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Published: January 31st 2012
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Ok...so much for writing again the next day...20 days later! I'm not very good with time management as my friends will tell you so it takes me a long time to get round to doing things I don't enjoy doing e.g. washing, cleaning, writing a blog entry, booking a hostel and flights, among other things. Right now we're in Palau, Sardegna, which is greattttt because I have a room to myself again (well, a bedroom in general is nice actually) and it's nice to just sit around or walk at your own pace without running because you're late for something all the time. The first thing I noticed being back here was how much cleaner the air was and how quiet it is during the day! Milan is constant noise 24 hrs a day 7 days a week and the air is so bad. Anyway that's my whinge for the day.
First of all I promised Silvia that I would write this on my blog...she tells me that you can't make whipped cream or mayonnaise when you have your period(???). If anyone can vouch for this please contact me! We made puddings the other night for dinner at her parents' house and I couldn't whip some of the mixture so Silvia jokingly said do you have your period to which I replied, puzzled, "yes....why....?" and she went on to explain that there is some reaction between the hormones in your body and the mixture...I know, weird/doesn't sound true but apparently everyone who makes homemade mayonnaise knows this...hence why noone in Australia has heard of it. Who can be bothered to make their own mayonnaise!?!? Other than that no other freaky facts, except that Italian's like to dip everything they eat in their coffee for breakfast, for example: Croissant...with coffee! Rice Bubbles...yep, that one's for the coffee! Toast with jam annndddd...coffee! The worst part is that I'm starting to do the same. I'm also starting to say "eh" after everything and I do a weird movement with my hand that my friend keeps teasing me about.
Right now I don't have alot to report except that I just started at an Italian language school in Milano - I've been to two lessons so far but have to miss out on 5 while I'm in Sardegna so I don't think I'm making alot of progress haha. A fortnight ago myself and two friends decided to go to a nightclub called "Punk Wears Prada" on a Friday night...I had been warned by an Italian friend that Friday night is classified as "Gay Night" there, but chose to go nonetheless, thinking that it was a myth or an exaggeration. However, once we got within 5m of the club we sensed the vibe...lot's of attractive men wearing fashionable clothing and few women in sight tends to hint that something is not quite right. We decided to check out the club anyway (seeing as we were "on the list" 😉 ) and it turned out to be a fantastic club with a great DJ, however about 95% of the men were gay! We met a charming young man from Australia who explained that he is going to be a famous actor and thought he was god's gift to the world, then a French man who had clearly taken something and was very angry about the fact that me and my friend "weren't true Italian women". All in all, great club but the people were a little off. Fun though, and a great break from Old Fashion, where you'll find a room full of sweaty Indian men fighting to hump your leg.
It may seem like I have taken my trip for granted and that I am not enjoying myself here, however this could not be further from the truth. I like to point out the negatives in any situation, as my mother reminds me every chance she gets, but make no mistake, Italy is the most beautiful, diverse country I have ever laid eyes upon. I love the people and the landscape and I am grateful maybe not all day, but at least once a day, to have the opportunity to immerse myself in the beauty of Italia for a whole year. While I'm on the subject of beauty, I went to Venice 2 weeks ago with my au pair friend from Australia. We left on Friday night and got back Sunday night, so it was a short trip but we managed to fit everything in, from visiting the Piazza San Marco, to checking out the 'night life' (there isn't any!) to even going on a Gondola ride having bargained it down to half price. The most beautiful thing about Venice is that it's completely different to any other tourist destination in the world. First of all, the fact that it's sinking gives it a certain allure in itself, knowing that it's a ticking time bomb and you've seen it before it's gone off. However for me, the best thing about Venice was that you don't go there and tick off your list the things you 'have to' see and do like you would for Rome. A sample checklist for Rome would be Colosseum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain etc etc, however Venice is more of an atmosphere than anything, and it is AMAZING. It is such an aesthetically pleasing environment and so rich in beauty and colour that is just crying out to be painted. The inspiration is amazing for anyone that is artsy. The only thing I can complain about is the amount of COUPLES! Do not, I repeat, DO NOT, go to Venice single...you will want to jump off il Ponte Vecchio afterwards!
Returning home to Milan was depressing, but refreshing to finally be back home. Also, on the 10th I'm going to Florence for a few days, so very excited about that! Sorry that this blog is so brief but I'm not in the mood today and I haven't been up to much at all since I last wrote. If you'd like to know about anything in particular in Italy let me know on here or FaceBook and I will write about it in my next blog...I'm in need of inspiration anyhow. I also promised I would write specific things to friends each time I write so here they are for this one...short but sweet!
Angelique Passaniti - I would like to thank you for taking the initiative to write me monthly letters, they are really my saving grace while I'm here and I open them religiously on the first of every month. You are an amazing person and I am so happy to hear you have found someone else who seems to think so as well 😉
Annabelle McIntosh-Smith - I am kicking myself for not being able to meet up with you while you were in Europe and I am missing your outrageous self so much. I feel anxious that you are starting your life and I'm not there with you to laugh about all the douchebags you meet along the way e.g. people who don't get geography, but I'm so happy that you are achieving your goals, even though sometimes I worry you set the bar too high for yourself. Remember to attend your anger management meetings weekly like Damian said and don't let the little things in life get to you...you now have the luxury of CHOOSING your friends so pick wisely!
Kate Prosser - I don't know if this will ever be read by you or what you're doing in your life right now, but I would like to thank you for being a part of mine and making the huge impact that you did. It saddens me that this is in a sense my 'last words' for our 6 year friendship, but I am grateful to have known and loved such a charismatic and driven person. You have always been an all or nothing person, so I thank you for giving your all, and I hope you make the right choices to achieve the happiness you, more than anyone else, deserve.
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