Il ventotto di ottobre

I'm sure you're all dying to know how Vito is doing.
Well, I'm sorry to report that I have been actively ignoring his calls and text messages for the last week. It's just getting weird. But when I meet a new hilarious character of his caliber, I will certainly let you know.
As for the rest of my life...
Everything is just great. We've started planning some trips for the rest of the semester, and that's very exciting. Having something to look forward to makes weeks go by even faster, though! This weekend we're hoping to go to Assisi--it's not too much of a party town (though I have heard some craaaazy stories about those Franciscan monks. I think they can really get down.) But it's supposed to be absolutely beautiful. And we haven't really seen enough of Italy...Then ROME next weekend. I absolutely cannot wait for that. I'm not sure when things are happening, but we also planned trips to Interlaken, Switzerland; Venice; and Germany for Thanksgiving.
As for funny stories, which I feel like this blog has become primarily. I'd like to tell you all a little story about flesh. Last week my host mom Liliana asked me what I eat for breakfast in America. I said I didn't really eat breakfast (which is a filthy lie, I love breakfast) and that the baguette, jam, and cup of coffee she sets out for me every morning was just fine. She responded telling me that in London Francesco ate something for breakfast that you put in a cup of milk. (Keep in mind that Liliana speaks NO ENGLISH) She struggled for a few seconds trying to think of the English word for this mysterious breakfast food and settled on "flesh". Oh, is that so? Francesco ate flesh in England? No wonder we revolted against those pervs.
So when I sat down to breakfast last Saturday in the place of my baguette there was a coffee cup full of milk, and a box of Corn Flakes. Flakes, flesh. Tomatoes, tomahtoes. You know how it goes. But like I said, a COFFEE CUP of milk and a box of cereal. No bowl. I sat and looked from her to the box to the cup and back to her for a solid 30 seconds before she asked "Should I open it for you?"--well, Liliana, that's not what I was wondering..but sure--so she opened the box. And poured the cereal into my coffee cup. Hilarious. Took everything inside of me not to laugh at her. Who knew Corn Flakes were capable of confusing a person so thoroughly. Later on this week Mario walked into my room while I was getting dressed and apologized to me because he didn't know what to do with my Corn Flakes. Really, guys? There's a picture on the front. No assembly required.
I'm still obsessed with them. So many good stories. Last night after dinner we ate pineapple cake, and drank champagne. I have no idea why. That's not normal. It must have been someone's birthday or something, right? To paint a more complete mental picture, we were also watching "Meet the Fockers" in Italian as a family. Yep, that awkward movie with all the uncomfortable sex stuff. Good thing I'm not awkward...wait...
My bike also got stolen yesterday. That was really lame. But then I bought another one on my walk home. So, I guess that's a pretty pointless story. The new one is a half-turquoise mountain bike. It would have been an 11-year-old girl's dream. On the real, it probably was. Before someone stole it and sold it to me at this sketchy flea market store called "Mecca".
I wish I had more to report. Nothing too crazy is going on. We might be going to a Halloween party sponsored by the University tonight. That could be interesting...we're also going to a Halloween party at Paolo's house on Sunday night. That promises to lend itself to plenty of funny stories.
Can't believe I'm missing Oregon-USC. That actually causes me physical pain. At least I'm repping over here. Right? Did I forget anything?
Love and miss you all! Baci

il diecinove di ottobre

London was a blast. It took us what felt like 12 hours to get there from here...but when we did it was totally worth it. Jenna and I got to our hostel and FINALLY met up with Christine and Audrey at like 2 AM on Wednesday morning, and we were all so excited to start catching up that we didn't go to bed until like 5. But we were troopers and rallied at a decent time to get busy sightseeing. Started off at Buckingham Palace. On the real, I wasn't that impressed. The guards weren't wearing fuzzy hats and I didn't get to harass them like Amanda Bynes did in "What a Girl Wants" (I would like to go on record saying that I've only seen that because Sarah Cardey likes dumb movies-thank you very much). But, I mean, I guess it was decently cool haha. I wouldn't mind living there with Yul Brenner...After that we went to Chipotle. Yes, there is a Chipotle in London. And yes, leave it up to Audrey, Christine and me to find it. It tasted kinda funny, but it was delicious, and we could legally buy Coronas. So, va bene. Then onto White Hart Lane: home of the Tottenham Hot Spur. What's that? What do you mean you have no idea who/what that is? Are you kidding?
Wait. Me either. Christine's family is obsessed with soccer so her dad bought us all tickets to tour his favorite team's stadium. Obviously, everyone was enthralled. The whole thing might have been miserable if not for Alfie. Alfie was a fellow tour member who was celebrating his eh...7th birthday I would guess. He had the cutest little British accent and an airbrushed t-shirt that said his name on it. Let me remind you, his name was Alfie. He was actually simultaneously the cutest and most annoying little boy I've ever encountered. He never stopped talking--the tour guide seemed like she wasn't interested in Alfie living a day after 7. Hilarious.
Wednesday night we went out in Leicester Square and had a lovely time talking to weird people. Thursday we were good little tourists! We visited some of England most important landmarks...like Platform 9 3/4. Yep, also a thing. We rode on a red Double Decker tour bus. The works. We were actually such good little tourists that we all fell asleep on the bus at 6:15 on Thursday night, needless to say we didn't rage too hard that night.
Unfortunately Christine and Audrey had to leave early on Friday morning, so we bid them a terribly impersonal farewell on the metro while Jenna and I proceeded to visit Harrod's--the incredible department store that takes up an entire city block. Blew my freakin' mind. We got back to Florence no problem Friday night, but poor little Jenna was really sick. She was such a trooper.
Saturday we had to take a ridiculous test for language school. You read that correctly, Saturday. So stupid. Let's just hope I didn't get another "insufficient". Really, though. Pray for me. Saturday night our cultural adviser took us to a goofy Italian rock "Cover Band" concert. Pretty hilarious. Adair and I got super into this crazy, super lesbian rocker named Gianna Nannini. So strange.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN0Bh8hVh-o
Sunday we took a day trip to Siena. I was exhausted, but it was really pretty. I hadn't been there since the Palio, and, well, let's just say sightseeing wasn't my first priority that day. And if I had seen sights...I don't know if I necessarily remember them. Woops. So this was a good thing. Their Duomo is incredible inside.
Yesterday it was back to the "grindstone"--going to class and stuff. Oh yeah, and then casually taking a 5 hour nap. That's normal. But I did my reading for museology, and I read some of "Il Nipole del Magi"--the Magician's Nephew. The first book in the Chronicles of Narnia. You know, the series for children. I think the guy sitting next to me on the bus felt sorry for me...Totally normal taking courses at a university in the morning and having a 2nd grade reading level.
Today was also pretty standard, except that the weather was beautiful! Look at this picture I took on my walk home from school. I mean, I miss New England foliage, but it's hard to complain about this. And I learned that I have to start my ICIP on Thursday. ICIP (Individual Cultural Immersion Project) is an activity to get involved in the community that everyone studying abroad is supposed to do. I (stupidly) told our adviser that I wanted to do something in the Church. Because I'm a weirdo, like everyone knows. Elisa said she knew of the perfect thing for me to do. So she's introducing me to the leader of a "Student Catholic Movement." Those of you who know me, know that I'm not part of "movements". That word alone terrifies me. Now, couple that with the fact that this "movement" is called "Communita di Liberazione". Oh, liberation, you say? That's the only word that scares me more than movement. So there you go, Babbo, maybe in addition to not going to school I can become a communist. You'd like that, wouldn't you? Haha. But, really.
So currently I'm brainstorming a way to avoid that...and watching Hocus Pocus. Because I bought it on iTunes. Do you think I'm the only person to ever do that? Anyways, I wish Halloween was a thing here. I just wanna go to the Harleys house and see it all decorated. I hope everyone has great costumes!
Vi amo, and mi mancate molto! Baci!

il undici di ottobre

Ciao!
I really should be reading the article that was assigned for museologia. It's four pages long. And yeah, we were given two weeks to read it...just like, HC. Right, Babbo? :)
But I figure I'll be up pretty late tonight because I feel like it's Christmas Eve! Jenna and I are going to London tomorrow to meet up with Audrey and Christine. I think most people reading this recognize those names...but in case you don't, Audrey and Christine are two of my best friends at Holy Cross. Audrey is studying abroad in Gallway this year and Christine has come to visit for fall break! I absolutely cannot wait. I know we're going to have an absolute blast. Therefore, I have that weird giddy feeling in my stomach and I doubt I'll be able to sleep. We leave late tomorrow night from Pisa--stupid Pisa--and we're there until Friday night. Everyone at school is super excited that we're missing class. Wait, that's not true. Not at all.
Anyways, on Thursday night at "Lion's Fountain" the ridiculous Irish pub full of American students that we go to I met this SERIOUSLY Italian guy named Vito. (As if I had to include that he was seriously Italian before I said he name was VITO.) I'm not kidding. Dude wears a leather jacket at all times, always has a cigarette hanging out of the side of his mouth, button down shirt--unbuttoned too much so you can't miss his chest hair, too tight of jeans, strange European shoes, the works. This is a picture of me imitating the face he makes--in my really classy H&M leather jacket. But he was really nice, and only really spoke Italian so we hung out. Exchanged phone numbers because I'm a stupid American girl. The usual. Then on Saturday afternoon Vito texted me asking if I "want to take a coffee, or no?" I responded saying that I was in the center with my friends, but if they can come I'd love to. He texts back "How you want." Essentially this should be a humbling experience, because I'm sure my Italian is even more outrageous than his English...but it doesn't make it any less amusing. So we got coffee, it was sort of awkward because we could tell he wanted to be on a date...too bad. But here's the real gem: yesterday evening, after not talking to Vito since coffee ended he sends me this message that says--if you can't read it: "Hi blob -) what you do? I don't feel better ho il raffreddore -( poverino! Later do you come to say me hello. after dinner?"
Yep. Kid's hilarious. And we've concluded that this -) is supposed to be this :). Later on he confused the words "hungry" and "tired".
So Vito was our main source of amusement today. I also snapped a picture of Chica! Because she came into my room this evening to hang out. Is she or is she not a full blown POLAR BEAR?! I love her, and I still love my living situation! Francesco still wears the same black track suit with orange racing stripes to dinner every night (I've also noticed that he's missing half of his left front tooth--unimportant). He recommended some discotecs that I need to go to in London. Totally normal. The Rizzis are wonderful, and I'm sure will continue to provide me with endless material for this blog.
Can't think of much more for now. I'll be sure to share lots of pictures of Londra :)
Mi mancate, e vi voglio bene!

il sette di ottobre

Holy shnikies! Sorry I'm so bad at updating my blog lately! Pops scolded me for it on Sunday night (Monday morning?) Either way, I actually have things to say this time! Well, sorta.
I moved on Friday night. I know that I previously raved about how much I loved Maria Pia and how her food made up for everything, but I started to feel zuper uncomfortable in her house. I'm 97% sure that it's just me being incredibly sensitive to awkwardness (or maybe just awkward myself) but I wasn't feeling the living situation. And the people in charge of our language school were AWESOME about finding a new one. So now I will introduce you to the Rizzi family, la mia nuova famiglia italiana:
Liliana: la mamma. Stands about 5 foot nuthin' and doesn't speak a word of English. When I say doesn't speak a word I mean last night at dinner she was trying to explain what "roast beef" meant. Liiiike she didn't know that was English. It's awesome. I get to speak a lot of Italian in the house because there are three other people eating dinner, so we have some solid conversations. More on that later. But she's a super sweet lady-- but just how I want her. Not too nice. Not making me feel weird or like I'm her actual daughter nice. Like on Sunday night when I went out I told her I thought I might be back kind of late and she responded "Non mi importa." ("I don't care.") Yeah, Liliana. Tha's what I'm talkin' 'bout.
Mario: is the freakin' man--the babbo (the Florentine word for dad. I love it.) He works at the record/stereo store that he and Francesco (the son) own. He's got a serious unibrow and looks SO ITALIAN. He's a pretty gruff guy, but you can tell he's really nice. The first few days I was afraid he didn't like me because all he talks about at the dinner table is politics (surprisingly enough I do not have an abundance of opinions on Italian politics), but last night he and I were the last ones eating dinner and we started watching a movie on TV and we got to talkin'. (In my mildly retarded Italian.) And we ended up watching a whole movie together in the family room just us and Chica. I'd make stupid comments without conjugating my verbs and he would explain the plot to me. It was pretty adorable. haha. So I think maybe he and I can be friends. Or I hope, at least. Last night when Leonardo (description to follow) came over for dinner he introduced me as "nostra carina americanina"--our cute little American. He also cuts the gross part of the cheese off for me. If that's not love, I don't know what is.
Francesco: mio fratello. And when I say brother I mean, he's 37 and lives at home. Yep. SO ITALIAN. And I mean, he's really 37. He's balding. He's a DJ. He wears track suits. He has a Russian girlfriend that he talks to on Skype every night. (By "girlfriend" do I mean "mail order bride"? I don't actually know...) But he's also super nice, and is very helpful during dinner conversation because he's interested in the US and speaks some English. So he can dig me out of holes when I clearly have NO IDEA what I'm talking about. But yes, please return to the fact that he's 37 and his mom does his laundry. And he's not even a social outcast because of it. But, siamo in Italia, I guess.
Leonardo: doesn't live at home. But he lives close by apparently. He's 41, and I live in his old bedroom. I know that he's 41 because his diploma from pharmacy school is hanging on my wall. You know what else hangs on the wall? This more than life-size Brady Bunch style portrait. I'm still trying to figure out who it is. But he and I spend a lot of time together.. I don't know much about Leonardo other than the fact that he has an adorable 11-month-old baby named Simone. P.S. that's a boy's name here...and from what I gathered from the dinner conversation, which wasn't much, Leo also has VERY different political views than the rest of the Rizzi family. Yes, awkward, you're right.
...AND CHICA! (or that's how I've chosen to spell it) THE DOG! I can't tell you all how much I miss having a dog around. For some reason, I don't miss Jemmy this much at school, but living in a house and not having a dog around was KILLING ME. So much so that my friend Jenna and I creep on dogs on the street. Or squeal at and proceed to chase dogs on the street, I guess. But now I have a dog right here in the house! Well, she's more of a polar bear, actually. But she's SO fluffy. I love petting her; she's really sweet. I can't wait until I feel comfortable enough to take her for walks! There's a dog park right by our house. I actually wandered into it (sans dog..) on Saturday when I was going for a run, and I consequently received some strange looks from the Italian dog owners in the park. Sorta made me feel like a sex offender on a playground at recess. It's a feeling I hope to never experience again. I'll bring Chica next time, I swear.
I hope I have an opportunity to share pictures of everyone at some point, but for now I guess pics of the house are going to have to do :)
Vi voglio bene, e mi mancate molto!