Missing home...just a bit

"Philly, you are everything, and everything is you." That was the quote of the day on Sports Center after a weekend full of wins for Philly. Thankfully, we now have the Slingbox working and I can watch games and highlights. I forgot how much I like watching Sports Center in the morning. It's bringing back memories of having breakfast at Penn State in the East Halls commons at the Big Onion and watching Sports Center on the big screen TV. Ahh, the good old days. Speaking of Penn State, the ESPNU All State Fan Poll has PSU ranked at #1 after a great win over Ohio State...in the Horseshoe! Ok, we know that poll doesn't really matter too much in the overall scheme of things, but it shows that people want us at the top.

So, while all this is happening in Philly, Roma has somehow choked this season. How do you win a championship and then play so terribly the next year? Well, if me leaving the country has anything to do with the sports success in Philly right now, then I'm happy to do it. Enjoy it everyone. I'll be home for the Bowl Season ;)

Things here in Rome have been somewhat uneventful. But it's still great being here. On Saturday all of us from work decided to go out for some burgers and beer. The burger was great, and it was comforting. Yesterday we were watching TV on the Slingbox and were seeing all these American commercials for food...we all miss American food. How many tomatoes and how much pasta can one person possibly eat? It's funny that most Italians don't even know what a taco is. How is that even possible? Well, I'll tell you...they have such a sense of Italian pride in this country and they don't have news. The only news we see is what they tell us on MTV.

Oh, MTV...there is this show called "From Gs to Gents" and it takes "Gangstas" and turns them into gentlemen. We were watching it on Saturday night (Yes, I realize this show aired in America 6 months ago, but it's new to us) since it was seriously the best thing on television at that time. When your choices are variety programs, the Vatican channel, and a channel that is a home shopping network for Oriental carpets, MTV is the best choice. So anyway, there is this guy named "Cee" on this Gs show and he claims he's from Atlantic City. My guess is that he lives in a million dollar house on the beach in a town near AC, but whatever...he wants to appear "gangsta". So, he makes this comment that if someone messed with him they'd be going home in a trunk of a car to South Philly. If you haven't guessed...this G is an Italian guy who thinks he's in the mafia. This is what the rest of the world sees of America.

And I really wonder why and how Italy has managed to survive 3,000 years of history, wars, and conquests when they can't figure out how to mail a package. We have been waiting for 3 full weeks now for our cable modem and router to arrive in the mail. This after they shipped my cell phone back to the US via boat because the Post Office couldn't get their act together. Simply amazing. I think it's because they do everything at the post office, including banking and bill paying, and they forget how to work the actual mail system. There was an anti-government protest here in Rome on Saturday. You know how they advertised it? Not on the news...because there is no actual news here...but by hanging posters on walls the old-fashioned way, with paper and glue. It boggles my mind. You know what the weather forecasts are like here? A picture of the country with symbols of a sun, clouds, and rain. That's it. No temperatures...just simple pictures for that day only. They don't know how to actually give a weather forecast.

I told you I didn't have much to report, so I figured I'd give you a little insight into the wonderful world of Italy.

The next few weeks should be fairly interesting. Later this week, our friend Steph from our TEFL class is coming to visit. Then my friend Jess will be here for a few weeks since she's coming to Italy on a tour. The 7th til the 11th, Anthony and Danny will be here. And then Debbie's friend will be here, and then...THANKSGIVING!!! I think November is looking to be a great month.

I hope you're all doing well. Let's go Phillies! Only 1 more win to go!!!

Have you seen the craziness that occurred after the PSU win on Saturday night? If not, here it is. Enjoy...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IzzRyW6YiU

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