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

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!

spiritoso.

[Siena]

Last night at dinner, my host parents called me spiritoso.

translation: a humorous person.

ok, so maybe I can get a few kicks and giggles out of people,

but dayum, I should move to Italy and be a stand up comedian!

Misadventures thus far:

[the MMM face- my patented look for dinners]

Potty Talk: at dinner, the TV is always on, one night the news was speaking on [shoot if I know, it was all Italian] BUT

I understood one word: F*@$. They were Googling that,

And then showed a politician flipping people off.

To top if off, Titziana and Niccolo noticed the giggle fits from us,

And Niccolo explained to his mom that in American that’s bad,

After which she began flipping us off and saying something,

[again, not sure what, but it was comical]

she was cracking me up.

Cankles: while going for a run last week, I was trying to dodge some pedestrians in a stairway, side-stepped and sprained my ankle.

What topped it off, was some chicas were looking and smirking.

Trick best watch their back!

[@ the Talbot's w/ Step Up and Chin-NAY-say food & good friends]

I now have a left cankle because my foot is fat and swollen.

It’s so lonely looking, and sad that it’s bloated.

Hopefully I can run on it again next week.

My host family has been great and asking how I’ve been, saying they’re sorry. One night I said I walk around town like Frankenstein, in which they got up and walked around like him, but said I don’t walk like him, and called me funny.

[my umbrella-cane I used for a few days]

Acchidente: at school, I was pulling my friend Abby’s cardigan down and in grabbing the cardigan, got a hold of her strapless shirt. Could’ve been girls gone wild up in the Dante Alighieri!

[I'm not that innocent]

Ciesa: we went to church which consisted of, um, all 18 of us, and about 7 others, 3 of which were missionaries. At least I got one thing out of it, they speak very eloquently in Italian!

[all I understood was “amen!”]

International Friends: Made friends with some kids at school, our main man Martin, the Swiss kid. Pretty much a genius just at the Dante to learn Italian, already fluent in French, Dutch, and a couple others. All at the ripe age of 18. Next is Gwen aka Gwendolyn. I told her that her name reminded me of a Medieval princess, she wasn’t too amused. She isn’t really international because she goes to MSU (Montana State) and is with a program called the S.I.S. which is an Italian language immersion course. Sounds hardcore, but met a couple other people in her program as well. and girlfriend can TALK. She gave me her life story in 5 minutes walking from the bus to the campo, where I gratefully had to part ways.

Unfortunately, we ride the same bus and we tend to ride at the same time.

***Courtney, remember how we had a goal in NY to make International friends? Yeah, I’ll send them your love.***

[silly boy, tricks are for girls]

Conrtada Torre: the President of our school, Luca, invited us to his contrada dinner on Tuesday. In Siena, twice a year they hold the Palio, which are horse races. One in July and one in August. There are 17 contradas or neighborhoods in Siena and we had the opputunity to go to his contrada, the Torre (Elephant) .

[inside the Torre Museum]

We toured their church, museum which was cool, it holds their uniforms, artifacts and victory paintings. I missed the bulk of Luca explaining about it because of my ankle, but I made it for the church, museum, and dinner.

[Gimpin' while others got to peep the tomb]

We cooked fish this week, went to Firenze last Saturday, and today went to San Gimignano and Volterra (posts to come). After dinner, Contrada parties for the two that one in July & August.

[Besos]

Festa for days!

Ciao.

xx

[Boboli Gardens just got steamier]

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!