american boy.

If there was one thing London did in the two very short days I was there, 

it captivated me.

I'm not sure if it was the holiday season, the city dressed up in lights and Christmas decor, or the charm

but I want to move there for a temporary time, I'm honestly thinking Grad School,

or quite possibly music work.

We left Rome early and landed in London town, taking the tube the long, 1hr trip to Leicester Sq.

We met Jenna, who was a great tour guide.

It was my first time to the UK so we quickly saw the hi-lites, 

as well, it was frigid that day.

We walked to Trafalgar Sq, down to the well photographed spot of Big Ben w the Red Phone Booth.

At lunch at the ever glamourous Pizza Hut,

Saw the Eye.

Went to Hard Rock for dinner & saw Jersey Boys.

It was quite comical to hear the difference in the one I saw in Dallas v. London,

The hybrid Jersey/English accent was a bit funny.

The next day, we met Jenna in Notting Hill, 

ate Lunch at Nandos, great ambience and food.

Then made our way to Oxford St.

Crowded beyond belief, but got the essentials in.

Boots from All Saints and a few other things,

That night Buckingham Palace & Wicked, for my first time.

Our trip quickly came to an end, but left me thirsting for more.

The UK has definitely not seen the last of me.

cheers.

x

t.

 Traded In My Cigarettes by thoyt16 

ridin' solo.

Not like Jason DeRulo...

...But today, I was solo, here:

I was without a car, thus without a life.

Thankfully we live in Town Square so I'm walking distance to loads of things.

My solo movie going virginity was taken.

I saw this:

..sans Italian subtitles.

And as if me going to the movies alone wasn't already bleak, I was literally the only one in the theater.

I told Courtney, that I'm glad no kids showed up,

then I would have been the creeper/Pee-Wee Herman man at the movies.

At some points, I was legitimatley scared as my eyes played tricks on me.

I went to the bathroom and came back thinking someone snuck in, ready to scare me.

Speakers began to move in my peripherals,

and at some point someone came in the theater,

showing only their head, then stood in the entrance for a while

[because I didn't hear the door open again]

The bass at some parts even shook my pants! Literally, the air got me britches shakin'.

Thankfully me and my wizarding friends made it out alive....except for my BFF here,

Until the next solo movie....

{which will be Wednesday!}

x

Funeral Singers by thoyt16

mine this christmas.

Merry Christmas.

From OUR family [Mariah and Me] to Yours!!



Graz”EE” ain’t no Yahtz”EE”

After the program, I was fortunate enough to have my mom and aunt come out and visit for a week, and it’s been a MisAdventure, to say the least. We began our trip back in Rome, where I was. It was there where my career as a tour guide began. Saturday night we went to the Spanish Steps Via del Corso, Piazza del Poppolo and dined al-fresco right next to the Piazza.

Sunday we went all around Rome. I took them to the Vatican, St. Peters, Pantheon, Wedding Cake, Colosseum, Via del Corso, Palotine Hill. I opted to not hold my umbrella up for the crowd, and ear pieces weren’t required on my tour. I’m rather quick and efficient. Saw all that was necessary and barely missed the Pope because we went inside St. Peters instead of waiting outside.

The real fun began Monday, when we rented our car to do Tour di Toscana. The cab took us too the sticks where the car rental was, and we loaded our “big” car with all our luggage. Packed and ready, headed north toward Siena. We smoothly made our way to the right freeway and as we were nearing the area where we needed to exit for Siena, we were looking for signs. At one point my mom said “40” and for some reason my aunt thought that was code for Siena, so she Nascar-ed her way off the freeway! 40 was merely the speed limit, but thankfully it was the correct way to Siena.

Visited w the Zampis, where I played interpreter for an hour. It was nice to see my family away from family again, and they were happy to see me too! We walked around Siena, ate a late lunch and went up to Florence in the dark. Another Nascar maneuver by my aunt was when we missed an exit for our hotel, and she thought it brilliant to flip a U on the highway at the toll....where sirens began to sounds and we thought we were BUSTED! Luckily not.

We got a little lost, called the hotel numerous times, and then discovered we were staying where the hills have eyes. Next to the river where there seemed to be no guests in the hotel, and the service wore butler suits, a bit eerie.

Our bellboy was very prompt, and was also our waiter waiting at the top of the stairs saying [insert Chinese-Italian accent here], “ Hi, I am ready.” Tuesday explored Florence, Wednesday drove to Bologna where it was frigid, yet quaint. Continued my search for leather boots, no luck.

Today, we left Firenze, and went to Lucca, a charming little town surrounded by a big wall.

Got some great finds....no boots. Although I found 2 pair that would be killer, but since I'm a relative of BigFoot, I wasn't able to get them.

Then we began our trek to Rome. 4 hours later, and through the pouring rain, we made it to Rome.

Took our car to the airport and had a cab take us to dinner....unfortunately, it was a business deal for him since he took us to a friends restaurant that was only fish!

Now those who know my mom and aunt, their palates are only satisfied by the most plain tasting foods, and they steer clear from fish!

My last meal was gnocchi w/ mussels, I can't get over their little black feet that look like eyes.

To top it off, the cab driver wrote his call back number on a bill for "Chick Chick Boom: Lounge Show and Lap Dances," and picked us up in his personal vehicle--red flag numero 1, and took us to what looked like a place to take advantage of us, but he brought us home safely. and Now I'm about to fall asleep in a hotel where I can hear the man next door snoring up a storm.

Luxuries of Traveling!

Tomorrow: London...more [mis]Adventures soon!

x

t.

...and: "if you really want more...scream it out louder:

Usher - More (RedOne Jimmy Joker Remix) by djraize

finito.

Today, the study abroad officially ended. As of 4pm, all inhibitions were checked at the door, and it was time to get sleazy....which is clearly what I'm doing writing this on a Friday night.

I've learned so much out here, and have loved almost every minute of it. More to come about my time here, but today in the season of gratitude...

.....I'm grateful for the handsome effect. haha.

My friends joke that I get everything I want over here, and I say it's just because I smile. So maybe I was able to get past the guards at the Uffizi with loads of drink in my bag as I look over at Bev and others who have to chug their drinks by the security. I sat in laughing at them, and grateful that A) I didn't really know what the guard was saying when I went through security about liquids, so I just said "Si" and stood there a second, smiled, walked on.

Maybe I also got away with a little more in Italian class than others. That [A] will look great on my progress report!

Maybe my best friend gave me some clothes and different music at the Irish Pub often.

....now I just hope this carries on back to the states.

Cheers to wishing!

x

t.

Miguel - Sure Thing by djraize

photo{graph}s.

The Assisi Trip through Eliesa's {lens}

Assisi

Audrey and I. Lost in [Music]nation

chicas. [Eliesa & Abby]

lit'rally biting our nails for the trains.

I’m about to go insane…I’m jumping [ON] this train.

Yesterday was our last free Saturday before the study abroad ends, so a few of us decided to go to Assisi for a nice day trip. Right? No!

The day began ominous when I had to wake up before seven, and Audrey and Eliesa were late waking up. I vowed to always be late when meeting those two after that! This left Abby and I alone to fare for ourselves like little lost kids. So we headed to the train station so I could get a ticket. We bought some water there, and were looking for a magazine when Abby said “…I could always get a DVD,” that’s when we noticed it said “Hard” underneath them. Out of sheer curiosity I wanted to see what DVDs they had for sale, maybe in English. I don’t know if the DVDs were in English or not because they were straight up Porno films. I mean I suppose it doesn’t matter what language it’s in, probably not much talking! Abby and I were in hysterics that they just displayed these, I mean where’s the curtain to separate the Adult section fro the rest of the movie store, am I right?!

By some miracle, Audrey and Eliesa made it right after 8am…we were literally running to catch the 8:06 train. Made it to the train bin, realized we had to confirm our tickets! Elies and I ran frantically to find the machine but the conductor said he’d just sign it. All aboard the train! We sat down and had a lovely SIX HOUR travel time to Assisi, when the trip should have been no more than 2!

The 2 stops where we changed trains took over an hour in each city before the next train. We enjoyed Chiusi and Terontl as much as we could without going to far from the stations. We get to Assisi, thinking, it took 6 hours here, so we’d basically have to turn around now to make it home on time. Since that wasn’t an option, we decided to take the 5 o clock train, leaving less than 3 hours in town.

We took a cab to the center, with a little bit of ill feelings all day thinking about the different scenarios risking the trains on a Saturday and later at night. Saw the Basilica of San Francesco, which was pretty, passed too many monks for a day, and enjoyed the beautitiful view of all of Umbria. And we tried calling our professor, who was unavailable, as usual.

Our cab driver came to get us at 3:30, we got our professor on the line coming down, and he said he would let us call our families. The audacity! None of us got a hold of our families, and so we waited for our train. Abby ironically said “Ideally we’d get to the the two stations and a train would be there just as we got there.” She spoke too soon.

We get to Terontl, check the board for the times to Chiusi, all the while a woman is in front of us with a rolling bag, the girls quickly find the time for the next train, while I’m counting on my fingers to figure out where I need to be looking [damn military time, I have to use my thumb to count from 1 o’clock = 13 o'clock]

Right when I get to 18 o'clock on my ring finger, the woman in front of us booked it to the train that was right there, that's when we realize we NEED that train. Literally someone springs the door open, Eliesa and the woman by us ask a man on the phone if the train is going to either place they said and he says “Si!” no knowing if he meant yes to us, her, or the fact that Chiusi means close, which the doors were closed. Abby and Eliesa get on, Audrey and I, trying to get on the train, HOWEVER, Audrey bought a beautiful, and gigantic bowl, which she had in tow and kind of prevented me from getting my big self on the train…it starts moving in the midst of us getting on. I’m pretty sure I blacked out for a second in my mind trying to get on this train…it was either that or the fact that the bowl was in my face as I’m running with the train to get on and I’m being pulled up by some girls!

We made it on, in disbelief not even knowing if it will take us to the right stop. We are laughing, nervous, and sit in the closest proximity to each other. We get to Chiusi after I sweat out some nerves, and as Audrey is struggling with the door, as she did in Torontal, a got a premonition of the a repeat at the last stop…Abby and I book it off that train, running like Olympians down that station. We get two bins over, wrong train! We go back underground to the next bin for Siena, and like a movie, the doors close right as we get to the top of the stairs. I yell, “NOOOOO” and hit the door, and then the conductors were still outside at the other end, I felt slightly stupid looking a fool just then! But they say come on, so we get on the train. We get aboard and serisouly sit and laugh about how we pulled this stunt off..and that if we had one more person with us, "no child left behind" would be null and void because they would have had a nice night in Chiusi!

After 6 hours to Assisi, we made it back in about 2, just in time for dinner. The perfect end to our stay in Siena. I hope Rome doesn’t bring this much excitement.

Fading by thoyt16

wake me up, in the middle of the night to say.

As a group, we went to Lake Garda/Sirmione, Venice, and Verona a couple of weekends ago. It was an amazing, yet quick trip. I love all three sites, but since I could write a novella on it, I’ll try and sum it up in a quick re-cap.

On Thursday. I woke up before any rooster would think about crowing: 5:45, [seminary ended 6 years ago!]. Then, we thought we were going to have to leave someone behind, who is a touch late EVERYTIME! But, she managed to MacGyver her way on top of the Fortress to find us, right before the bus came. Then, we took tiniest bus possible where I scrunched my big boy body into and headed to Sirmione. Thanks to Lisbeth Salander and Michael Blomqkist [The Girl Who Played W/ Fire] for the gripping entertainment, because there was no sleep for me on the bus ride.

In Sirmione/Lake Garda, we had lunch, walked around the area that the pot Catullus wrote about/lived, and enjoyed the beautiful lake. The view of the Alps in the distance was amazing, and there was even a mimi hot springs, where I had a bit of a ri-ri moment stating “I’ve never seen like hot springs in the ocean” Post-It to Taylor- we are not at the ocean…LAKE Garda. Then a group of Asians decided to step in the springs. The one who got in looked like a Happy Panda, rolled up his pants and shirt revealing his Buddha Belly, and did a sort of Truffle Shuffle. Then stepped in the water and screamed because it was hotter than he anticipated! Needless to say, I was cracking up while he was screaming, took a bunch of ‘peace sign’ photos, and the put his arm around some poor Italian man, who was enjoying his rock seat, to take a photo with him.

We took a ferry to the other side of the lake and headed to Venice! In Venice we went to a Vivaldi “4 Seasons” concert. Again, the little kid inside of me came out. The bassist caused such a giggle fits from me due to the spastic, turrets like head jerks he was doing. My parent really did raise me better! All things aside, it was a great concert inside a beautiful church in Venezia.

The next day we went to the Accademia, where The Tempest should have been, but it’s temporarily gone, then we explored all day. The city is so beautiful. We ate lunch at a nice trattoria, went to Murano where they’re famous for blowing glass, then had a big ‘family’ dinner at a local restaurant.

Saturday we went to Verona, home to the fabled Romeo & Juliet. It was love at first sight as soon as we stepped into town. It has small town charm, with big city style. We walked along the “5^th Ave” of Verona, and went to the edge of town by the river, which had a spectacular view. We walked to the top of an old roman amphitheater that overlooked all of Verona and the hillside with mondo Villas.

The day was perfect, misty/hzy and overcast, adding to the ambience and charm of the town. We visited Juliet’s wall, which was lame. The only redeeming quality was the number of dudes treating Juliet like a hooker! There were numerous accounts of guys taking crass photos as they grope her left breast [hey, you rub St. Peter’s foot, apparently Juliet was kind of a floozy!]

I said goodbye to Verona, and embarked on the magic school bus [this time it was a normal, giant sized charter bus]. This really was the best ride I’ve ever been on. Granted, it could have been the amount of walking I did or the waking up at dawn, but it was very hazy and we were driving through the mountains. There was a constant fog encompassing the tress and then a drizzle of rain began. I had the perfect dreary day playlist and was in a euphoric state the whole bus ride [with a minor moment of terror when I thought the bus driver wasn’t using the windshield wipers, but again, I’m a bit slow and didn’t realize I was only seeing the top of the window, not the area where the driver was. Thanks for clearing that up Katie!]

….we made it back to Siena just in time for dinner, and for a nice hibernation!

A dopo!

New Addition to the Misadventures, a sort of soundtrack. Enjoy!

Maroon 5 - Never Gonna Leave This Bed [Acoustic] by haibee_mirage

paradise lost?

On our first away weekend, a few of us headed to Cinque Terre.

We hopped on the train for what felt like an eternity...numerous stops and transfers;

and we got off at the wrong stop (we got off too early-

but fear ye not, we had photo ops at the train station).

FINALLY, we got to Monte Rosso, the furthest of the 5 lands.

When we arrive, we were picked up by Emmanuale, the son of our cottage owner Frederico..

whom, might I add is next to our best friend since we were shooting texts about our arrival (but his English is terrible so his wife was was the texter---notes on a scandal!)

Emmanuale took us on what was the next best thing of Tim Burton's version of Mr. Toads Wild Ride.

I was literally in shambles, I mean laughing uncontrollably as I was tossed between Abby and the door while E-man was taking the tiniest windy roads at probably 90 mph!

Then, by foot he takes us to a gravel square in the pitch dark, surrounded by a wire fence and says that's where we are staying! wtf Emmanuale!!

After unpacking at the actual house, we opted for some foodies in town..

Unfortunately, since we stayed at the top of the town, we had to take the only way down: the trail of tears!

Now, I'm a grown man, but we had to take a small cobblestone road, in the pitch dark, next to a cemetery, road into town...my eyes played all sorts of cruel jokes on me!

The 4 of us walked down grabbed some pizza and returned back on the road very less travelled home!

Friday woke up to the most spectacular view:

Then headed out to hike the towns. Sadly for us, the "leisurely" path we thought we signed up for was clearly made by the devil himself: steep, narrow, and high.

I was awesome to be passed by the geriatrics club with walking sticks!

Alas, we made it to Vernazza, baked in the sun on some rocks, took a boat ride to the Via Dell'Amore, full of padlocks and graffiti of star crossed lovers.

That night had a delicious dinner in town, and overlooked the ocean at dusk.

Saturday made a pit stop in Pisa, tiniest town and tiny tower!

BUT many funny Chinese fans taking photos!!!!!

Then headed home.

It was a successful weekend on our own!

...and because she moves in mysterious ways: Ciara "Gimmie Dat"

Ciara - Gimmie Dat from shadyuploader on Vimeo.

...all of the lights...

in case you have 30 minutes to spare...check out Kanye's mini-film for "Runaway". Actual post tomorrow!

the agony & the ecstasy

while reading this "biographical novel" on the life of Michelangelo

I've felt as though I can relate to his life [merely by the title]

There's been a bit of agony, and maybe a little ecstasy [no droga Sam!]

Agony

The shoddy internet I have, EVERYWHERE. Does Italia not want me to catch up on my music?

[I sit outside on the steps like a creep to use it at home]

The bus I ride to town full of the oldest people on the planet. They are beyond cranky.

[I often think diaper changes and naps are in order for the folks!]

The amount of mystery food I've eaten at dinner because when I ask what it is...I still don't understand what she tells me!

The numerous tomatoes I've put in my mouth, I LOVE food, but tomatoes are low on the totem..at least they were.

The mosquitos that gnaw my chocolate skin whilst using my internet i.e. right now

The fact that I've been using the bidet towel for my hands. Smart move.

The fact I feel like I don't have a mind of my own w/ all the rules/meetings/speakers etc.

The Pixies said it best 'Where is my Mind?' but seriously..I'm 23, not 15. A curfew?!

All the people/car traffic on the small roads in town...it's worse than NY.

My f.o.m.o [fear of missing out] w/ my dearest friends in my last year of college.

Not being close to famiglia....
the showers made for midgets. I'd like to not bend down to pick up my shampoo to hit my head on the wall, which in turn causes my daire aire to run into the handle. NO BUONO!

the lack of cheez-its and diet dr. pepper.

....BUT, basta [enough] w. the venting, onto the best

Ecstasy

The group we have here in Siena, we all bring something different, funny, comforting, & loving

My host family: they couldn't be any better. Laughs every night at dinner, and I love them.

Seeing LACEY and ASHLEY in Florence.

Gelato.

Running in the Tuscan hillside.

The views of the hillside from various places in the city.

Living in a place that thrives on culture.

Gelato.

Food.

The vanilla wafers [these can constitute as REAL ecstasy!]

The compassion and genuine love of the people at school.

Making international friends

Making friends who talk so much that enables me to have the international friends.

Coca-Cola Light.

Seeing some of the greatest pieces of art known to man.

Visiting the most scenic towns.

Gelato.

The amount of music listening I can cram into a week.

Immersing myself in culture.

Italy is honestly breathtaking, and the hospitality is amazing- so much so that tonight after dinner,

*Sidenote: I'm going to Cinque Terre tomorrow and won't see my family until Saturday*

So Niccolo gave me the double cheek kiss, which I was unprepared, then I said bye to our host dad, whom also went for the cheeks, but we didn't plan well and he almost got my boca!

Could've been awkward!

A dopo!