I'm exhausted.

We just got back from Umbria about an hour ago. I am finally back in my apartment, but it smells like garbage for some reason, so I'm a little frustrated. But it's amazing to have an internet connection and a place to sleep that isn't a foot from two other people in a hotel room in Perugia. The hardest part about the past three days has been having no personal space or time. We are constantly meeting people, usually for the second or third time and having to reintroduce yourself, try to memorize their names, and make a good impression. It's really tiring. We have been in huge groups, going on walking tours, listening to the jibber jabber of Italian people around us, as well as the STUPID small talk between IES students that you are more than likely to get sucked into sooner than later. Blah.

These pictures are from our first night here, and the meal our Italian Manuela made us. I don't remember the names of everyone in the pictures, but these bits and pieces of our apartment, including my room. The two girls posing are some of our italian companions, Manuela is the one on the right, and she's very sweet. She lives in the room next to me.

I've been taking tons of pictures. I've been taking notes, too, especially when we're on the tours. I would really like to remember everything I can.

We toured Perugia (pronounced Pear-ooch-a) on Tuesday morning. It was lovely, but I would describe it as being a bit abrasive. We arrived at the end of Carnival, which is some sort of Pagan festival here. It's cause for lots of celebration. Everyone dresses up in costumes and prances around with masks on and throws confetti. At sunset, all the teenagers came out in their outfits to drink and shout. The hotel we stayed in was an extremely nice one, although we were in close quarters with our two roommates. The meals they served us were huge and consisted of three courses. There was usually a plate of cheese to start with, then a pasta plate, followed by some sort of meat and potatoes and then the dessert. I just can't eat that much.

My roommate Caitlin and I just took a chance and ventured into the unknown world that is Via Salento and the Bologna metro station. We were hungry and went looking for food and but for the few pizzarias, there was little open. We settled for some calzones, both of which were pink on the inside so we didn't finish them. I started a conversation with a woman that knew no english, but was trying to tell me something about her Polish husband before her phone rang and we parted ways. But, her kindness encouraged me not to be so afraid and intimidated by the Italians, despite their pushy ways. I'm making effort to speak with them. After the calzones and their uncooked meat, we went for gelato down the street. I asked the woman behind the counter how she was, or at least I thought I did, and got no more than a nod...but at least I tried. It's funny because often, we are too afraid to try speaking in Italian for fear of making fools of ourselves, but I think I'd much rather someone try to speak to me in broken English than expect me to interpret their foreign language. I'm trying not to speak English by default. I'll never learn if I don't make an effort, even if it makes me uncomfortable.

So, I got nutella gelato. Wonderbar.

Assisi was yesterday, and it was a lot like I remembered from high school. I loved St. Francis Cathedral, and St. Claire's Cathedral. Both were lovely and sacred places. A few of us climbed to the top of the mountain and visited the highest point in Assisi, the fortress. It was a tiring walk but a wonderful view. We had dinner at a restaurant outside of town and I slept through the third course, literally. I was so exhausted and so full and sleep sounded great. We woke up early this morning. I showered and ate breakfast and we left for Orvieto.

I'd never been to Orvieto before. It's smaller and simpler than the previous towns, but it follows the same format; high on a hill, small shops full of fun little doodads, etc. But there was a huge cathedral there dedicated to the virgin Mary. It had such intricate designs on the front carved out of limestone depicting scenes from the bible from the new testament to the last judgment. The detail of the carvings were incredible. Every tooth on every demon was in place, and every grape on every vine recognizable. The inside was huge and made me look forward even more to the beauty that is San Pietro.

After the cathedral, I walked around the small streets and hid in doorways as the cars came zooming through. Clothes hung on lines outside windows and dangled in the wind. Some of us bought some wine. I bought a nice bottle of red that I had a glass of before dinner, but it didn't sit well with my empty stomach.

I think the most intimidating part about being here is trying to speak the language. I'm sure I could have predicted that, but it's going to be hard not having a guide with me all the time, but it's going to be really fun practicing what I learn in glass.

Perhaps the scariest part about Rome itself is how busy it is, and how crazy the Italians drive. There is no caution. Cars zoom by at rapid speeds, honking and braking quickly when they have to stop. They don't stay in their lanes, and they don't yield often. There is no rhyme or reason to it, and I think for any American, driving like a European would take a great amount of effort, as we are so used to rules and regulations and courtesy on the road. Oh well. So long as I'm not hit or in a car accident, I'll be okay.

Tomorrow we wake up at 9 and leave at 10 with one of our neighboring groups. We'll try to navigate to the IES center for our language placement test at 11:30. When you stand outside the center, to the left is a view of the Vatican and Piazza San Pietro. Straight ahead is the Castel Sant'Angelo.

Ali - try not to be too stressed out about studio work. You are resilient. Thanks for reading and keeping me posted on the news at home :-) Love you.

Mom - I sent you a facebook message, and I miss you a lot. I picked out a piece of paper from the jar you gave me and it was the one about the storm in my jeep. I liked that one for today, because bravery is something I have to keep in my pocket and hold tight to around here.

And Stace - I love you, I miss you, and I can't wait to see you when you visit. Tell Mike I miss him, as well. I'm online a lot now - anytime before midnight when my internet shuts off for some reason. I feel like if you were here with me, I'd be a little more brave. How did the class go in Indy? And how is Karma? I hope she's behaving and I hope she is still cute.


To anyone else reading, feel free to leave messages and/or send me letters. My address is in a previous post and I'm so tired that I don't even remember it.

Ciao. Buena sera, mi amore.