:00

Yesterday they threw us a goodbye lunch full of delicious food. We signed our names on the wall.

Then we saw James Bond...and I have to say the first few minutes are the best because they take place in SIENA!! My home sweet home. I still have no accepted we are leaving.

Today we kept running into people on the street as everyone attempted to do last minute shopping. I, however, am so on top of things and did not have much to buy...But I did get some sweet jeans for =drumroll please= TEN EURO. dingdingding.

It has been a long day and now we are going to hang out in the Campo....Yes, that very one you may have seen in James Bond.

You Remind Me of Home

2008-11-14T03:14:00.000-08:00

Yesterday:

Today was exceptional after we escaped from the school and I left my horrible drawings behind.
As it was Thursday, Life Club was in order. We hit up our most favorite hot chocolate place with our friend (who today we found out her name is , after the Princess). We had a two hour long discussion about how we’ve changed in Italy and how to keep those changes in ourselves when we get back. We laughed and we cried…and I realized just how amazing Life Club is/will be. We’re talking about changing lives here.

And I adore people. A lot. Every single person I’ve ever encountered. And I love putting things into perspective and realizing what really matters in life. Loving, Inventing, Frolicking, and Enjoying.

Then our dear friend came to the table and asked us what we were all up to. Elizabeth tried to explain it was a Club of Life and she smiled and asked us what our names were. She left again and came back with a chocolate for each of us!! So sweet. And then we watched a few old men play a strange version of billiards. So, while the pasta is microwaved and the panini have too much mayonnaise, it is still the greatest place to hold Life Club meetings or gatherings of any kind.

Then we went to see if the rumor that Koppa Kabana was giving out free gelato was true. And it was!! Three scoops each, on the good cones. The only thing better than gelato is free gelato. I got chocolate-coconut, panna cotta (sweet cream), and fuori di latte (which I had no idea/still don’t really know what is is but its a good milky thing).

We were all very full but managed to find room because Luigia made our favourite dish of cheesy pasta with zucchini mixed in.

Then we were good and studied for our finals. And I washed some clothes for the first time in a long time…

Today:
Finals are over...This semester is over. My teacher hugged me when I turned the test in. I wish I didn't suck so much at meaningful goodbyes. I wish I could've said in Italian how great she's been.
This is the last time we'll hang out in this common room struggling with ancient internet.
We got certificates with our name on them.
And I officially have my middle name in writing spelled three different ways.

all yellow

2008-11-13T05:22:00.001-08:00

Today I woke up around 5am to the sound of rain on the window.
I had a dream I was an actor on The Office, I was doing a scene with Jim, Dwight, and Pam.
Some of the episodes this season have been really great, by the way.

I consider myself an artist, I like to create...But I cannot draw representationally for the LIFE of me.
I try and draw things and they do not look like what I was drawing.
We just turned our three final drawings in and it was a humbling experience for me...Because a lot of people's looked better than mine.
And, so I can't draw...But that doesn't make me a total failure in life.
Just feels like it sometimes.

After tomorrow, no more school until January!!

I need one more three credit class for next semester.
And a job.
And a place to live.
But other than that we're good to go.

I don't know if everything will fit back in my suitcase.

i've got to go away

2008-11-12T06:37:00.000-08:00

I'm trying not to think about the lasts, but today is the last Wednesday.

Happy Veteren's Day yesterday. I hope you all celebrated. Sometimes when I'm wondering the streets of a new city in Italy I wonder if my grandpa was here when he served in Italy during WWII. Probably not, but it's fun to think about.

Last night we started writing a song that was good, but then we got stuck.

I am going to miss my Italian teacher because she is the nicest person ever.

It is finals week for us. The other day I convinced Sharlie to see how many pretzels she could fit in her mouth and then I realized it MUST be final's week, because there is always people doing weird things in the library. Today we wrote a song about ratemyprofessors.com.

Here's hoping I remember everything I've learned and Peter doesn't hate my art.

I really, really like writing songs.

Amo, amo

2008-11-11T02:05:00.000-08:00

So I already failed NaBloPoMo, but it came at a really bad time when we are travelling a lot...It really should be in December when I will have plenty of time to write about absolutely nothing.

Yesterday the missionaries came over for dinner (to my family who are not members) and so we ate way too much good food. Though the new one, Anziano Canada (not his real name, but where he is from) was sitting next to me and halfway through dinner says, "I just swallowed a chicken bone." to which my automic, unhelpful advice was, "don't do that." He kept trying to say things in Italian, which was impressive and kind of hilarious to me, but I suppose I shouldn't laugh because he speaks better than me.

But we also had an entertaining discussion about music (Italian and American) which involved singing and a discussion about Micheal Jackson in Italian, which I never would have anticipated happening.

Spent all day today drawing because I have three HUGE drawings due Thursday. Am going to die.

You know what would be cool? If we could all respect people for what they believe and not attack people for their beliefs one way or another. I understand there are probably a lot of misunderstandings, where feelings are hurt unintentionally, but I don't think there is ever need for vicious backlash.

Anyway, we should just get along.

I don't know what you heard about me..

2008-11-09T05:15:00.001-08:00

Pictures never work on here, but I put some on facebook if you're interested.

This morning I woke up in a very good mood despite the early(ish) hour and rolled out of bed (after wishing Bersky a good morning and untangling myself from the sheets that had somehow ensnared me in the night).

Last night we had a wonderful rendition of fortune telling in which everyone realized what their true fates in life were, all regarding love, of course. And the cards don’t lie. We videotaped a bit of it and it is so hilarious to watch the things we do. My friends are hilarious.
We met at the train station to get to the hotel. At said station Lynzie and Elder [de Rove? Can’t remember because it’s Italian] had a mini rap off in which Lynzie was hilarious and he rapped in Italian. Elder White is trying to teach him lots of gangster lingo, which is really not necessary. Also, though he is Italian he speaks perfect English and actually kind of sounds like my brother Tyler. We also met the new missionary who is fresh from the MTC as of Tuesday. He is from Canada and was bragging about the great raps he’s written in his day.

Then we went to the district conference which was awesome because we saw every member of the Church we have met in the Siena area (which really isn’t that many, just so you know). About a third of the audience was missionaries, but we also met this super cute girl named Isabella who walked up and asked if we spoke Italian and when I said, cosi cosi she spoke to us in perfect English. Then Anziano Welch came up and tapped her on the shoulder while she was talking and she turns and gasps then turns back to us and said, “excuse me” and then starts talking to him in rapid Italian. And all the missionaries were finding old companions and people they went to the MTC with. It was just a very happy reunion. The members from our branch we saw were happy we made it. All the talks in the conference were amazing. The mission president for the area was left with hardly any time so he talked for about three minutes but it was so good and to the point. Anziano White introduced us to him afterwards and Lynzie asked him if she should go on a mission and he responded, “if you think you should, then go…it is what it is, a mission is one of the greatest things ever but, va bene. You’ve really got to make that decision yourself.”

And I’ve decided I’m definitely going on a mission because missionaries are the coolest people ever and serving people and the Lord is the greatest thing ever. I just wish I didn’t have to wait a year and a half because I want to go right now.
Then we said goodbye to Anziano Welch because he got transferred to Rome. But he was just like, see you in March.

And then an adventure ensued that involved jumping on a bus that we didn’t really know where it was going without having a chance to buy tickets and jumping off, trying to find tickets, and jumping on again. And somehow looping around so that a bunch of missionaries we had just seen got on several stops later.

Then we got off the bus that stopped in front of the building that everyone was walking out of at the exact moment we got off the bus! Kismet.

Went to a gorgeous garden…you’ll have to just look at the pictures.

Super exciting moment in a museum when I was looking at a Jean Miro reproduction and saying how much I loved him when I realized…I WAS a Jean Miro painting, because I was wearing the exact right colors. Yes!!

Sweet.

2008-11-08T05:00:00.000-08:00

Today I haggled for the first time ever. I was pretty proud of myself. But I had the same problem I have with Ebay where it ended up being more of a competition than actually wanting to buy something. So I ended up with a ring I might not have really wanted originally. But it is real sliver and I got it for only 7 euro. Could’ve got it down more, but his desperation was a bit sad so I took pity on him. Also realized that one of the most amazing things in the world are cashmere scarves. They are SO SOFT. Things I am always drawn to in stores: soft things and red things. So, appropriately, I got a soft red scarf. Yesss!!

We are staying in the most amazing hostel with beds that are actually comfortable!! (Not like my springy cot at home) and we all get to share double beds so…cuddle time!! There are 8 of us staying in an apartment type thing with a kitchen and two bathrooms and I’m ready to move in except it kind of smells funny. In the refrigerator we found: eggs, kiwis, beer, lemon juice, and liquor. Pretty good combination of stuff. We got lost trying to find it, but it was a fun adventure.

We went to Santa Croce and each of our tickets had a picture of something in the museum. So I told everyone they had to find it in the museum. It was a fun game…um, very religious too.

And I had mascarpone (cream cheese-ish), nutella, and pear gelato (all one flavor) sounds crazy but it was great. Also Lion gelato which is this really good kind of weird candy bar they have here.

Then we spent FOREVER in Promod and I was done looking after about thirty seconds in the store when I almost took someone out rushing to a red hat (remember how I feel about soft and red things?) and then fifteen more minutes of walking around wearing the hat and telling myself I shouldn’t buy it when everyone else said I should. Then I bought the hat and was waiting for everyone else to finish but they had this HUGE black guy acting as a security guard. And he kept walking past me, like I was suspicious looking! So of course I got nervous and started acting suspicious and he came around more (and it grew exponentially). He was big and scary. I can see why they hired him.

V is for Vampiri Vanquishing Volterra

2008-11-07T06:35:00.000-08:00

For our trip to Volterra Elizabeth and I decided to be vampires. It all unraveled in the morning when I asked what vampire-y clothes she was going to wear. Then at the .99 euro store we got gummi animals (because we are vegetarian vampires) and also some gummi hearts. When we got to where we were meeting everyone we decided that Iz could see the future and I could read minds. But no one caught on!

Me: When is Kimberly coming?

Iz: Three minutes.

Shar: Are you guys magic 8 balls?

Me: I want to know all your theories...

Shar: Um.

Me: [brushing Sharlie's arm] Sorry my skin is so cold.

You smell good Kimberly

Iz: Get your arm out of the sun

Needless to say it entertained us much longer than it should of. We looked up where the place was in the book. And reinacted the scene (not really, we made up our own scene because we didn't remember the book).

Shar: Edward! No! Don't kill yourself!

Me: Bella! What are you doing??

Then a vampire-like storm came over us...

We stopped in another cute town with the world's best gelato. And then we spoke in British/Scottish accents all the way home.

there is comfort in the sound

2008-11-06T01:35:00.000-08:00

Got an e-mail from my little brother today:

soray i don't check this often thanks for the card if you want to now we have a new president barack o. bama he is the rirst black president.

I adore my little brother a lot. He's the greatest.

Last night at the dinner table my host family was entertained for a few moments trying to pronounce our new president's name, without a lot of help from me.

He's African American, is that okay with you?
Yes it's okay!! It's a great thing, haha.

Also, I'm pretty excited to have a president with public speakings skills. Yay!

Then they were skeptical as to why I haven't been to New York. And Luigia entertained us with a short rendition of New York, New York. She could give Sinatra a run for his money.

We ate tomatoes filled with rice and then tomatoes and mozarella.
Good think I like tomatoes now.

Disappointment of the day (yesterday): The word for robot in Italian is...robot. :[

BYU, YOU NEED TO TAKE THE HOLD OFF MY ACCOUNT SO I CAN SIGN UP FOR CLASSES BECAUSE I DON'T WANT YOUR HEALTH PLAN AND NEVER HAVE.
thanks.

Senza dubbio

2008-11-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

My election experience was very different than what I’ve heard/read so far from those in America.
We went to bed wondering who it would be, our host dad said, “Obama, é certo.”
We slept while Americans got to poll watch and experience the excitement.
On the way to school we looked at a newspaper, but it had been printed before anything was certain.
Emily’s host mom had woken up in the morning and told her who had won and she told us on our way to school.
Then those of us not in 101 all had a discussion with our teachers in Italian about the presidential changement.
The Italians all think it’s a really big deal that he is African American and that it will unite America. But it doesn’t matter what the color of his skin is, that’s the whole point. The point is what his policies and plans for America are. I do think it’s great that America is not afraid to vote for someone who is not the typical Caucasian, but that should be expected, not a big deal. It was only a matter of time.
That aside, I think he’ll do good things. I know he has some ideas that are scary but so does everyone. And do presidential candidates ever do the things they say they’re going to do, anyway? Besides, all we can do is play the hand we’re dealt and he is president now so I plan on supporting him.
I think the fact he got such a margin of people to vote for him says a lot about his character, which can actually go a long way for a president.

Yesterday:

Sad Things That Happened:

.Backpack got soaking wet in the rain
.Found out our Branch President Missionary is getting transferred
.Peter told us a story about a dead baby bird
.Told me the last drawing I drew was my worst one yet
.Can’t sign up for classes because of some stupid health plan misunderstanding
.Missing poll watching for the election

Happy Things That Happened:

.Wrote songs that ended up being ridiculous
.Got to talk with the missionaries and this amazing girl who is investigating the church
.Talked to my mom
.5/5 on online religion quiz
.Asking the Magico 8 Ball questions with Luigia.
Will Luigia come to America to visit Kendis? Senza alcun dubbio.

Also, really sad to find out that I'm missing the Diantha's Crossing premiere.
If you go, just know that it is me (and Whitney) pulling the wagon that has dead Joseph and Hyrum in it. AND that I made some of the ballots that get lit on fire. AND that I assisted in feeding everyone you see (or don't see) in that movie. Oh, and I was a voice extra in the mob scene too.

My advice for the day:
stick it together with tape, the tape of love (it's sticky stuff)

'Alloveen 2008

2008-11-04T02:18:00.000-08:00

PICTURES!!!

Well, we have a lot to thank Kimberly for.

First of all, I went as a garlic. Yes, garlic. Peter has forced us to draw four a week and I knew it would make people laugh. And it did. No one could take me seriously though and kept punching me in the stomach. And looking back at the pictures it was really quite ridiculous seeing as I was surrounded by people in actually flattering costumes.

I helped Anziano Welch make chocolate chip cookies!! I miss chocolate chip cookies so so much. He mixed it all together with his hands while I put stuff in but he kept freaking out that they wouldn’t be good enough. It was quite hilarious because he kept gesturing with his head at the stuff that needed to be added. The chocolate chips were in these bags filled with tons of air so I thought it would be cool to pop it over the bowl. It really was a great idea in theory because the second time I did it the bag popped and they all poured neatly and impressively into the bowl. Well, the first time some (a mere few, I assure you) ended up on the floor, which I got a lot of sass about. We didn’t really have the recipe. First we forgot the salt. Then the first batch got burned on the top and was still mushy on the inside. Turns out the racks were weird and there were only numbers 1-11 for the temperature so I had to guess on what was equivalent to 350 Fahrenheit. But I solved the problem, with the help of everyone’s input, on the second batch and the cookies were quite good. Not as good as my mamma’s recipe though.
Lynzie and Sharlie both decided to be Christmas trees which was hilarious.

Kimberly made caramel corn which we all got fat off of. Amazing. Also great baked potatoes and chili. The chili and cheese sauce were not exactly American so it was even better. Yum. And we got bags with American candy and them. Thanks Kimberly’s mom!

Sharlie and I had the best time because we got to be in one of the classroom for trick-or-treating. We made people knock on the door and then we’d jump out and (unsuccessfully) try to scare them [which was not as successful as the time I scared Chris when he was standing behind the arts and crafts counter]. And then I was the old lady who commented on how cute everyone’s costumes were.

Came home and watched Nosferatu, the ultimate Halloween movie.

NaBloPoMo

2008-11-03T06:28:00.000-08:00

I know my posts have been lacking lately and in honor of National Blog Post Month I am resolving to be better. I will start to post things that are more meaty. Speaking of meaty, mamma Luigia never tires of questioning/mocking my vegetarianism. The other day, when the other three had cooking class, she made this eggplant lasagna-y dish.
L: [Italian] looking at it would you think there is meat or there is not meat
Me: not meat?
L: you can’t see, you’ll have to eat it and find out.
I could tell there wasn’t meat but sometimes I really do wonder if she slips it into my tortellini.

It makes me really happy when she makes roast with potatoes and carrots because it reminds me so much of home.

Today our friend Daisy came over again. I miss children a lot. I even miss being a camp counselor sometimes. And sometimes I forget I’m not a camp counselor and feel like I need to be constantly entertaining the people around me. She was wearing Virginia’s slippers (featuring disgruntled looking bulldogs) and they were far too large.
Me: do you like dogs?
D: No, I like eating
Me: eating dogs?
D: I like cats and dogs…like Schizzo, dove e Schizzo??

Everyone loves that cat. They are always either singing his praises or yelling at him for knocking things over or escaping out the front door.

There is a grand Halloween update to come, but I am waiting to get pictures from other people.

Here's what I did in honor of Halloween yesterday:

2008-11-02T06:35:00.000-08:00

The Few Words You Really Must Know When Living With An Italian
-ascolta listen
-aspetta wait
-vai go
-ti piace? you like?
-grazie thank you
-licantropo werewolf (this word has been the source of two jokes I have made thus far)

Words you don’t need to know:
-Basta Enough. Because they won’t listen anyway.

our house. in the middle of our street.

2008-11-01T06:34:00.000-07:00

I was considering housing for January and the next semester when I realized that it really doesn’t matter where I live next semester. Because I have put up with my current living situation and not thought much of it. Right now I live in a house almost 800 years old. I live in a room that only has three walls. There is no heating, for the first couple weeks there was no hot water. I can hear the people who live above us perfectly and pigeons tap dance on and throw themselves at our skylight in the mornings. I sleep on a cot. Everything is dusty. Our room has poor lighting. We fixed our shower head with a plastic cup. I walk up five flights (74 steps) of stairs to get to my room. It’s a fifteen minute walk to school, uphill, dodging busses and tourists. I really don’t see how anything in Provo can compete with that.

Dobar Dan

2008-10-30T08:14:00.000-07:00

i feel like someone punched me in the heart....like that's really how i feel, i'm not being metaphorical.

Monday Kimberly, Sharlie, and I made the big decision...We have been debating for many months now what to do with our ten days after the program. And now we know.

Hungary and Croatia!

Perfect, eh? I am very stoked and here's why...The ballpoint pen was essentially invented in Croatia. Got matching hats and scarves at the .99 euro store to celebrate.

Today we wandered around Siena and saw St. Catherine's head. No joke...Her real head. Then we found an amazing gelato and crepe shop.

Filmed bits of Lynzie's music vid and also bits of what might be my application to the film major.

Got a sweet jacket for 5euro. also, i've taken up the guitar.
i know three chords.

isn't it beautiful?

2008-10-29T06:39:00.000-07:00

BYU is going to have an Italian Field Study spring/summer that is an Archeological dig north of Mt. Vesuvius.

I want to do it/wish I was doing it instead of this.

But also not, because then I wouldn't give up what I've done here.

But an archeological dig!?!? Voglio.

Important Announcement

2008-10-29T06:31:00.000-07:00

November is National Blog Month.
It’s also national some other things month, but this is what is most important.

So, in honor of this, I am challenging you all to write in your blog everyday. Whaa?? But that’s so hard!! No, it’s not, I've done it. For three months. But I understand that it is a bit difficult and I myself may not be able to do it because I’ll be traveling for much of November. But between my two blogs I am going to try and do it. But if you do I will give you a special prize. At least do your very best. For me. I’m even generously giving you a few days notice so you can prepare yourself mentally.

It’ll be fun, eh?

Best of luck on your endeavor!
Lauren Laws

Questa Weekend

2008-10-27T06:51:00.000-07:00

FRIDAY – European Chocolate Festival

You could get these cards that were good for free stuff at certain booths. So it was like trick or treating really. Especially because at one station we got cow horns so we all had a costume too. So we gorged on a lot of chocolate, chocolate bars, chocolate balls, hot chocolate, and chocolate pudding. The hot chocolate was just as thick as the chocolate pudding. So good. I feel really sick right now. Also the world's largest chocolate cow sculpture.

One of the free booth places had all run out but they were playing really great music that little kids were hula hooping to. Shaqira came on and I decided to shake my hips like I used to and one of the guys working there joined in and really showed me up. He is an Elvis of his day.

May have accidentally consumed alcohol as I took a bit of a chocolate ball and bitter liquid exploded in my mouth. Less than delightful. Emily spit hers in the garbage can which was amusing.

Also, ate French fries which I have been craving for ages. These are our cow faces.

Saturday
10:27 am

Chocolate Hangover.

Watched Bridget Jones’s Diary 2 last night and I love that film. I was admiring how the editing causes you to believe one thing is going on when it is really another. But then someone went and told me about an entirely different twist that had been removen (yes, removen, why not?) by Clean Screen™ which didn’t make sense and grossed me out.

11:32 am
Laying in bed and having deep discussions despite the early hour.

2:56 pm
Stuffed. We had spicy ketchup gnocchi for lunch. Also meatballs that she made me eat one. “it’s good, you won’t feel the meat.” It wasn’t bad, I just don’t like beef in the slightest. Luigia is always trying to trick me into eating meat.
“Pomegranates? Oh, yeah we have tons growing at our country house.” Why don’t I have pomegranate trees in my backyard?!?
My computer is falling apart and I’ve only had it a year and half. Should’ve gotten a Mac.

3:22 pm
Realization(s) hits. My stuff is all over the room and will I have room in my one suitcase to get everything back? Do not really want to be lugging two suitcases all around Croatia after the program. Other realization: I really love white shirts. Third realization: how good would chocolate covered pomegranate seeds be? Only one way to find out… Fourth realization: really excited to have my own kitchen again.

Sunday
Taught Sunday school today and survived. I have wanted to be a Sunday school teacher since I was about 15 and would try and teach when our teacher was late or didn’t show up. This time it was legal and I enjoyed it.

Yesterday we went on this insane bowling excursion that ended up taking six hours. We went with the ward though and it was great because watching Italians bowl is quite hilarious. There were high fives all around on many, many occasions.

Also, the city was called Poggibonsi, so that alone was worth it.

On busses/trains and while waiting for busses/trains I asked Lynzie if I could be her manager and she said yes. I plan on taking this role very seriously and will get her lots of gigs. And then talk all her money when she’s not looking. Kidding about that last bit.

Thursday

2008-10-27T06:42:00.000-07:00

Today I was in a protest parade. Well, mostly because it was on my way home. But I clapped along. But then some lady said something to me in Italian and then walked off…I think it was positive, but I really didn’t catch a word of it. All the students are striking because they want to make colleges private. I don’t blame them. I’d like to not pay for college also. I wish I could figure out more about it, some of them were wearing paper donkey ears, and they were yelling stuff. Last weekend when we were in Lucca a bunch of little kids were marching with their parents. It’s a big deal. Also, something about cutting. We just don’t know what.

There is a bunch of Swiss kids at the school and apparently one of them stares at me. I’ve noticed a couple times and someone else pointed it out too. He’s got a piercing in the part of his ear that keeps iPod headphones in.

I GOT A PICTURE ON THE WALL!! I am finally one of the elite. Peter with his all scrutinizing grading chooses a select few to put on the wall and discuss and I finally made it!
Although exciting it is also incredibly confusing. I thought the picture was so bad I almost didn’t turn it in. I thought the point of the assignment was to make something look three-dimensional, which I did not do. But he loved my composition. He is all about composition. I will never be an art student because everyone is so subjective!! Yes, I realize I’m trying to go into film which is the same way I’m sure, but I actually care to get better at that.
The other frustrating thing is he’ll be like, “I gave you a good grade right?” and then he’ll look at the grade and be like, “oh” (but doesn’t change it) so it depends on his mood or the time of day he looks at it or something.

And I’ve learned I can just quietly (or not so quietly) disagree with him and rework the drawings for him and for my grade. I also tell him to his face that I like my style and he’s too difficult. We have to do a final project that will probably kill me because I have to make three drawings that all go together and consistency is not my forte.

We found a quaint little hot chocolate shop today with a lady who sings and white chocolate Twix bars. We had a Life Club meeting: Deep Discussion Issue and an old man said Buongiorno to us.

lean on me

2008-10-22T05:17:00.000-07:00

Greater than seeing the tower was seeing the different ways everyone posed around it.

my wonderful roommate and i. she is beautiful in every way.

it would only let me upload two

2008-10-21T02:50:00.000-07:00

Non Sono i Vestiti, ѐ La Persona

2008-10-14T02:03:00.000-07:00

The Polish Lady has a name, and it happens to be Donna, which is lady in Italian so I really was spot on.
She came over for dinner again, our numbers have been around ten for dinner for some time now. And she was saying how Lucretia is some kind of tree (I really have no idea, her Poltalian is difficult to understand). And Virginia said, “e Virginia?” and later Donna goes on to tell her that she has a grand name and “she will it’s good.”
Virgi: “vede il futuro?” you see the future
Donna: “si, si.”
Me: [eyebrows raise in amusement and surprise]
Virgi: can you read my hand?
Donna: “si” tries for a bit and then says it is hard to read and she’ll do it another day
Virgi: domani?
Donna: I don’t know…For I cannot say if it’ll work tomorrow.
Franco: mine?
Donna: Si, oh, you have good lines…very good lines. You don’t like adventures…sometimes?
Franco; si…
Donna: ah, I can see…and you see, the reason I can see is because I have a very good aura. A very positive spirit. I was born on [some date] which means [some thing] etc. etc.
Luigia enters.
Franco: she’s reading my hand.
Luigia: oh, read mine!
Donna; another time, another time
Luigia: okay, tomorrow then.

By this time Donna had had 2-3 cups of wine and I was a bit anxious to see what would happen if she kept drinking…

At some point during this Elizabeth laughed so hard she had to excuse herself. Can’t blame her, years of acting training were finally put to use as I tried not to break at the dinner table. Che buffo questa donna!

Then Franco takes us up to the very top of our building and we had a most gorgeous panaromic view of Siena…Breathtaking! So, so gorgeous, even at night. We saw the tops of all the churches and the tower in the Campo and the tower of the cathedral. Bellissima citta! We are going to see it during the day sometime and I’ll post proper pictures then.

5terre

2008-10-14T02:01:00.000-07:00

Oh, I cut my hair...

Cinqueterre. The best weekend getaway I could have asked for.
Our train was delayed and we missed the connecting one, but va bene, because we had a dance party in the station splitting an iPod four ways.

Upon arrival we realized we were in a most beautiful place straight off a postcard. The weather was perfect and we walked between the first and second city along the road of love. City two had delicious cheap gelato and colorful buildings. Between two and three we found a playground. Then we decided it was too hot and changed into swimming suits. We found a boat dock and jumped off some rocks into the water and it was delightful. Salty, but delightful.

Swimming was going quite well and we were on our way back in when Christina yells out that something stung her. We had just looked in the water and not see anything but fish so I was thinking, great the freaking fish are electric. Then Cailey yells that she got stung too. And I was in between the two of them. I don’t think I’ve ever swam as fast as I swam towards shore then. Sharlie was on shore and said she could not figure out what was going on because we were all booking it towards her. Christina got stung again and I was freaking out because I had no idea what I was swimming away from. We get on shore and their skin is bubbling up and all white. But they were tough and didn’t complain. So we lay out to draw on this rock-thing. And about 20 minutes later I notice a little pink thing floating along in the water. Jellyfish infestation. Luckily they were little things.
Speaking of injuries. Peter, our director and art teacher, is always concerned about people’s health and asks several times a day if we are okay. Well, he decided it would be neat to poke a garden snake with a stick and it bit him. Turns out the garden snake was a viper and one of the most poisonous things in Italy. His thumb swelled up, then his arm, and it headed for his heart.
Turns out his blood was thickening and he was beginning to be digested. He spent the night in the hospital and we were almost Peterless.

The rest of cinqueterre was magical. After exploring the first day, we ran up an insane hill to catch the bus and almost died. But then we checked into the hostel and went exploring around the surrounding areas in search of dinner. The town was mostly deserted but we did see two boys and contemplated asking them for directions to a restaurant. The stopped near us and said, “ciao” to which we all replied in a girly, “ciao!” turns out they were saying goodbye to each other, not hello to us. One of the complications of a word that means hello and goodbye.

Cailey could smell Basilicas but that didn’t help us much.

We finally headed down a road to a pizza place, but they were on holiday, but we passed a window and could hear a man singing opera. And it’s moments like that when you know you’re in Italy.

At the restaurant I decided to be adventurous and got these weird pasta pancakes. They were hard to chew. Rapped about our awesome day on the walk back.

Survived my first night in a hostel. And we were first in line for the bus that morning. Hiked up 300 stairs to a pretty viewpoint. Mishaps occurred but I was given the opportunity to use the knowledge accumulated through 50 first aid and a sports med class. I saved the day with RICE though she insisted on not elevating or resting. Nap on the beach to make up for lack of sleep. Braved the water again, but only after Christina scoped out the water with her goggles.

Ate quiche and foccaccia with pesto for lunch. And Kit-Kat gelato in a waffle cone. Sat along the water and watched the boats floating along. Found Kostos.

Train ride back broke down, or something, it was explained quickly in Italian whatever it was that happened. Entertained people with The Lauren Show featuring Lynzie and Sharlie with a very supportive live audience.
Where'd it all go?

I am in love with the Miel (honey) Pop cereal we have here.

last night i laid awake thinking about homemade nachos

2008-10-09T00:38:00.000-07:00

I’m not sick!! I’m not sick!! I went from completely bedridden to frolicking down streets of gold. Not really, because I got dizzy going up stairs and if the streets are gold it’s only from all the dog pee (see Few Qualms I Have with Siena).

So life is all lasagna and fruit tarts these days (again, really just this day because the last two were horrible and involved not so much actual eating as attempting to make it look like I ate and flicking tortellini onto Kendis’s plate furtively*) and my Italian teacher is amazing and defending me even though I don’t deserve it because she knows I only did horribly* on my midterm because I was half-dead. Figuratively*.

*I, Lauren Laws, intended to defend against Mr. Woods claim that adverbs are obsolete.

In other speakings, my English is getting progressively* worse and worse and maybe we really shouldn’t use adverbs and why do I still talk all the time anyway. And maybe we should all just speak Polish liiiiike the hilarious lady who came to dinner tonight [segue]

The lights come up on a dining room in an over 800 year house, three American girls sit on one side of the table. Two adults at one head and two more girls at the other. A polish lady, Italian college student, and younger Italian (about 14) sit along the other side, backs to the audience.

[soft murmuring while the Polish lady gestures with her hands a lot until gradually words become more clear]

Lady: asks some things in Italian
4 Americans: silence
Luigia: attempts to understand and asks for everyone’s plates
2 Italian daughters: eat something different, and healthier than the rest of us
Flavia: politely asks for only a little bit
Elizabeth: reaches for Frizzante acqua
Me: predicts it will not be frizzy
Elizabeth: is disappointed
Alyssa: asks Lady where she is from
Lady: somewhere in Poland that I did not catch…asks if things in the house are authentic
Franco: says the house was built in 1265
Me: [aside]Mille due cento?!!!
Elizabeth: asks him to repeat
Franco: it’s 800 years old
Me: [thinking] Mamma Mia
Elizabeth: [aloud] Mamma Mia!
Me: excited for a change to add something to the conversation, La mia casa…é sette. Holds up seven fingers.
Much laughter
Franco: asks if my house is like the ones in Hollywood
Me: Ummm, not really.
Luigia: asks if we all saw the tarts
Me: [thinking] why yes we saw them from our balcony room actually.
Schizzo: tries to open the door to escape
Luigia: disappears for a while so we can’t have the tarts we had seen.
Luigia: returns, hands out tarts giving the one that falls apart to Franco.
Lady: tries to teach us words in Polish, because our Italian is so great we’re obviously ready to move on.
Virigina: tries very hard to say said Polish words
Franco: also tries
Me: think that Polish might be impossible with an Italian accent.
Luigia: forces more tart on everyone, ignoring requests for none or small pieces.
Lady: wants to know how to make lasagna and tarts, asks Luigia to teach her
Luigia: goes into detailed explanation about how to cook such things, including peeling onions
Me: thinks she said peel the cow and cut it into pieces, horrible imagery
Elizabeth: informs me I misunderstood and laughs for a while
Virigina: says something in English
Blank stares
Luigia: finally decides she will teach ALL of us (after asking when we get out of class) at 15:15 or 15:30
Me: [again glad to have something to contribute] la clase di Luigia!
More laughter
Lady: continues to talk…
Me: can no longer follow when she switches languages

Pouring of mysterious green alcohol that as they drank I couldn’t tell if they enjoyed it or not.

Finally retreat about 9 o’clock, me happy to haven eaten for reals.

Yesterday I was sick and not really interested in the food and Luigia was like “senza carne! Senza carne! E verde” which I knew because only Don Johnson thinks meat is green. But then Franco winked at me and said, “c’ѐ carne.” Which means there is meat. And it made me smile despite half-deadness. I believe winking should occur more in everyday life. It is a great thing. Infatti, we don’t even need courting, when I feel ready I will just run off with the first person who winks at me…but then it would be an old man…or Lynzie. Which I would be okay with if the cards hadn’t told her today she’d marry someone else.

2008-10-07T08:42:00.000-07:00

I spoke Italian in my sleep last night!!!
Success!!
Only like a sentence, but still.

Do Not Sit On The Choir

2008-10-06T07:26:00.000-07:00

I'm sick...hot and cold at the same time with a splitting headache.

Took my midterms even though I could hardly remember my own name.

Today I watched television with Franco. The other three had cooking, which they didn’t inform Luigia of and she kind of flipped (they yell a lot here…that’s kind of just how communicating happens). She was really concerned about making too much and I said, “mangio piu” which means I will eat more and Franco laughed. I have to say I appreciate Franco a lot, he is my right-hand man, or rather, left-hand man because I often end up sitting to the right of him at the dinner table. But he laughs at my jokes*.

*anyone who laughs at my jokes gets a million bonus points in my book, without exception.

Today we went to Florence and I have to say there is amazing food. We had the most amazing focaccia bread in the world, I’m sure.

Friday:

We went to buonconvento which is a quaint little Italian town that looks just like the pictures…Infatti, here is a picture:

Saturday:

I can’t even begin to explain…

No words.

Today I:
. made an appointment to cut my hair, in Italian
. decided I might need Italian boots
. was asked for fashion advice by an Italian
. did homework
. bought tights and underwear
. was laughed at by a guy from California
. heard/participated in a lot of yelling and tearing up when they officially announced the building of the Rome temple
. celebrated the Palio victory of il bruco!!
. bowed to a Tibetan monk
. saw a group of lepers eating at a restaurant
. petted a donkey
. danced to Viva La Vida in Zanzibar
. passed through Afghanistan
. walked down a street cloaked in Chinese laterns
. got snowed on
. and am now listening as celebration music blares into our room from outside…coming from two different places.

Songs include:
Jitterbug
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
YMCA
Walk like an Egyptian
Songs from Grease
Hey Baby
The Twist
Great Balls of Fire!
Video Killed the Radio Star

more to come when I'm not sick.

you'd be a work of art

2008-09-30T08:16:00.001-07:00

Last night we mourned properly by watching Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (good thing I brought it) and eating Mike n' Ikes. Had I been in the states it would have been Cool Hand Luke and balsamic vinegar. Nonetheless, it was good enough for me because...

I dreamed I was Paul Newman!! Well, not him, but one of his rebel characters. I kept escaping from the police, or jail, or other things. And then I got caught and they put handcuffs on me and I said, "Chains? Oh, I can break out of chains?" And I broke through them.

I felt really cool when I woke up.

Except I really think my bed is going to collapse everytime I wake up/move.

Yesterday after dinner we chatted with our host sister Virgi(nia) and she asked us about Speed Dating, because she heard they do it in America, haha.

I've gotta learn this language.

So yesterday I thought I had a midterm but I didn't and I really have no idea what's going on in my class...ever.

2008-09-29T08:43:00.000-07:00

I've got heartburn and Paul Newman's death on my mind.
Can't post properly at the moment.

It's a sad day.
And we may be going to Greece instead of Switzerland.

Thought-provoking thoughts...of thoughtfulness.

2008-09-26T00:38:00.000-07:00

Being Italy has given me time away from the business of the world and the drama of various things and it has provided me with a lot of time to think.

And here are some things I've thought about:

1. What is Art? (Peter asks us everyday)
2. If I fell in the forest and no one was there to hear it...Who pushed me?
3. What can I do to get this nice Mediteranean tan all year long?
4. If Ben Folds, Ben Lee, and Ben Kweller joined forces...Would it be the most amazing thing ever? (Oh wait, that did happen, and it was, but didn't last...sad day)
5. Why are people obsessed with pirates? (they're dirty and get scurvy and kill people)
6. Does time exist if I don't own a watch?
7. What makes people fall in love?
8. Why was my host family talking for so long about a public restroom at the dinner table?
9. If I die of secondhand smoke as a result of this trip, was it worth it? (always yes)
10. If Alessandro, our Humanities teacher, is fluent in about six languages why aren't I?

for real.

2008-09-25T04:10:00.000-07:00

Hey blog.

Turns out it’s a lot easier to write in you when I’m at home with nothing to do, than in that small amount of time that I have internet and am distracted by other things.

Today Elizabeth and I woke up to a good song. Mostly, it’s a good song because the first time I heard it was when Lena is running to Kostos (finally!)…In a very important part of a very dear movie. Everybody’s talking how I can’t can’t be your love but I want want want to be your love, want to be your love for real.

I can’t believe September is almost over, but I also can’t believe I have over two months still. I have absolutely NO concept of time here...I don't own a watch and I can't keep track of what day it is. I go to bed sometime around 11 and wake up sometime around 7-8. Sharlie and I were commenting that we might be developing good habits, what a shame.

I kind of wish I didn’t have to communicate in English at all. Because I’m no good at it and it is far too complicated to switch back and forth.

So I just got done with my first solo dinner (perche le altre tre hanno clase mercoledi tra 5-9) and I thought I’d be good and have a go get ‘em chat-it-up attitude. But instead I just said about two words and nodded once in a while.
Failure.

Ma, prendo un’A sull mio esame orale oggi!! Brava io!!

Also, it was okay, because the cat joined us at the dinner table this evening.

Bought myself a Christmas present today, on accident, because she asked if I wanted it wrapped, but I didn’t know that’s what she said, so I just said yes. So, good thing she didn’t say, “do you not want your change back?”

“So you think tourist season will ever be over?”
“Well I noticed when the summer is over the old people come out.”

And they are out. I have to navigate through groups of them on my way to school, they walk slowly and have every visible sign of tourists. The fanny packs, cameras out, maps out, following a tour guide, backpacks worn in front, and today I saw a group and started to shake my head in amusement…but then I stopped mid-shake.

These people are probably fulfilling lifelong dreams. Maybe they spent their lives working and raising kids and just now got a chance to take a break to explore the world. Or maybe they’ve been here before and couldn’t wait to see the familiar places once more. And suddenly all their dorky outfits were wonderfully inspiring. They are following their hearts the best they know how. I am so lucky to be here. And even if they are hard to navigate when I’m late for school and they look ridiculous following someone with a flower on a stick, I’m glad they’re here too.

Art is making my head hurt worse than the Italian...I just don't want to spend hours and hours sitting in a poorly lit museum trying to make something by only shading. It's not my thing...It's some people's thing, but not mine. I'd rather take a photograph of the thing or draw a loose interpretation of it in sidewalk chalk. That's my thing.

Reasons

2008-09-22T05:48:00.001-07:00

Reasons I am Happy Right Now:

Last night we had amazing potatoes!! They reminded me of the Indian food I have been missing oh so much. Tears of joy filled my eyes and I almost ate way too much.
But it gets better, to top it off we had ricotta cheese that I had been wanting/daydreaming about also!!
And our wonderful host mother wasn’t even mad we were a little late (because we had been doing Genealogical work at the Church) and told us we were having Gnocchi for “ranch tomorrow” …her attempt at English was appreciated, nonetheless and we all laughed together when we realized what she was talking about. Lunch and ranch basically mean the same thing anyway. And gnocchi is the best…con formaggii!!
She also made me an omelet because I don’t eat meat, she is the sweetest.
And to top off her sweetness factor I climb the stairs to our balcony-room and discover a HUGE comforter on my bed!!! Now, a lot of people have been freezing lately…Personally, I’m overjoyed that it’s cooled off. So even though it was too hot to use it last night, I slept on top of it and way really, really happy. Because it’s really thick…and has Mickey Mouse on it. Which kind of makes up for not having 102 Dalmatian sheets like Alyssa and Kendis have.
AND they have the book I have to read in Italian in English in this one bookstore which would be AMAZINGLY helpful because I try going through it and understanding, but I can’t because it doesn’t translate normally, because they don’t speak/write what they teach us in school. I spent about two hours on ten pages yesterday and still don’t understand it.
I had one of those dreams last night where everything goes how you want it too and you wake up all happy (though slightly disappointed it wasn’t real) and those happy feelings are lingering.
Also they have really good hot chocolate in these machines at school. For only fiddy cents.
And yesterday we found really good pizza/panini place.
And Kendis and Alyssa asked about hot showers and that all got fixed (still cold, but not freezing).

Reasons Why I am Less Than Happy Right Now

I feel lame. I’m always tired and sickish feeling. Yesterday I had a sore throat that luckily went away. But I don’t feel up to making any plans for weekend trips or any decisions about anything and I want to just sleep all day, but then I remember I’m in Italy and so I go out anyway.
I am covered in hives (or something) and have no idea why. They’re scattered all over my feet and there are a few on my arms and one on my face and all up my legs. I can’t figure out what it is. If it’s an allergic reaction it could be to anything because everything is new here. But they itch and are ugly and it sucks.
So. Much. Homework. I get about a million pages a day in Italian, not to mention the book that makes no sense. Humanities just doesn’t make much sense because BYU told him what to teach and I don’t think he’s ever done it that way before. Drawing is alright, but Peter is all professional and thinks harsh criticism will make us stronger. And my religion class is just a lot of reading…which is what online classes are, I suppose.
I want to know Italian!! I am trying. And failing. And I have an oral exam Wednesday (not that everyday isn’t an oral exam, but this one is being graded) and I just don’t ever know how to say what I want. I need to know more vocab.
Also, everyone else’s Wednesday class got moved so they’re going to the sweet market that only goes on Wednesday mornings…all three Italian classes that I’m not in got moved…but not mine.
The school is closed in the evening’s and weekends so I have to pay if I ever want to talk to someone at normal hours for them.

But there are always more reasons to be happy than sad.
.
Always.

Today was the Porcupine contrada’s celebration…thing. But it really made no sense because there were a couple places where everything was in French. Quoi?
And then there was a debutant ball type thing.
And people pretending to be policemen.
And a train that kept going around and around.
And people in pioneer-like clothing.
And I’m sure if we’d stayed out later there would have been a lot of drunk people.

So I’d like to point out that I cheated and read the book I’m reading for Italian in English…And it STILL didn’t make sense. So I’m not so horrible at Italian, they really were talking about eating fried brains on windowsills and wasps curing diseases.

And I realized I kind of really love editing movies.
Which I really am not sure how that makes me feel.

I’m sick…and I get really pathetic when I get sick…so make it go away please.

It’s amazing how life can look completely horrible and complicated and undefeatable one minute. And then you take a break to make some fig gelato, and eat way too many, and life/homework doesn’t look quite so horribly terrible anymore. But I’d still like to not be sick. And to be fluent in Italian…that’s not so much, is it?

2008-09-19T04:35:00.000-07:00

forgot to mention we had panini at a place with interesting things. i had a goat cheese and sun-dried tomato sandwich and Kimberly had a boar salami one.

i think i'm getting sick, but i'm trying to fight it.

used a blanket for the first time here last night.

took a bunch of vid clips and hopefully i'll put them all together in a pretty way and you can see them soon.

because i can't really write short posts...

2008-09-19T01:35:00.000-07:00

So, yesterday I listened to one of the most amazing lectures I have ever heard with these ears of mine. So, Siena has these contradas, they’re like neighborhoods, and there are 17 of them. And it’s kind of cute because they each have a mascot and a flag and such…

But it’s not cute at all. This is serious business we’re talking about.

Luca, who is our bestest friend at the Dante Alighieri school we attend gave us a presentation that gave us a better idea about the contrade (because in Italian a -> e to make something plural). So, he is in the Torre (Tower, elephant) contrada and they are enemies with the goose contrada. And he knows a goose who married a torre and he said during the war days (the Palio [the horse race]) they live in different places! Because it’s too hard otherwise!

Some contradas don’t have enemies, but Luca said that it’s not as fun that way because then there is slightly less motivation to win. In the case of different parents, they choose what the children will be before they are born. And each contrada has a museum that you can only attend with special permission. We got to see the panther contrada museum because it was for an educational purpose.

So the Palio is this intense horse race, only ten out of the seventeen contrade get to run. The seven that didn’t run last year automatically get to run and then the last three are drawn. It is symbolic of a war, because they used to fight all the time and now they run the race. But they still fight each other during the race time, but it’s on the side.

Then the horses are picked out and they draw for the horses. But it turns out that they purposely pick out some horses that aren’t so great, so it’s not really a sport, but more like luck of the draw type of thing. And no one cares about the jockeys because they’re usually not from Siena and doing it for the money (they make a TON if they win, by the way) and Luca kept referring to them as prostitutes. And then the race is won by someoneand everyone goes crazy.

And what they win is this cloth with the Virgin Mary on it, which is called a Palio. Because it is run in honor of Mary.

And the contrada is your culture, because you take care of each other and support each other and have parties all the time. And each contrada has a patron saint and they have a huge parade on their saint day.

And it is a really, really big deal. I don’t think my explanation can do it justice.

So today we fieldtripped it to Firenze (Florence) and saw David….THEE DAVID. Yeah, he’s huge, by the way. I don’t know what I was expecting, but I was thinking more of a life-size type thing. But au contraire, he is a giant…Rather ironic. So it is an interesting sculpture, in that he is standing all muscled and victorious. Maybe because the last version of David and Goliath I saw was the Wishbone version, but I usually think of David as a young boy (or puppy). But it is a great sculpture. Bernini’s is better (I would say “in my opinion” but I’m sure you’ve discovered that everything here in my opinion). But Michelangelo did pretty darn good. Of course, it is also at a disadvantage because you can’t inspect it closely like the Bernini ones because it is surrounded by a glass gate and on a pedestal. Also as Kendis pointed out, you stare at it for a long time and then you go, “hm, it’s a naked man.”

The cathedrals here are so jaw-droppingly amazing. You round a corner filled with bustling tourists and fake purse sellers and all the sudden an amazingly intricate façade is just chilling there. It always makes me stop for a second. A-MAZING. I don’t know how they make them, because the outside is like a million paintings and sculptures all put together. I don’t think my eyes can even handle all the amazing things we’ve seen.

I am not an art history expert, by any means, and sometimes I feel ridiculous when I forget how to spell Michelangelo or I can’t tell when a piece is from the Renaissance (and also can’t spell renaissance), but I can appreciate what a piece is doing.

For example, when I look at a Carvaggio I can say, “dang, look at the lighting and shadows he created and how vibrant the colors are” or “oh, that picture is symmetrical and the colors are drawing your eye to Jesus and Mary, because they’re important.”

Also, I have to say Intro to Film has come handy many a time. “Oh, look at that vectoring…and saturation…and framing…and the choice of colors for each character...and those facial expressions are saying a lot about the emotions that are meant to be portrayed…did I mention the saturation and hue??”

Now I just need to find a painting with a Pepsi can in the corner and I can wow them with my knowledge of product placement.

the layout is as follows...

2008-09-17T05:37:00.000-07:00

So I had an IB European History teacher who said that every aspect of history could be divided into the following catagories: Social, Economical, Political, Religious, Technological/Scientific, and there might have been one more

So here is my life, currently, in those terms (one of you has already seen this)

socially: basically i hang out with my three roommates. sometimes we go out with other girls in the program and wander around siena. the people around here stare at me and don't smile so i don't know how to make friends. but at the school there are some nice people who speak english...i just haven't managed to get to know any of them very well because all of us at BYU are on our own schedule.

politically: i have no idea what's going in america. i was going to get an absentee ballot, but i really don't know anything about anything. except i like obama as a person, he seems nice. the other day i walked by the TV and Bush was doing something and my first thought was, "oh! America...Wonder what's going on there" but it was in Italian and i just kept walking to the dinner table

religiously: the branch here is AMAZING. there are 12-20 members but they are all incredible! the branch pres is a missionary and he's really dedicated and i'm super impressed that he's able to do it. i'm trying to read the book of mormon in italian, it's hard. .

technologically: i have no ipod, no cell phone, i use the internet at the school that only works half the time...as i type this it is turning off and on. i live in a medevial city. i don't have hot water at the house i live in... there is limited lighting in my room.

economically: the usd:euro sucks, but might be slowly going down. i feel awesome because i took a bunch of money out the day it was the lowest it's been the whole time. i am going to be completely broke when i get back.

the other day a stranger asked me for directions, so i showed her around. even though later she discovered she had a map with the route she needed to take highlighted. but, i felt good for doing service.

we had fresh riccotta cheese last night and it was AMAZING!!! i wish i was eating it right now.

2008-09-16T03:12:00.000-07:00

Arroooooooooooooooo!

2008-09-15T05:42:00.000-07:00

I had pictures to go with this, but the internet fails, so instead you get a long wordy post. Horrah!

Yesterday it started pouring down rain while we were at school. And hailing!! Somehow it was hailing when it was 80ish degrees out! This city makes no sense, but I still love it. Peter decided to be all generous and told us we could stay out later than our usual curfew. Most people were overjoyed (I was indifferent as time really has no meaning to me here) and we all decided to meet in il Campo (the big square…well, it’s a circle, where they hold the Palio and such).

So everyone was excited to experience the Siena night life, we had dinner early and got to il Camp early and there were people out, sitting and chatting and it was great just to be outside when it wasn’t a million degrees out. Then more of our group shows up and it starts raining. But it was mostly raining on the other side of the square (circle) so a few of us were still out in the rain when it comes rushing towards us from the other side. A wave of rain came rushing at us and we ran for an archway to the cheers and laughing of some drunken men at an outdoor restaurant nearby. We made it before the rain-wave caught us.

And the next day I bought an umbrella. It’s incredible here…everyone has an umbrella. I’m used to Oregon where it was always kind of wussy to use an umbrella unless there was a monsoon going on. But I thought about it a bit and people here wear designer clothes instead of Birkenstock’s and Hawaiian shirts so they actually have clothes worth protecting. Though, I did see a Birkenstock store here. So everyone has umbrellas and it’s the coolest thing to see a massive herd of umbrella-y people strolling down the street. And every store has little umbrella buckets to put them in while you shop. And I bought a bright yellow one.

Today we went out to dinner (and got completely ripped off, mind you) and this guy was having dinner with a girl and he just kept blabbering on and on. We could here him talking the whole time and almost never heard her. Then he goes off about facebook, “if I wrote on other people’s walls more they would write back on mine. That’s how it goes.” And I just started laughing, because he was saying how he could create the illusion of popularity if he wanted to put in the time but he didn’t because he didn’t care…but I think he really did care. Looooooooooooooooooook  do you see that “look” the insane cat we live with typed that. No joke. I think he is trying to tell us something. Also, he can Apparate because I will leave a room that he’s in and he will just be in the next room I go into. It’s like the First Edition cat, I just don’t know whose life he wants me to save.

So it’s cold and rainy now. It literally happened in one day’s time. It’s nice because Fall weather is my absolute fave but also strange because we used to be “literally sweating to death” everyday, (note: if that had literally been true I literally would not have been able to make such a statement, because I would be dead…literally). Sharlie and I literally had a discussion about people only using literally when they mean the opposite. We figuratively wanted to kill people who misuse it too often.

I feel like sleeping all the time. I don’t know if it’s jet-lag coming after me, or that baby mono I get sometimes, or just because it’s more inviting than homework, but I just fall asleep in the middle of the day…A lot.

We had really good potatoes yesterday but she said she wouldn’t tell us what was on them and that we would have to cook with her to find out. But they were delizioso.

People were singing in the streets last night and I have no idea why. There are always drums or bells or something going off around here. Our second night we walked into an internet café and a few moments later a group of people running a race jogged by…at 10 o’clock at night. There’s always something.

So Sharlie was telling me how she said, Mama Mia! To her host mamma at dinner and that she laughed a lot. So I kind of stole that concept and today we had carbonerra pasta which is eggs and ham in pasta. And she was like, “you want it without meat, Virginia wants it without meat OR eggs…” and I go, “mamma mia!” and she laughed. Success! It’s the ultimate Italian icebreaker. Keep that in mind.

Ate grapefruit yogurt today…The food here is incredible (in every sense of the word) I’m pretty sure I was meant to be Italian.

My homework was so hard this last weekend. Me and Elizabeth both wanted to cry because we had so much work that didn’t make sense. I actually felt sick at the thought of going to class. But it really wasn’t so bad today. Turns out, she seems to find my cluelessness a tad bit endearing and as long as I put myself out there and act like I’m trying I should be okay. But she talks really fast and still looks at me like I’m stupid. Which I kind of am, so it’s good.

Right now I’m having a really hard time thinking in English…Which I think is also good. I kind of wish I was on a Study Abroad like Angela where everyone knew the language at least a little. Because I need all the practice I can get.

So my skin is really hot...Like I should be running a temperature, but I'm not. And I don't really feel sick...But my face and neck are so hot.

Only one answer, must be becoming a werewolf...Or as I learned today un licantropo.

i know the sky is what makes the ocean blue.

2008-09-12T02:16:00.000-07:00

So, I just have to say that I am overwhelmingly happy for my friends right now. Because a lot of them are in really good places in their lives right now, in love or experiencing new, wonderful things. Or just living life up as best as they can. And if you're happy I'm happy. Win-win-win (don't ask about the third win, it just is).

Today I woke up to what sounded like people trying to open a door and failing. And kind of like tapdancing also. Turns out there were pigeons all over our skylight...And I wanted to kill them because they would not shut up and it was SO loud. I don't know how it was so loud but it was somehow amplified.

Last night we watched 13 going on 30, pretty hilarious stuff. And she is ridiculously cute. Kind of made me miss boys though.

Luigia (mom) said that we are the luckiest in our group because we are fed well and have the nicest parents. I think it's true.

I ate about a million figs last night (and this morning)...So delish.
So on my card here they spell my middle name Michkelle...it's quite brilliant.
Really weird not having anyone in my class to work on homework with.
I'm trying so hard to learn this language...But it's hard.

but as my parents always tell me, I can do hard things.

figured out a schedule for next semester, 13 creds + the film app + a job should keep me pretty occupied. Also, after that semester I will only have ONE GE left! The advanced writing or whatever one. I'm excited...Except that means I better get a major stat!

Mambo Italiano

2008-09-11T06:34:00.000-07:00

Ciao Americani!!

So, we're starting to get settled into our homes. Yesterday they told us that we didn't have to stay in our rooms and that we should do homework outside, or at the kitchen, or in front of the tv. heh. They are SO welcoming, it's amazing.

I gave them their presents and they were SO thrilled. Franco put on the Nike cap and it was hilarious. And they were all excited about the Football and wanted to throw it around at the table. They also looked at the postcard for almost a full ten minutes. And I think Luigia liked the earrings. And then the girls really liked the bags and the Burts Bee's chapstick. Virginia was like, "I want to eat it." and Lucretia kissed me on both cheeks.

And now for an interesting little story. Felt like a missionary because Angela (friend of the family) came over and was asking me what classes I was taking [note: this is all in Italian] and I told her I had four and one of them was an online religion class and she was like [in Italian] "What is the Mormon church?" So I tried to explain [in Italian] what it was all about using words I know and trying not to ruin the message I was trying to convey. And she kept asking questions about how its different than other churches and what is the Book of Mormon. It was intense. So now I know what it's like to be a missionary speaking to people I don't really know in a language I don't really know about the Church.

Then later in the conversation they asked when our first love was and we may have accidentally told them we had sex when we were 15-16. But I'm thinking we didn't...But it's hard to say.

So, we're building up a good view of Americans.

Just now the 102 teacher who subbed for our Oral Esami last semester was walking around here with his wife and another guy from BYU. And they talked to one of the teachers here who said this guy who drew a picture on the wall of the room we always hang out in walked from Siena to Florence! It took him 5 days. Crazy.

The Euro is down to 1.39! Hooray! [still not that good]

Things I miss: smoothies, having a fan in my room.

che lunga.

2008-09-09T08:08:00.000-07:00

So...I'm in an Italian class...All by myself. Solo. Oh wait, I'm not by myself, because there is the Italian woman who is asking me questions and having me analyze text and tell her what my "dream in a drawer" is. Which, I have no idea what it is...Also, I had to talk about my childhood and my earliest memories. I attempted to describe, in Italian, duck, duck, goose. Mama Mia...I've got an incredible headache, needless to say. But I should be dang good at Italian at the end of these ten weeks...

or dead.

But, lets back up a bit. We arrived in Siena on Saturday. It was lovely, as expected. We all stood around at this bus station and waited for our families to come get us. It was really like puppies in a cardboard box. We were on the side of the road and they would come and pick up a couple people and then they left. Ours came to get us in two cars (due macchine) with their daughter, Virginia, who speaks pretty good English. So she told us that we were going to drop off our stuff in the city and then we would go to the country for dinner, and I was confused, but went with it anyway.

Turns out...They have TWO HOUSES!! The city house is this immaculate museum... Which conveniently required carrying our luggage up 4 flights of stairs. Our mama, Luigia, works at a bank (or something) but is also an AMAZING painter. And her paintings are everywhere in the house. It's a huge house, by the way. Then the country house has cows (mucca) and horses and chicken and a cat named Schizo and a dog, who I'm not sure even belongs to them. So we ate dinner there with a couple that they are friends with, who are quite hilarious.

And we ate tons of figs, which are DELICIOUS.

Next day we went to church and people were incredible. This one lady had one of the missionaries translate into English for us, but she kept telling him he was doing it wrong and he was like, "you can speak English!!" but she insisted he translate. and then at one point she was getting emotional, but told him he didn't have to cry, hah.

After church we wandered around a bit and then took a much needed nap.

Then we got picked up and taken to the country for dinner, this time the daughter who spoke English didn't go with us so we thought it would be quieter...But o contrario, we get there to a huge chorus of Ciao! Buona Sera! and telling us how pretty we are. There was one man who sang in New York in 1969. And another lady with three wedding rings all together that were buried in diamonds. And our friends from the night before along with a lady who wanted to practice her English and another who was convincing us she would be the best tour guide for Siena, because she knows everything.

And we ate a lot, pasta in a walnut cream sauce, bread, zucchinni with mozerella, thin fried potatoes, and mashed (sort of) potatoes with olive oil and salt and pepper, proscuitto and figs, and gelato.

They were all so hilarious and animated, I wish I could describe the scene better, but it was excellent.

I really wish it would cool down here, because I have overly used my 1 pair of shorts and 3 skirts, but it's getting better.

ciao ciao!

2008-09-09T05:03:00.001-07:00

So I have a REALLY long post for y'all (Sydney is wearing off on me) but it is on Sharlie's computer because I wrote it on there and then the internet died, but here's one, it'll just be out of order when I get the other one up.

Yesterday was our first real family dinner (without a million distractions) and it was lovely. I feel immensely fortunate to have the host family that I have. They aren’t home much, but so far we’ve always had dinner together. The mom came home and half-hugged us and kissed our cheeks. And the daughters are always super friendly and tell us the Italian words for things. And then the father was telling us how he has family in New York. And while this is all happening quickly and in Italian it still feels like a family.

School is intense so far…We have three hours of the same class at a time, which is not my most favorite. Today we talked forever about drawing and I kept thinking we were going to have a break, because I had to go to the bathroom, but we didn’t…And it sucked!

Oh, and we made some alterations to our shower head so the water doesn’t spray all over the entire bathroom…

So my contrada is the contrada of the catepillar. and we have the best motto ever.

My name sounds like a revolution. How sweet is that? Here is my street with the contrada flags on it:

just a day at the beach

2008-09-05T10:05:00.001-07:00

So, slowly, but surely I am getting pictures to upload, horray!!

Not much to report, today we spent the day on the beach. We took a boat to Amalfi and the coast was quite wonderful. We got mini calazones like my mom makes for one euro and for a brief moment I felt like I was at home, heh. Also got way to big of a gelato...Dang that language barrier ;)

Walked around some cute little shops, got one christmas present. So I'm doing alright. Sharlie found the wedding ring she wants at a jewelery store.

There are the CUTEST dogs (cani) around here. They're all little mixed breeds and they just roam around. Two had infiltrated Pompei, but they are adorable!!

Also, everyone honks at everyone here...And our bus driver is amazing because he can navigate on incredibly narrow roads on cliffs and not think anything of it.

I'm sunburned...But I probably deserve it for laying on the beach so long.

People here are incredibly passionate, and I want to be more like them.

If You Think It Is Not Incredible You Will Change Your Mind

2008-09-04T13:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was struggling way too much with internet to try and write on here, but I did write to myself, so no worries.

We are now in Minori on the coast, and it's wonderful as any coastal town is. Todaym after Pompei (AMAZING) we saw/floated in the sea, which was really great considering its a million degrees here.

Have not been hit on by an Italian man yet, but almost ran into one (literally, like four more inches and noses would have collided) and Sharlie was convinced we shared a moment.

So Herculaneum was yesterday and it was my FAVORITE. We got to explore these perfectly (well, not quite) perserved city. They have amazing buildings and we took some fabulous pictures I wish I could show you (but again, the internet hates me). I realized the film kid in me is coming out as I wasn't as satisfied unless each photo was perfectly composed/lighted.

Dinner comes with the hotel and so far we have had hilarious conversations at each of them, this trip has been good to get to know everyone before we split off in separate house.

In Pompeii we had a tour guide and he told us lots of cool stuff. Saw some really well perserved frescos, including in what was apparently a brothel...which was unfortunate.

Around Pompei I filmed a trailer about two students who (with the help of a gypsy) discover the truth about how the people of Pompei died. Unfortunately the sound is kind of horrible, but I'll put it up shortly.

At breakfast I couldnt get the milk to pour out and the waiter-guy who was hovering over the buffet goes, "no, it's magic." and he pushed the button that made it go, ha.

My English is getting worse, which I hope is a good sign.

I loved the ruins so much though, as much as all the art we've seen is amazing, I love exploring the ruins. It's like a playground...Only you get disapproving looks from people in nametags when you get too excited (yes, that happened to me).

So, yeah, I'm having a good time. Today at the beach we found smooth rocks and were showing them to each other, feeling like little kids, and then someone goes, "everyone at byu is in classes right now." and we :)

pioneer children sang as they walked and walked and walked and walked

2008-09-02T10:15:00.001-07:00

k, five minutes to type because i dont want to pay more than .50€ for internet. i will post more details about where we have been hint: everywhere when i get my pics up.

so, i probably wore off a layer of my feet from all the walking we have done. but its fun right? also, the met broke down for a while, so more walking.

went to this INSANE bone church...cyrpt...thing. i need to look up more about it, but basically they made all these designs out of bones...real bones...and they were everywhere and it was like hundreds of dead peoples worth of bones

also walked around the forum and made up stories about each thing because i had left my guide book. but, boy did we make up some good stories.

also saw the colusseum...which was big. 55000 people could sit in it, fun fact.

not to mention we saw some AWESOME-AWE INSPIRING sculptures by berninni, like the most amazing things ever, and carvaggio paintings.

k more later.

l'arte

2008-09-01T11:09:00.000-07:00

So we saw a bagillion paintings today.

Oh, and the amazing Sistine Chapel, which I almost forgot because we saw SO many other things. We are all super exhausted because we don't sleep much and are museum machines. Okay, so everything in the Vatican museum was amazing. Everyone knows the Sistine Chapel is amazing, but everything you see along the way to it is amazing too!! I took lots of pictures. And took a video of the sistine chapel even though it was forbidden. (rebel)

When we walked out this little british kid exclaimed, 'did you see all those damned people?' and it was cute and hilarious.

the keyboards here are different which is kind of a pain.

we went to a gelato shop with a BILLION flavors...probably over 60, no exaggeration.
an italian waiter made fun of me and i did not appreciate it in the slightest.

and i'm honestly too tired to remember more, maybe someday.

The Vatican is its own Country

2008-08-31T09:01:00.000-07:00

Ciao ragazzi!!!

Sta in Italia, le paese piu bella di tutto.

Yesterday I got in around 4. The flight was not too bad, they have this sweet thing now where you get your own screen and own remote and you get to choose from a whole variety of movies. I got to watch Speed Racer and I was very excited. I liked it a lot too. And I totally predicted that one thing that I won't reveal. And the food wasn't too bad either. They fed us WAY more than I was expecting.

So the keyboard here is crazy and sometimes if I make a typo Iàm just going to leave it because it's not worth it.

So when I first got here I was like, UGH everything cost so much and afraid I didn't bring enough because tons of people brought two bags. But I'm pretty proud of myself for going minimalist. Last night we wandered around a bit and saw where the supermercato and atm and stuff is. Which is...mildly exciting I suppose.

But TODAY

first we met at 8:30 and took the metro to church. On the metro was none other than Mormon missionaries and we all were excited about that. And we followed them to church. I'm sure it's not everyday that missionaries are followed around by a pack of girls.

I actually understood the talks in Sacrament meeting!! Well, they said they were going to speak really slow for us, which I thought was funny/also nice. And I understood the first one perfectly, the second one pretty well and then the third one was someone in the bishopric or something and I was tired and he was using bigger words so I gave up. Then a small group of us stayed for sunday school and I didn't get any of it, heh. during the prayer a little kid yelled, >capito, mama?< and it was cute.

After we made our way to the Vatican to see St Peter's cathedral. On the way there I was in line for a pizza-thing and a gust of wind blew my skirt up. The guy standing there laughed and said in Italian, >it's okay, this is rome< and i laughed and he said >it was nice and cool right?< So, I suppose I've made my mark on Italy already.

Um, the cathedral was AMAZING. I don't even know how to explain. I walked in and just stood there with my mouth open for a while...It's SO BIG. and every single part is intricately detailed even though it's SO BIG. pictures to come. We climbed to the dome on the top and we counted the steps and came to 666, but we figured that couldn't be right. But maybe we should notify Dan Brown.

Wandered around some more, got my first gelato. But I got 2€ worth instead of two scoops and it was a lot...Yet, somehow I managed through it ;)

It's pretty darn hot and humid, but also lovely.

Wish you were here.

almost there!!

2008-08-23T23:15:00.000-07:00

I AM GOING TO ITALY!!

Wow. Packing is stressful, but I just got an email with some details about my host family and I'm SO excited.

"2 double rooms are available in the beautiful house of the Runfola family:
Luigia (48yrs) is a department store agent and her husband Franco(54yrs) works for an Agriturismo hotel. They have two daughters, Virginia (16yrs) and Lucrezia (14yrs).
They live in the city centre, only 10 minutes on foot to the school."

Some people have to take a bus AND walk for ten minutes and I feel really, really lucky. They have two rooms so four of us will be living there, which is crazy for them, but pretty cool I think. The amount of people living in their house is going to double.

I just hope they're nice (I don't see how they wouldn't be if they're willing to let 4 strangers live with them) and I hope they like me.

2008-06-02T19:00:00.000-07:00

something prof marzano showed us:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOo36FnSTqQ