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!

va bene... for days.

Piazza del Camp: Siena's Town Square

[Photo: Eliesa M.]

I've been in Siena for a week, yet it feels like 6 months.

GQ in the Colosseum

[Photo: Eliesa M]

The day we left Rome [last Saturday] I was quite nervous.

The trepidation had set in of living w/ a family who doesn't speak Inglese!

On the way to Siena, we stopped right inside Tuscany at Sar Teano to see early Etruscan catacombs.

Teaching James about Life! (haha) in Sar Teano

[Photo: Eliesa M]

Then we made it to the Siena bus stop. Standing around like Little Oprhan Annie's

waiting to be "picked out" by our 'parents'

..at this point, I could have thrown up.

Alas, all is “buono.” Marco, our Dad, picked us up.

We live in a separate apartment type setting from our family.

Mi famiglia is Marco, Titziana, and Niccolo [19], and their other son Matteo [27], who lives in Milan.

This last week in Siena we’ve had school: Italian everyday, Humanities/English every afternoon and a culinary class. We sit in the campo for what feels like in eternity because Siena is a freaking castle town, yet very beautiful and scenic. It’s a good walk into town from our house, but w/ the perfect playlist for the day, I’m solid.

Dinners have been an adventure in and of themselves. With no Italian under my belt, only Spanish, I try to speak in Spanish but it doesn’t work. Half the words I would think are the same in both languages, aren’t the same. So I sit, smile and say “mi piace” or “I like it” Several thumbs up are exchanged, and I like to say CHI-nay-say when they say Sienese (the Chinese and Siense confusion couldn’t be more opposite!)

Ridiculous.

[Photo: Eliesa M]

The very first day/dinner we had, I was pretty much a mime. No words, just hand gestures, My roommate on the other hand, who speaks some Italian [he already took Italian 101] said “va benne”(it’s good or very good) after EVERYTHING that Marco said, and w/ Asian bow at the same time…uhhh don’t mix'n'match your cultures! This isn’t a trail mix pack! Needless to say, “va benne” spins in my head on repeat.

They also make fun of me because one night Titziana was calling for Marco and it sounded just like you would say it if playing a rousing game of “Marco Polo” in the pool. So I just sat there repeating “Maaaaaarco, Maaaaarco” then walked down the hall to get something from the laundry room and passed Niccolo, naturally, “Niiiiiicolo” came out of my mouth.

Ever since, Titziana and Niccolo think I’m some sort of bird that repeats things and they laugh….at my expense. But, it’s all ‘buono

Surverying Tuscany.

{Great Job Eliesa![

A domani!

ciao, bella

It's been two days and it still hasn't sunk in that I'm in Rome.

Saturday/Sunday felt like decades, and the days are still long.

I had the pleasure of watching Just Wright TWICE on the plane.

Queen Latifah in her finest, pretty much was non existent on the flight.

Once we landed, we waited in the airport for about 2 hours,

then made our way to the hotel, with great views of Vatican City.

***I can't figure out a card reader, so the photos are from my friend,

which is a bust b/c I want to blog photos I took!****

That night we went to the Trevi fountain, Pantheon, and Piazza di Spagna.

Monday went back to the Pantheon to tour inside, where a tour group began chanting.

Kinda neat.

-Had lunch on the balcony overlooking St. Peter's.

Bread, cheese, grapes & coke light.

Carbs for dayyyyys. (I refuse to get a chunk-a-lunk, yeah, I'm a girl)

After lunch we went to the Vatican, went to the top of the dome which was gnnanrce.

After got enough steps to last the week, we hung out up there for a while enjoying the scenes.

Went inside the church, and had mass haha.

I felt a bit sac-relig kneeling and chanting, but it was legit.

The amount of work, craftsmanship and beauty in there is phenomenal.

Today we had school in the forum, sitting on the ruins walking the steps of the Roman emperors.

Cruised all around the Palontine hill, saw the vestal virgin house (where I had an accidental bum graze)

Then rounded the day in the Colosseum...and gelato at the Piazza del Poppolo.

It's hard to believe I'm here, and Saturday we're cruising up to Siena.

I'm a bit nervous to live w/ my Italian speaking family, where I speak ZERO.

Dinner will be loads of half-fake smiles and thumbs up.

And thanks to my buddy Jason--body language to convey what I want,

Some things I like:

The servers at dinner who sometimes just say Prego to me.

The legit window covers that are opened every morning.

Laundry hanging across streets.

The beautifully scenic alleys.

FOOD. (my best friend & worst enemy)

A little on the no bueno side:

No being able to speak to my servers

The bathroom that has a weird over head tank that shoots water at me every time I flush.

Knowing some people have already read the books, while mine are waiting in Siena.

Slipping in the bathroom.

Bed Bugs.

More to come soon...

(and hopefully photos from my camera)

xx