A bug.

I'm sick today. I only get sick once a year and I was sick like this last year at this time. I told my dad - at least I'm consistent. It still sucks though. I have to get up early and make the 45 minute commute to the city on a crowded bus and train. I probably got it from one of those two things...being around so many people like I've been. I suppose I could have had a better start to the semester, but it could have been worse, and lets hope that it can only get better from here.

Tomorrow I have to stay in the city after class ends at 12 noon until 1:45 when I am meeting Mariana somewhere near the Vatican for my permission to stay appointment. I'm supposed to have another meeting with the Cafe Abroad crew, but I think we're having some trouble getting situated and communicating. I haven't ventured anywhere near the Vatican yet, so I'm excited. If I feel well enough, I'd like to go in...maybe see a museum or two. And in between class and my appointment I'll probably go to the Piazza Navona and read for a while. I hope it's warm tomorrow. It's been lingering around 40 and 50 here, which is nice but sometimes cold in the wind. With my chills today, I felt like everywhere was freezing.

Liz accidentally left the stove on today after she and everyone else left for the cooking lesson. I was trying to figure out what the smell was and why I was feeling so dizzy when I discovered the pot previously filled with water that had boiled off and was simply burning above the open flame. I had to open all the windows.

The walls are so thin in my apartment. I can hear everything both inside my apartment and outside of it. They ask us to take our heals off at night because it disturbs the people downstairs. Our windows don't have screens and aren't very well sealed, so it takes no effort to open them and almost every morning I wake up to the construction on the street or an ambulance siren. Meh. I still like the apartment, and I feel like time is finally on my side. I'm managing myself pretty well and I am getting the hang of the metro. I can find my own way home from class without worrying about getting lost...all I need is a metro ticket. If you don't validate yours and you get checked by the ticket checking man, you have to hand over 50 euro on the spot.

I had some gelato today. The IES building is located really close to a lot of little shops, and we get a break in the middle of our 2 and a half hour Italian class, so tomorrow I think I'll go down and get a banana or something. The hard part is communicating with the person at the counter...eesh. I went to the grocery again today. The Italians aren't shy about protesting when they feel they've been wronged. It's not uncommon to see a cashier arguing with a customer. Everyone acts like it's not happening. Anyway, I bought notably cheap kiwis, swiss cheese and some ham slices for sandwiches. I wish I was feeling well enough to attend the cooking lessons, but I just couldn't do it. The cheese at the grocery is one of the most expensive things. You can find cheap cheese, but it's usually passed or is passing its expiration date. Regardless, you'll find a lot of people rummaging through the blocks of parmesean and brie, trying to find the most recent expiration date.

Also, they have baskets that you can either hold by two handles, like in the States, or you can wheel it around, like a suitcase. A retractable handle is available if you'd like to do the latter. It's funny, wheeling it around between people. "Scusa, scusami."

Italian is going well. My teacher is loud and keeps me awake. I dread making the trip in, though. I hope classes will be later in the day next week.

I got to talk to Spencer for a while on Skype today and it was great. Getting to see his face, hear is voice and have him see me, as well, is great. And it's free! That's way better than a phone call and way cheaper.

I'm getting tired now and I think I'll turn in. I'm still the only one home, so I'll probably get woken up in a little while when they return, but that's okay. I hope I feel better tomorrow. It figures I'd get sick here.