Classes and Pisa

So I know it has been awhile since I blogged, but I have been livin' up Italy! Let me update you on my life : ) Ready?

So the first week of classes was actually really fun but also stressful. I technically tested into Italian 4, but since I am on my way to Bologna after Siena, I got bumped up to Italian 5. Basically, it meant that the first 2 weeks were really fast. All the so-called "review" was basically all new material that we completely powered through at warp speed. Besides the fact that I was really not stoked to be in class again only 2 weeks after taking spring finals. But all went well. Enza is my teacher and is super fun and really excited about Italian. She is super helpful, too. I like her a lot.

So the cool part about morning class (which obviously is not waking up in morning haha) is that you can do fun stuff after class. So Tuesday, we (me and 7 others) decided to go to Pisa! Since it was only 2.5-3 hours away by train we figured it was easy and we would have plenty of time since class ended at 12:15pm. But of course, as I have learned, nothing goes as originally planned.

First, we took the wrong bus to get to the train station in Siena. Someone told us you could take the 10 or 11. False! You can only take the 11 turns out. We literally ended up at a dead end in the countryside outside the walls of Siena. Then we got smart and asked the bus driver if we were on the right bus. We definitely weren't! So an hour and a half later, instead of 15 minutes, we arrived at the train station. Whoo! It actually turned out to be a lot of fun for just an afternoon trip. We basically went to see the Leaning Tower and takes pics, and we were successful at that as you can see : ) And don't worry, I left the X-rated photos off of here. But if you are lucky enough to be on facebook, you should check out my Pisa album. They are quite funny and creative!!! After the towe, we got a delicious meal and returned to Siena for the night. We had planned to be all academic and do homework on the train but that was a complete fail. Instead we watched these military guards racially profile ever African person on the train and completely ignore us American kids. It was really weird to see that blatantly happen actually. The guards literally only asked the Africans on the train for their tickets and their documents. Seeing as how I just wrote a 20 page paper about immigration to Italy and how Italians are not super fond of foreigners, it was crazy to see it first hand. Kind of made me think how terrible it would be if Arizona turned out that way....anyway!

So after the profiling situation, our 2 car train (aka really really small) decided to completely stop in the middle of the tracks for 15 minutes without explanation. We were just perched in the middle of the countryside in the pitch black dark for no reason. At which point, Joey, who is completely comical most of the time, decided it would be the perfect time to tell us his idea for a horror movie in which the lights keep flickering on a train, and each time someone new dies. Fun right? Especially on a deserted train track huh? The good thing was that his movie idea had a really terrible ending so we all laughed at him instead of be scared. Good times haha. But we safely made it back to Siena and were in our little (and I really mean little) beds resting our heads by midnight : )

La Mia Prima Settimana

Exciting news....I got in to Italian 4! Considering I barely remembered any tense besides past and present this is pretty amazing despite taking 3 quarters of Italian already. The down side...I am supposed to be in 5 for my pre-intensive language program for Bologna. So I basically have to work my tushy off the first couple weeks and hang out with the tutor a lot until I can be switched into 5...It's a good thing I don't have a lot to do : )

So my apartment is pretty much amazing! It's huge! I was supposed to be in a mini residence which is basically a dorm with a communal bathroom and communal kitchen. Apparently they messed up or it got full or something because I lucked out and got this gigantic apartment just up the street. I have 1 roommate and 2 housemates. I feel really bad though because my roommate has a cold and has basically been sleeping all day. However, my housemate Abby is super amazing! We have done a lot of wandering in Siena together and we are going to travel a lot too! I am so happy that I found someone that fun and outgoing.

So basically Abby and I have been wandering around the city for the last 2 days exploring. Yesterday, we finally found our way outside the city walls and discovered a playground! We decided that see-saws are not nearly as cool when you are 21 as when you were 5. The whole concept really is not that awesome. We had to leave though when little kids showed up. We figured we should let them have their fun and enjoy the see-saw.

I have also been watching the world cup games at randome bars and pubs with people from the program. In the last 5 days, I have watched more soccer games than I have in my whole life! Let me just say....soccer lasts FOREVER! Turns out it is 90 minutes long and any time that is taken for penalties etc is added back on to the end of the game (a lot of you likely already know this but what can I say, I am an American football girl). In fact, we are leaving in about an hour to go to Paninoteca (I decided it means "Sandwich Club") to watch the Italy vs. New Zealand game. Considering the Italians are defending champs, it should be quite exciting. However, buying beers for 5 euro is getting really old really fast. Do you realize that is $6 for a freaking pint??? That's crazy to me! And their happy hour specials are definitely lame sauce...beers are 4 euro. However, Abby and I went to a caffe the other day and they had "happy hour" AND "happy breakfast". Be jealous! I can get an espresso and pasta, that's right pasta, for 1.50 euro from 10-11am haha! I love Italy!

I also found the best Chinese store ever! Imagine all the Chinese shops in Chinatown in San Fran with their oodles of random crap and then insert in into a random side street in Siena. Its amazing! I got a straightener for 12 euro, more plug adapters, and a 2.50 umbrella. That's right, I am a big spender : ) They also have 99 cent stores here, which resulted in stickers, paper towels, and snacks!

The other girls and I are planning a trip to Cinque Tere next weekend which I am pretty excited about since I have never been. I can't wait to see the ocean! Tomorrow is my first days of classes so I will keep you posted! Here are some random observations thus far:

Le macchine

The cars here are extremely small and make Mini Coopers look big. Also, within the wall of the city, there are no street lights or traffic signs. People walk in the middle of the street and if a car or moped comes, you just move to the side. It's very strange.

Le scarpe

Italians only wear heels or tennis shoes of varying sorts. I have yet to see an Italian in sandals. I do not know it is just a Siena thing or what but they rarely show their little toe-sies.

Le scale

The marble stairs here are semi-dangerous. I was walking down the stairs to my apartment in the morning and slipped, crashing into Abby (she made me write this haha). Don't worry I didn't hit my head or anything, but I do have some lovely bruises as evidence. Just when my houseboats bruises and cuts finally went away, too...

Proscuitto

It's everywhere! I love it. It's on panini, pizza, everywhere! There are also a trillion kinds in the grocery store (which I have been to every day since I have been here). However, proscuitto di San Daniele is hands down THE best! It is a little bit more expensive, but I have decided it is worth it. Coming back to the states where we only get proscuitto on special occasions is going to be a serious problem.

For now, it is time to get dressed and go watch the game. Don't worry, I will have plenty more observations to come.

Ciao!

The Journey Here

Ciao!

So my Italian adventure began before I even got on the plane. After a week of finals and 29 hours of babysitting and graduation ceremonies (in 3 days...ugh), I drove home to Prunedale at 5pm on Sunday only to hop back in the car at 2:30am to San Francisco International Airport. In the interim, I had my last meal in the United States for a whole 6 months...eeks! My mom let me place my order of Kosher salt ribs, BBQ tri-tip, corn-on-the-cob, and garlic bread. Needless to say, it was delicious!

I arrived at SFO at 4:20am and had the pleasure of standing in the already long American Airlines line. When my mom and I finally got to the front, I learned my original route of SFO-New York-Rome was cancelled due to plane maintenance....gross! Instead, I got to fly SFO-LA-Chicago-Rome. AND every flight I had got delayed in the process which was super fun. However, I finally arrived in Rome airport only to be waved through customs without an officer so much as glancing at my passport. I found the group of students I had planned to meet up with which made the trip to Siena lots easier. On the short train to the bus station, we randomly met 2 more girls from the program and also an Italian law student traveling back to Siena. Elena ended up being super amazingly helpful and took all 7 of us under her wing. I think she enjoyed being our mother hen with 7 little chicks following her.

We finally arrived in Siena and made our way to the hotel for the night. Most of you probably think that the traveling was exhausting, but considering I was only awake for 1.5 hours of all the flights and bus ride, I really felt like I had time traveled to Italy, which was fantastic!

The first night in Siena was also an adventure. None of us knew where anything was so we wandered the city in search of food. Considering Siena is only 2 miles wide it was fairly easy to navigate. We found a random ristorante off Piazza del Campo which was full of loud Italians drinking vino so we figured it was a good choice. After being disappointed to find the the gnocchi was finito (I have yet to have gnocchi), I order fusilli (pasta). We had two bottles of the table wine which was a Chianti Classico and just hung out. After we wandered some more and I got my first gelato of my trip (cafe)! We found another restaurant and ordered two more bottles of wine (aren't you proud dad). Overall, I had a lovely first day in Italy!

Tomorrow I will write about my apartment and such. As for now, I must review some Italian so I do not completely fail at my placement test tomorow!

Ciao!!!!