Pinky Toe Broken

On Friday night after Italidea we got on a plane from Rome and headed to Barcelona for the weekend. We got in at about 11pm and headed to our apartment that was in a pretty populated area right in the city. We got settled a little bit then went to get something to eat; it was pretty cool because all the restaurants stay open really late.

The next morning we got up and made a nice American breakfast just like in Florence. The first thing we all wanted to see was the Sagrada Familia, which was like the coolest thing. It was the chilliest church I had ever seen, it definitely trumps St. Peter’s Basilica and its not even finished yet. We took an audio tour and it was cool to know the history and symbolism behind it. That night we wanted to see what nightlife in Barcelona was all about. My sisters said that Barcelona wasn’t too high on their list of all the places they went, but I thought it was a lot of fun. They don’t eat dinner in Barcelona till like 12 so we went to dinner around then near the beach. There was an insane amount of bars/clubs in the marina. You literally walk down strips where there is just club after club after club and promoters outside trying to get you in anyway that they can. We really wanted to go to the ice bar we heard so much about so we did that and it was sick. It’s just a small room with everything covered in ice. They give you a big puffy jacket and gloves to go in. The cups are made out of ice, which I thought was like the coolest part.

On Sunday we went to this big garden over looking the entire city. I forget what the name of it was, but its some famous garden/ hiking area in Barcelona. It was a lot of walking, but cool to see the whole city from its highest point. We pretty much just rested up after that because our flight was at 6am Monday morning, which was the worst thing ever. We just didn’t go to bed that night because our shuttle picked us up at 3am. Probably not the best idea seeing as though we got to wait in the airport for 3 hours totally exhausted, but at least we know for next time.

Well its just another week of class now, but last week of Italidea which is pretty much the greatest thing ever because I’m over that class everyday for 3 hours. This weekend is Tuscany and the Patriots in the Super Bowl so we’ll talk about that next week. 

Florence 1, Erin 0

This past weekend I traveled to Florence, Italy with five other friends here in Rome. We left Saturday morning and came back Monday morning for class that afternoon. We got up bright and early on Saturday and arrived at about 10am. This was my second time in Florence from the last time I visited my sisters 4 years ago, but I was really excited to go back. I really wanted to study in Florence, but I couldn’t get my classes to match up. We walked around all morning and afternoon, scoped out the sites/ markets and figured out exactly what we wanted to see the next day. We took a little catnap until dinner and going out. It was really cool to see all the things I noticed from the last time I was there. The apartment we stayed in was right next to the hotel my parents and I stayed in. The bar we went to that night looked familiar too which was exciting.

The next morning when we got up we made a nice big American breakfast. We went to the market on Saturday so we wouldn’t have to pay for breakfast and lunch. It was really nice, a little home fries, eggs and toast. That Sunday we walked around the city all day. We climbed the Duomo and took lots of pictures once we got to the top. This was the number one thing I wanted to do in Florence. When my family and I did it, it was one of my greatest memories of the entire trip. (Yes Mom I do remember some stuff) We also went to see the David. This is one of Michelangelo’s most famous sculptures; it’s just a very large naked man in a museum. It wasn’t anything too exciting, but its something you can you saw.

That night we went to an American bar watch the New England Patriots win the AFC Championship and a trip the super bowl against the New York Giants. This was an amazing game and although Brady didn’t play his best the defense stepped up big time. The Ravens missed a game tying field goal with seconds left that sealed the game for the Pats. You can say they got a little lucky, but it still would have been decided in overtime. I can’t wait for next Sunday, people will say that it playing the Giants doesn’t mean that much, but that’s bullshit. The Patriots definitely have unfinished business after the Giants ruined their perfect season in 07. I will be extremely upset if they lose to the Giants, probably more upset then any other team they could lose too.

That next morning might have been the highlight of the whole trip. So my friend Erin got really drunk the night before during the Patriots game, but little did she know that it was going to be 4 mile trek the next morning to the train station because the taxis were on strike. She was the first to wake up that morning to begin the purging process. She thought see was all done until I was brushing my teeth and she busted in the bathroom to yack some more. Needless to say that that walk/ train ride was pretty rough for her. I might not seem that funny, but the words coming out of her mouth that morning was pretty hilarious. (Most of them to inappropriate for this PG 13 blog) Since then she has adopted the nickname Yack or my favorite like we call my Australian cousin, Slumppppp.

It is now my third week in Rome and it’s been tons of fun. I do miss home and school a lot, but I try not to really think about it. I feel because I miss my house and school so much that senior year will be that much more enjoyable. This week hasn’t been that eventful. It’s tough coming back from traveling and then having to do school work and go to class though. We don’t do any work all weekend so you really have to cram during the week, which stinks. I’m not really looking forward to next week once we get from Barcelona.

Last night I had dinner at Dr. Abela’s house. He invited the students in his three classes to come over for pizza and we all read Shakespeare’s’ Julius Caesar. It was a lot of fun. He came to Italy for the semester from Catholic with his wife and six beautiful children. The oldest is 14 and the youngest is 3, there all wicked smart and really sweet. I can’t even describe why Dr. Abela is so cool, but he’s just the man. He is super smart and has the coolest life story ever. He was telling us the other day that he had dinner with a prince from Italy, like who gets to do that? Overall, it was a lot of fun and I’m glad he had us over.

It is Friday the 27^th, 10:00 pm and we have just taken off heading to Barcelona for the weekend. When I returned on Monday I will tell you all about it.

First Weeks in Roma

So I was on the train to Florence and figured it would be a great time to start my blog, I pretty much had it finished an up to date until I go to Florence and my computer went retarded on me. I ended up having to restart the computer so my entire blog was deleted. So here I am again starting all over again, I’m going to try and remember as much as I can.

On Thursday January 5, 2012 I arrived in Rome, Italy. I made my way to school to start orientation. We had orientation for the weekend, which was kind of long but we made it work. It was nice to have dinner with all the kids and start to get to know everyone though. In the first week we all got accustomed with the city and our classes. It didn’t take me long to realize just how much I love America. I knew going in I was going to be that way, but I wouldn’t let it take away from my experience in Italy. Everything that Italy does America does better. Like the food here is good, but Americans can do Italian food just as good. They don’t make pizza like Dave’s Marketplace. I guess I’m like my father in that regard. It’s funny too how Italian say they don’t like us and stuff, but they love us; our food, clothes, music, movies etc.… everything. It’s definitely an adjustment, but I’m making it work.

During my time here I’m taking five classes. I thought classes abroad were suppose to be easy, but they’re no joke and I’m not having it. I guess it was just wishful thinking after hearing about my cousin Theo doing about four hours of homework while studying in Miami this past semester.

Italian- During the first 4 weeks of the semester all students have to take an Italian class. It’s every day for 3 hours so its kind of a pain in the ass, but likely next week is my last week. My teacher is pretty cool and makes it enjoyable though. It is right next to the Spanish steps in Spagna too so you forces you to travel into the city every day.

Theology: Christology in the City of Rome- This course counts as my last theology class at Catholic. It is with the director of my program and he’s a pretty cool guy. We have it twice a week, once in the classroom and another at a site in the city. It’s a lot of reading, but seems like an all right class.

International Marketing- This is by far my favorite course this semester. I have it with Dr. Abela who is head of the business department and the coolest guy in the world. It’s not going to be an easy class, I don’t mind because he’s such a good teacher.

Philosophy of Art- This is probably my least favorite class. It is with Mrs. Dawson, Dr. Dawson’s wife and she is way too intense with philosophy. We basically just go to art exhibits and stuff and relate it to philosophers. This is my last philosophy I need to take and don’t really care too much about it and I’m pretty sure she knows that.

English: Italy in American and British Literature: This class doesn’t start until February 24 so it’s for only for two months. It counts towards my minor, but I heard its pretty hard so I’m not really looking forward to it.

            The first two weeks here in Rome have been very eventful. It has been a lot of fun getting to know the city and just getting accustomed to Italian life. A bunch of my friends and I have basically laid out our trips for the whole semester and it is going to be amazing. We’re going somewhere just about every weekend. Our trips include; Florence, Barcelona, Tuscany, Amsterdam, London, Prague, Paris, Assisi, Croatia and the Bay of Naples. That’s what we have planned so far, but that could change a little bit. Since we’ve been hearing the patriots have won two playoffs games and are headed to the super bowl next weekend. I couldn’t be more excited, we’ll be in Tuscany for the game but I’ll find a bar to watch it somewhere. Besides that I can’t really think of much, but my next post will be very soon about our trip to Florence.