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Published: February 26th 2007
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Buon Giorno!
I apologize for the lack of updates, and I've taken your hints and decided to fix that. A lot has happened, so I'll try to put it in some sort of logical manner. The internet at our school is down, so I also am trying to get used to the Italian keyboards at the internet cafès, which at times proves very difficult. Also, again, no way of posting pictures. I will fix that as soon as possible, so check back.
Marina (my host mother) has been sick the past couple of weeks and I've been quite worried about her. So, I was so happy when she came home yesterday from her doctor's appointment and told me that they didn't find anything seriously wrong. It must've just been the flu, and hopefully she'll be back to spunky, run-faster-than-I-do Marina soon. I actually feel like we're starting to form a real friendship. She tells me more and more about her life, and she doesn't feel bad about blatently making fun of me now... One night she jumped up onto the couch and got a book down from the bookshelf to show me that she worked at this publishing company
Cooking!
Jill at the stove (thats how she got all the artwork) and that they publish allll kinds of art books, journals, books on Italy, etc. etc. etc. When I offered to put it back for her, she told me not to worry, she's a good gymnast, and jumped up on the couch again. We then went through all of her records together, and she talked about all the music, her favorite operas, her favorite traditional florentine folk songs, etc. Sadly her record player is broken and she has no way to play the hundreds of records she has. I'm wondering how many you could find on CD now.
2 weekends ago I went to Siena and San Gimingano, both beautiful mideval towns south of Florence. We didn't spend nearly enough time in either city, so I have plans to go back very soon. I think my favorite part about Siena is how fantastic the coloring of the city is. Its all browns, and yellows, black and white, but it has this sense of unity and warmth that really makes for a quaint and friendly little city. Since we only had about 2 hours for lunch and exploration after our class, we got pizza
Cooking!
The Great Chefs: Me, Jill, and Laura. ah, timed photos... and gelato, and spent the entire time sunbathing in the fantastic campo. San Gimingano is precious, but since we were literally there for about 45 minutes, I have very little to report back. It's famous for its towers that from at the bottom of the hill looks like a little medeval New York skyline.
One thing I've noticed about all of Italy is an abundance of confetti. Not just because of all of the Carnival festivties, but its really a permanant aspect of Italy. A lot of confetti. I, personally, love it. The side walks are all colored and you find little children throwing it everywhere. Every city...same thing. lots and lots and lots of confetti.
While I didn't get to Venice for Carnivale (I watched that and the traditional "orange fight" from the safty of Marina's kitchen), I did attend Ash Wednesday mass at the cathedral. After vespers, this little tiny cardinal came down the isle where we were sitting and told everyone to come and sit with the priests under the huge dome. It was spectacular, but VERY cold. I really like mass in italian. you don't feel as guilty about zoning out, especially when you
Cooking!
My new favorite dish: Chicken wrapped in cheese and prociuto. are in such an amazing space.
Last Friday I experienced the greatest moment of my time here in Italy thus far: a private viewing of the Sistine Chapel! My Botticelli class and the Michelangelo class got 2 hours to have class alone, without the thousands of tourists. we walked through the empty Raphael Rooms and finally into the Chapel and the experience was absolutely amazing. The guards gave us a half an hour to take as many pictures as we wanted, and immediately I knew what I needed to take a picture of because I'd never see it again...the floor. Its a totally different experience, seeing it when you aren't being forced to stand shoulder to shoulder. The details come poping out and the silence is spectacular. I was able to walk right up to "the last judgement" and see all the tiny details and expressions that I never noticed in reproductions or the last time I was there. These are the moments when I feel so incredibly lucky to be here, and when I realize that all the work I went through with CUA to get approval for this program was really really really 100% worth it.
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Laura cutting the dried tomatoes. dangerous lady. Today Katie Keyser, my fantastic roommate at CUA is coming to visit! I won't get to see her until tomorrow night, but I am very excited to share my favorite gelaterias with someone that I know will love them as much as I. I may have to go test out some new flavors today, just to make sure I got the best ones. I would do that for you to...if you come.
So, besides refining my italian cooking skills at my friend's apartment and learning that Italian men are not only creepy, but VERY bad dancers, I think that sums everything up. My bike is slowly falling apart, but its still going and I'm still in love with it. Marina wanted me to tell all my friends back at home hello, so Hello from Marina. and thats, that. Ciao ciao!
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STEVE
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Bon manifeek!
That sounds AWESOME! But is this for real or something you are making up? I swear I just saw you on the red line train eating chips! Have fun and be safe!