61 means different things in different countries

---

Morning all,

Well here I am again, on the computer. I don't know how often I will post once I start going to school, but until that happens on Monday I kind of have some spare time on my hands. What, in Rome you say? Well yes, ok?! I'm not really doing and touristy/sightseeing things at the moment cos I thought I forgot my Lonely Planet!! (Although when I got on the computer this morning mum is saying I might have it, so will have to check when I get back to the hotel - fingers crossed!) So I've had no idea where I am or what I'm looking at. eg. Yesterday I took some pictures of a fountain in the middle of Piazza Barberini cos it looked kinda cool. It was only when I got home that I discovered it was the Fountain of Triton!

So the 61, eh? In Canberra, if I got on the 61 bus, I would be swiftly transported through the lovely suburb of Kambah to Tuggeranong Interchange. Get on the 61 in Rome however (the 61 is my bus btw) and you go past the bloody Baths of Diocletian!!!!! (ie. a Roman emperor). As well as the Portare Pia and any number of gorgeous little and not so little churches. Maybe Action should make a detour...

I can't remember if I said this last post, but I left my watch in Canberra! SO annoying, both on the plane and since I've been here. However thanks to TV, my life has been saved once again. Last night I was watching something, trying desperately to stay awake (damn jetlag) when an ad came on for one of those magazines about topic X where with each issue you get a free X (eg. dolls, planes, makeup, whatever). And as Mrs Sukamar, Yr 10 maths, would ask, What does X equal???
That's right kids!

X = a watch!!!

It's a lovely silver creation with more than it's fair share of diamantes so I'm looking well hot! (lol) Total cost = 6.90 euro!! Go me. And I even get to read a WHOLE MAGAZINE about ladies watches when I get back to the hotel. I can hardly wait. See, now I can tell you it's 10:55AM Saturday (no I didn't just look at the computer :P)! Somehow I don't think I'll be collecting the whole set though...

Man, Roman roads are just bizarre. Seriously, you just have NO idea where a car is going to come from. Most roads are one way, with weird roundabouts that make no sense (well not to my feeble mind anyway). I'm getting pretty good at crossing now, although my heart does still beat quite fast as I do it! One thing that helps is that they do obey traffic lights; I had heard otherwise. Like as soon as it goes orange they stop!! Even better than Canberra. Vespas and motorinos are everywhere too. So are smart cars!!! V cool.

Oh yeah, you may notice this post also lacks photos. I found and even brought my cable today, but I can't get the bloody thing to work. There's just this USB port sitting there, taunting me! Hopefully next week I will be able to post photos from the school computers. Sorry!!!!

So tomorrow I move to the apartment where I will be living for the next 5 weeks. This afternoon I might go for a walk to work out where it is, apparently it's not far from the hotel. Might have a look for the school too. I'll be living with Luigi & Lucia Mancini, a young Italian couple, as well as two other students from the school. School starts on Monday, I have to do a written and oral test on the first day. I'm thinking I should revise a bit before then or I'll end up in the beginner's class colouring in pictures of the Colloseum! I am looking forward to it though, at the moment being in the hotel by myself isn't that exciting, or even when I go out. I think I just like to talk too much. I can't go 'Awwwww coooool, look at that!' or similar.
It's been great talking to mum on the phone, and I also called Aisha yesterday (after unintentionally prank calling him a fair few times lol) so that was awesome too.

OK, well better leave it there for now, thanks to those who commented, it made my day! And now for my 'new segment' (which may or may not last too long):

Lessons from Italia!

In Australia, I learnt that the Italian for garage is il box. Cute, hey. Well when I tried to get a coke with my lunch on the first day the guy just said something about a box. I went off to get my food from the other girl and I'm trying to say I ordered a coke too and they're both going 'Box, box, box!' Yeah, so box is fridge too. Thanks for nothing, ANU!

Lots of these,
xoxoxoxoxo
tess

---

Comments

[non-italian jo]

bojoueeeriono!!
wow, i cant believe you are in rome!! so anyway, thought id drop you a line and christen this comment thing. Just wanted to say goodluck at your school tomorrow (although you may be there now, im not even gonna try to figure out this time-difference thing!) i know youll ace the testarenio (I believe that is italian for test -write it down..). ok, id better go, i told my dad id watch bleak house with him, see the excitment you are missing out on!! hehe anyway, love ya lots and bring on the photos!! xoxoxoxo

[Maree]

Maree
God I hope I have done this right. Glad to hear your trip is going well so far. How did you fair at school on the 1st day, I hope you are not colouring pictures of the colloseum. What is the weather like? Our trip to Tassie went well but I am glad to be home. It was too quite in Scottsdale, but great to catch up with some friends. I suppose you have heard that Tighan has finished. But I will try and manage until you get back. Although like Emma and Cecilia you guys will try and get full time work, which is fair enough after all our hard work at uni. Well I will let you go and chat soon. Cheers Maree