Settembre 27, 2010
So, when I woke up this morning, it was the day before my birthday. (In case you don't follow time well, it was the day before my birthday all day today.)
I had the most amazing/depressing dream last night... it started out I was wandering around Roma, sightseeing(imagine that). I came around some obelisk in a piazza and saw a cute rat terrier staring at me... not just any cute rat terrier but MY cute rat terrier that disappeared 4 years ago, QT! She looked exactly how I remember her... she saw me and barked then jumped on me and I picked her up and she started licking my face and I was crying I was so happy... (this is the effect of having a dog for a long time... you grow attached). I woke up SO excited and happy! Then I realized I'd been dreaming. WHOA, what a downer, but all was not lost, it was only 4 in the morning, so I went back to sleep. ;) Maybe a new dream would come...
I woke up. What was I to do on my last day on earth as a 22 year old??? I got ready for this historical day, did some running and some chest/arms at the park, then ran back to the flat and did abs... Anita had been preping dinner and it smelled AMAZING! Alright, now that I'm pumped and ready to take on this AWESOME day,
WHAT WILL I DO???????
I made a sack lunch and ate it in the park. Then I had a gelato.
WHAT AM I GOING TO DO NEXT????????
I went and did laundry. My clothes were getting stinky.
THEN WHAT??????
While my clothes were washing I watched Harry Potter.
AFTER THAT??????
I did 5th grade math and reading. Made some awesome penne pasta and pulpitone(mix between meatloaf and meatballs). Watched some cartoons. Then wrote a blog.
All in all I'd say it was a pretty good day...
Oh, and I did all of this while I was living in Rome.
I take that back, not a pretty good day, a ROCKIN' AWESOME DAY! :D
I'll see you all on the other side of 23! THANKS AND GIG 'EM!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
One of the MANY Reasons I LOVE Being Male
Today I was tired... I didn't get to bed until 5.00 and slept 6 hours... I didn't really have a breakfast so much as I had a brunch with lots of water, I danced/sweated a lot apparently. I hung around the house a bit, said goodbye to Iacopo, he was heading back to London, then I made a lunch and headed to the Colosseo to enjoy it.
I found a new way to get to that part of town that I rather like more than taking a longer bus ride to the stazione termini, then getting the train.
*side note*I just want you all to know the metro system ROCKS... so fast and easy! Sometimes it can be crowded, like after last nights match, I could feel the three people adjacent to me breathing... not because of their breath, but because of their chests or backs or shoulders moving... it was PACKED.
So I arrived at the Colosseo and it was a beautiful day, about 75 degrees Farenheit sunny, and almost no traffic and not many people considering it is the Colosseum. However, all that water I drank at "brunch" was not allowing me to enjoy this very much... I had to pee really bad. I asked a man at the station where a restroom was, he told me, it was out of order. REALLY!? So I asked an officer where another restroom was, he kept walking and said something about outside and then I couldn't understand anymore... so I headed outside and asked someone. They told me there was one on the other side of the Colosseo, ok, big, historic arena, with bumpy cobblestones all the way around... I keep telling myself I don't have to pee that bad... I find it and am SO relieved. I walked in and my first thought was I was astonished how clean it was, almost as good as Buccees. :) After I finished my business I went back outside and saw this HUGE line at least 10 people long to get into the women's restroom. If I had to wait that long I would have wet myself. Point for men. Also, having babies, menstrual cycles, and having to pay so much for haircuts. Points. I had a great lunch, then went to a nearby street, via San Giovanni, and had a chocolate cannoli... kind of like a croissant with chocolate icing on it and chocolate cream in it... DELICIOUS!!!!
I then headed back to the flat and took a nap and checked some emails and cleaned my room a bit. Generally, just being lazy. Dile said by, she heads back to school early in the morning, sad day, I don't know how I'm going to do all this without her, she's been a big help. I'll make it work somehow. I guess that's about it for today...
All in all, great day to be Roman. :D
PS- I've been meaning to write this for a while, but the Progressive insurance commercial where Flo comments on the man holding his wife's purse, then is told it's a "European shoulder bag". Totally true. Almost everyone has a bag of some sort, and those are probably the most popular. Don't hate Flo! ;)
I found a new way to get to that part of town that I rather like more than taking a longer bus ride to the stazione termini, then getting the train.
*side note*I just want you all to know the metro system ROCKS... so fast and easy! Sometimes it can be crowded, like after last nights match, I could feel the three people adjacent to me breathing... not because of their breath, but because of their chests or backs or shoulders moving... it was PACKED.
So I arrived at the Colosseo and it was a beautiful day, about 75 degrees Farenheit sunny, and almost no traffic and not many people considering it is the Colosseum. However, all that water I drank at "brunch" was not allowing me to enjoy this very much... I had to pee really bad. I asked a man at the station where a restroom was, he told me, it was out of order. REALLY!? So I asked an officer where another restroom was, he kept walking and said something about outside and then I couldn't understand anymore... so I headed outside and asked someone. They told me there was one on the other side of the Colosseo, ok, big, historic arena, with bumpy cobblestones all the way around... I keep telling myself I don't have to pee that bad... I find it and am SO relieved. I walked in and my first thought was I was astonished how clean it was, almost as good as Buccees. :) After I finished my business I went back outside and saw this HUGE line at least 10 people long to get into the women's restroom. If I had to wait that long I would have wet myself. Point for men. Also, having babies, menstrual cycles, and having to pay so much for haircuts. Points. I had a great lunch, then went to a nearby street, via San Giovanni, and had a chocolate cannoli... kind of like a croissant with chocolate icing on it and chocolate cream in it... DELICIOUS!!!!
I then headed back to the flat and took a nap and checked some emails and cleaned my room a bit. Generally, just being lazy. Dile said by, she heads back to school early in the morning, sad day, I don't know how I'm going to do all this without her, she's been a big help. I'll make it work somehow. I guess that's about it for today...
All in all, great day to be Roman. :D
PS- I've been meaning to write this for a while, but the Progressive insurance commercial where Flo comments on the man holding his wife's purse, then is told it's a "European shoulder bag". Totally true. Almost everyone has a bag of some sort, and those are probably the most popular. Don't hate Flo! ;)
A Night on the Town
Settembre 25, 2010
Today, I woke up. I know, I know, thank you, thank you. No need for applause. ;) I met Iacopo who had recently returned from London where he works as a trader for a bank. He's tall. He's also very nice, speaks English very well (like the rest of his family, possibly better), and he was born 22 years ago, on the 25th of Settembre. Happy birthday!
We went to lunch... the whole clan... Raffa, Giorgio, Nico, Dile, Iacopo, Marti, Lavi, Paola, Marco, Nonna(grandma), and myself. We took 2 cars and a moto to get to the restaurant. Iacopo told me it was the worst place to eat in Rome, but their portion sizes were generous. :) I'm not a finicky eater, I like this concept. Dile recommended pasta matriciana, it was delicious. It has guanciale, which is pork(jowl) and marinara... it was similar to pancetta, but not the same. Good choice. After lunch we went back to the flat and had the "party"... there was a beautiful torta(pie) with a large cookie on it that said in chocolate piping, Auguri Iacopo... (Best wishes Iacopo) we also had tiramisu, which is was MUCH better than the Morman version, tirami-sorta. :) I also discovered the origin of the name... it literally translates to "pull me up"... so some people have coffee as a 'pick-me-up', why not have coffee, liquor, and cake, ALL IN ONE?!
I hung around the apartment for a little while, walked around outside a bit, tested some new bus routes... then went back and watched Shrek 2, Iacopo and Nico had gone to the futbol match, Inter Milan vs. Roma. I tried to watch it but I couldn't find it on my tv, but I was happy to settle with Shrek. I talked with Mom on skype. She discovered that I can write her messages AND she can read them today. ;) However, I still feel like she's creeping on me because she can hear me and see me but since she doesn't have a camera yet, I can neither hear nor see her.
At about 11pm I headed out for my first 'night out' in Roma. Rick Steves says Monte Testaccio is a "lively night spot" in Roma. It is a small hill that was formed by the discarding of lots, and LOTS of broken vases a long, long time ago and the clubs are inset into the hill as a way to stay cool... That being said
Rick was under-selling the location. That place was PACKED! There were at least 6-10 bars/clubs and all of them seemed full... I went to one that had some good music coming from it and danced. I danced a LOT, I don't speak Italian very well, but I dance well enough and dancing is universal. It's a language all its own. I met a couple people, had some awkward conversation (awkward because I suck at understanding Italian and it was loud so... I had even more trouble, but we worked it out ;) In case you didn't know, apparently clubs at Monte Testaccio don't close at 2am... I left at 4 am... I guess time had got away from me a bit. To say the least. I hoped on the night bus nearby and after an exchange to another at the stazione termini, I was back home. A long night, but lots of fun.
Needless to say, this blog was not written on the same day as the date is set, I went straight to bed after getting back.
As I left the club, one of the neighboring clubs was playing Abba... it made me smile...Oooh see that girl, watch that scene digging the dancing queen. La-da, dada da da da
Today, I woke up. I know, I know, thank you, thank you. No need for applause. ;) I met Iacopo who had recently returned from London where he works as a trader for a bank. He's tall. He's also very nice, speaks English very well (like the rest of his family, possibly better), and he was born 22 years ago, on the 25th of Settembre. Happy birthday!
We went to lunch... the whole clan... Raffa, Giorgio, Nico, Dile, Iacopo, Marti, Lavi, Paola, Marco, Nonna(grandma), and myself. We took 2 cars and a moto to get to the restaurant. Iacopo told me it was the worst place to eat in Rome, but their portion sizes were generous. :) I'm not a finicky eater, I like this concept. Dile recommended pasta matriciana, it was delicious. It has guanciale, which is pork(jowl) and marinara... it was similar to pancetta, but not the same. Good choice. After lunch we went back to the flat and had the "party"... there was a beautiful torta(pie) with a large cookie on it that said in chocolate piping, Auguri Iacopo... (Best wishes Iacopo) we also had tiramisu, which is was MUCH better than the Morman version, tirami-sorta. :) I also discovered the origin of the name... it literally translates to "pull me up"... so some people have coffee as a 'pick-me-up', why not have coffee, liquor, and cake, ALL IN ONE?!
I hung around the apartment for a little while, walked around outside a bit, tested some new bus routes... then went back and watched Shrek 2, Iacopo and Nico had gone to the futbol match, Inter Milan vs. Roma. I tried to watch it but I couldn't find it on my tv, but I was happy to settle with Shrek. I talked with Mom on skype. She discovered that I can write her messages AND she can read them today. ;) However, I still feel like she's creeping on me because she can hear me and see me but since she doesn't have a camera yet, I can neither hear nor see her.
At about 11pm I headed out for my first 'night out' in Roma. Rick Steves says Monte Testaccio is a "lively night spot" in Roma. It is a small hill that was formed by the discarding of lots, and LOTS of broken vases a long, long time ago and the clubs are inset into the hill as a way to stay cool... That being said
Rick was under-selling the location. That place was PACKED! There were at least 6-10 bars/clubs and all of them seemed full... I went to one that had some good music coming from it and danced. I danced a LOT, I don't speak Italian very well, but I dance well enough and dancing is universal. It's a language all its own. I met a couple people, had some awkward conversation (awkward because I suck at understanding Italian and it was loud so... I had even more trouble, but we worked it out ;) In case you didn't know, apparently clubs at Monte Testaccio don't close at 2am... I left at 4 am... I guess time had got away from me a bit. To say the least. I hoped on the night bus nearby and after an exchange to another at the stazione termini, I was back home. A long night, but lots of fun.
Needless to say, this blog was not written on the same day as the date is set, I went straight to bed after getting back.
As I left the club, one of the neighboring clubs was playing Abba... it made me smile...Oooh see that girl, watch that scene digging the dancing queen. La-da, dada da da da
Saturday, September 25, 2010
A New Favorite Place
Settembre 24, 2010
This morning I went to the park and worked on abs and chest again... yesterday was a run day... tomorrow's a nothing day. I think I found a more logical way to work out... abs in one area group them together and chest/arms in another area grouped together... this way I don't have to walk back and forth between them, wasting time. I just go and do all of the arms and chest near the pull up bar, then after I finish 3 rotations through the exercises, then I go over to a nice clover patch to do abs... then I do those exercises rotated through 3 times. This works better... at least until I decided to start doing another workout type...
Right before lunch I headed to the Pantheon in hopes that the facade had been finished so I could get a decent picture of it... alas, still hidden by monstrous scaffolds and men carrying buckets and tools. I decided that since I was in the area, I should head over to Piazza Navona and Campo di Fiori. Campo di Fiori is for the most part this large piazza that is full of vendors selling cheap souvenirs, fresh fruit or vegetables, or even meats and cheeses. It was kind of fun to walk through and see different things.
However, Piazza Navona was indescribably beautiful, however, I'll do my best to describe it to you. So, some of you may or may not notice from my photo albums and pictures I generally take, I like taking pictures of clocks and fountains. Piazza Navona is also known as Tre Fontane, meaning three fountains... in the same PIAZZA! In the center of a long oval piazza there is an immense obelisk and at the base of it is a huge fountain that has large sculptures of men and lions and all sorts of cool things... breathtaking. Then on both ends of the piazza there is another fountain, slightly smaller, but still beautiful in it's own way. On the other side of the fountains as I approached, there was a HUGE domed, arched building that was amazing as well, Dile later told me it was a church. FINALLY, to put the cherry on top of this phenomenal locale, one half of the piazza is filled with artists selling and painting beautiful works of art. I found one artist I am particularly drawn to his work. It has bright colors or muted hues, all with beautiful brush strokes... I will eventually buy one of the paintings... I found one picture of red poppies I'd pay probably 75 euro for, but I think that he'll end up offering to sell it for less... but I love it. (I went back the next day to take pictures since the weather was not ideal the first trip)
When Nicolo got back from school, we read his book for next week, but he still has to write two pages of a review of the book, memorize a poem, finish his math, and is Italian history. He'll be really busy this weekend so I don't know when he'll work on it, but I know it will happen.
Raffa and Giorgio had a lot of friends over so we went downstairs and watched Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco... tear jerker... when Chance gets... well I don't want to ruin it for any of you that didn't watch it 100 times is primary school. ;)
Tomorrow Iacopo, brother, gets here for his birthday... I think the family has a lot planned, I'll just see where the day takes me. :) Hope you all are doing well.
DIVERSE CITY!
^_^
This morning I went to the park and worked on abs and chest again... yesterday was a run day... tomorrow's a nothing day. I think I found a more logical way to work out... abs in one area group them together and chest/arms in another area grouped together... this way I don't have to walk back and forth between them, wasting time. I just go and do all of the arms and chest near the pull up bar, then after I finish 3 rotations through the exercises, then I go over to a nice clover patch to do abs... then I do those exercises rotated through 3 times. This works better... at least until I decided to start doing another workout type...
Right before lunch I headed to the Pantheon in hopes that the facade had been finished so I could get a decent picture of it... alas, still hidden by monstrous scaffolds and men carrying buckets and tools. I decided that since I was in the area, I should head over to Piazza Navona and Campo di Fiori. Campo di Fiori is for the most part this large piazza that is full of vendors selling cheap souvenirs, fresh fruit or vegetables, or even meats and cheeses. It was kind of fun to walk through and see different things.
However, Piazza Navona was indescribably beautiful, however, I'll do my best to describe it to you. So, some of you may or may not notice from my photo albums and pictures I generally take, I like taking pictures of clocks and fountains. Piazza Navona is also known as Tre Fontane, meaning three fountains... in the same PIAZZA! In the center of a long oval piazza there is an immense obelisk and at the base of it is a huge fountain that has large sculptures of men and lions and all sorts of cool things... breathtaking. Then on both ends of the piazza there is another fountain, slightly smaller, but still beautiful in it's own way. On the other side of the fountains as I approached, there was a HUGE domed, arched building that was amazing as well, Dile later told me it was a church. FINALLY, to put the cherry on top of this phenomenal locale, one half of the piazza is filled with artists selling and painting beautiful works of art. I found one artist I am particularly drawn to his work. It has bright colors or muted hues, all with beautiful brush strokes... I will eventually buy one of the paintings... I found one picture of red poppies I'd pay probably 75 euro for, but I think that he'll end up offering to sell it for less... but I love it. (I went back the next day to take pictures since the weather was not ideal the first trip)
When Nicolo got back from school, we read his book for next week, but he still has to write two pages of a review of the book, memorize a poem, finish his math, and is Italian history. He'll be really busy this weekend so I don't know when he'll work on it, but I know it will happen.
Raffa and Giorgio had a lot of friends over so we went downstairs and watched Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco... tear jerker... when Chance gets... well I don't want to ruin it for any of you that didn't watch it 100 times is primary school. ;)
Tomorrow Iacopo, brother, gets here for his birthday... I think the family has a lot planned, I'll just see where the day takes me. :) Hope you all are doing well.
DIVERSE CITY!
^_^
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Mamma MIA!!! The Vatican
Settembre 23, 2010
So this morning I woke up and had breakfast(I had a bowl of coco crisps and milk). Then I waited for Diletta to wake up so she could print my reservation voucher for the Vatican. While I waited I checked emails and read some Rick Steve's (determining the best attack strategy on the up coming opponent: il Vaticano Musei)I guess I closed my door and went to the bathroom at some point because at one point I looked out the window and saw Dile driving off on her scooter. Dang. I had the reservation code and hoped that would suffice.
I left for the Vatican. At the bus stop, I realized I did not have the code.
I went back to the flat and got the code.
I left for the Vatican... again. (At this point I have 30 minutes to get to the Vatican for my "reserved entry time")
I get off the metro and head towards the incredible center of the Roman Catholic religion. There's this HUGE wall... and this HUGE line of people around it... but according to my 'Rick Steve's guide book, I get to walk past these schmucks... so I do... (HEY RICK! THANKS RICK! RICK, RICK, RICK, RICK! *can i have a ship of your shoda for shushtenansh?*)
WELL... The Vatican museum was PHENOMENAL!!!!! I loved it all! I went back and saw a couple things a couple times (I wasn't lost, just wanted to try and see it all so I had a method to the madness). Belvedere's Torso; inspiring and interesting cool story behind it. I liked the sculptures SO much... but I think the paintings were my favorites... saw some Van Gogh, Raffael, Caravaggio, DiVinci, loved them all... as I was following my 'prescribed' plan, I noticed some of the places that were closed the first time through were now open... so much for the plan... well I had to stick to it anyway because I was running short on time (Rick recommends 3-4 hours for really enjoying it, I needed 5-6...) I spent almost an hour in the Sistine Chapel with my neck craned at the ceiling with my binoculars... I definitely saw more this time than the last time I was there... but still didn't get to "see" it all... so amazing... then I realized I was running late and ran back home (missing St. Peter's Basilica)... the total for a student ordering the tickets online is 12 euro... so I'll be going back eventually. :)
When I got back to the flat, Nico had just arrived, after practicing a little spelling, we went to Villa Ada and played some futbol. I scored on him, he scored on me... it went on and on. We got tired of chasing the ball after a little while and just sat and watched the 'lake' and the park patrons... families playing frisbee, dogs chasing kids, dads pushing kids in swings... it was fun. We talked about dogs and animals... and futbol... then we headed back to get a Cremolota (an icee-syrupy sweet, very yummy) then back to the flat.
Giorgio spent the day at home since he was feeling sick. Dinner, shower, TV, then off to bed...
Another beautiful day in the life of a "PoorUnfortunate Soul"... ;)
So this morning I woke up and had breakfast(I had a bowl of coco crisps and milk). Then I waited for Diletta to wake up so she could print my reservation voucher for the Vatican. While I waited I checked emails and read some Rick Steve's (determining the best attack strategy on the up coming opponent: il Vaticano Musei)I guess I closed my door and went to the bathroom at some point because at one point I looked out the window and saw Dile driving off on her scooter. Dang. I had the reservation code and hoped that would suffice.
I left for the Vatican. At the bus stop, I realized I did not have the code.
I went back to the flat and got the code.
I left for the Vatican... again. (At this point I have 30 minutes to get to the Vatican for my "reserved entry time")
I get off the metro and head towards the incredible center of the Roman Catholic religion. There's this HUGE wall... and this HUGE line of people around it... but according to my 'Rick Steve's guide book, I get to walk past these schmucks... so I do... (HEY RICK! THANKS RICK! RICK, RICK, RICK, RICK! *can i have a ship of your shoda for shushtenansh?*)
WELL... The Vatican museum was PHENOMENAL!!!!! I loved it all! I went back and saw a couple things a couple times (I wasn't lost, just wanted to try and see it all so I had a method to the madness). Belvedere's Torso; inspiring and interesting cool story behind it. I liked the sculptures SO much... but I think the paintings were my favorites... saw some Van Gogh, Raffael, Caravaggio, DiVinci, loved them all... as I was following my 'prescribed' plan, I noticed some of the places that were closed the first time through were now open... so much for the plan... well I had to stick to it anyway because I was running short on time (Rick recommends 3-4 hours for really enjoying it, I needed 5-6...) I spent almost an hour in the Sistine Chapel with my neck craned at the ceiling with my binoculars... I definitely saw more this time than the last time I was there... but still didn't get to "see" it all... so amazing... then I realized I was running late and ran back home (missing St. Peter's Basilica)... the total for a student ordering the tickets online is 12 euro... so I'll be going back eventually. :)
When I got back to the flat, Nico had just arrived, after practicing a little spelling, we went to Villa Ada and played some futbol. I scored on him, he scored on me... it went on and on. We got tired of chasing the ball after a little while and just sat and watched the 'lake' and the park patrons... families playing frisbee, dogs chasing kids, dads pushing kids in swings... it was fun. We talked about dogs and animals... and futbol... then we headed back to get a Cremolota (an icee-syrupy sweet, very yummy) then back to the flat.
Giorgio spent the day at home since he was feeling sick. Dinner, shower, TV, then off to bed...
Another beautiful day in the life of a "Poor
Bubbles and the Beast
Settembre 22, 2010
Today will probably be shorter than most because if you notice, it happened yesterday. I'll try and remember all the details and things that I enjoyed... but really since the internet was down(we could not identify the reason, any of my HelpDeskCentral friends want to help out in case it happens again, we'd appreciate it.) I was unable to talk to Mom on skype, and the blog was delayed more than usual. Che sara', sara'.
So this morning while I was doing my ab/chest 'workout'(I 'quote it' as such because sometimes it doesn't really feel like a workout. I get tired and sore, but it's not in a gym which seems strange to me.) rotating between several different things when I went to a grassy knoll to do flutterkicks. While I was on my back with my feet kicking in the air, the most massive dog (Like the beast in the Sandlot) comes up to me and cocks his head to the side as if to say, "Whatcha doin'?". I wished he'd stayed there until I finished, I really wanted to pet him... but his owner called him away. I smiled while I finished my kicks.
I went to the southern part of Roma for lunch, but ended up deciding I just wanted to eat at the bakery near the flat instead, so lunch was at about 3. *This proved to be a trend over the next two days. I thought there might be a place similar to one mentioned in my tour book that looked promising, but since it took over an hour to get there (ridiculous traffic) and almost 2 HOURS getting back (even MORE ridiculous traffic) I decided I didn't want to waste time wandering around an unfamiliar area (you're welcome dad. ;)
When Nico got home, we did some homework with Lavi and Marti (after which, Marti wanted to show me some kung fu and fell hard on her knee on a hard wood floor, I'm almost 23, not 6, and that would hurt me! she cried a bit but then was right as rain soon after.) Then went upstairs. Raffa made pasta carbonara, I think it's probably Nico's favorite by the extreme awe he held when she offered to make it.
I swear this kid has the COOLEST bath toys! He has the entire Spongebob Squarepants cast in 'real' life versions (a real sponge, a plastic starfish that looks nothing like Patrick, an octopus, a toy crab, he even has a toy rodent of some sort in a plastic ball for Sandy; these characters are "his" Spongebob cast, I think it's awesome.) He says that Spongebob is probably the most popular cartoon in the world. I told him I agreed since I know people who are six that love it, and I have a friend who's TWENTY-FIVE, Sabrina Ioollaa Fergeson, and totally adores it! He probably did more playing than actually cleaning but whatever, I at least made him wash his hair after tennis.
Giorgio always tells me stories about different things in European, and sometimes American, history. He is very well versed in history of all kinds. I'm not particularly fond of the subject, but when he tells me different things it usually has a funny twist and makes it worth listening to and learning something. For example, today I learned not only is Aukland in New Zealand, apparently, it's the capital. Viola'!
Well, I think that's about all I can recall... not a super exciting day, but fun none the less.
Until next time kids, remember, only YOU can prevent forest fires.
:)
Today will probably be shorter than most because if you notice, it happened yesterday. I'll try and remember all the details and things that I enjoyed... but really since the internet was down(we could not identify the reason, any of my HelpDeskCentral friends want to help out in case it happens again, we'd appreciate it.) I was unable to talk to Mom on skype, and the blog was delayed more than usual. Che sara', sara'.
So this morning while I was doing my ab/chest 'workout'(I 'quote it' as such because sometimes it doesn't really feel like a workout. I get tired and sore, but it's not in a gym which seems strange to me.) rotating between several different things when I went to a grassy knoll to do flutterkicks. While I was on my back with my feet kicking in the air, the most massive dog (Like the beast in the Sandlot) comes up to me and cocks his head to the side as if to say, "Whatcha doin'?". I wished he'd stayed there until I finished, I really wanted to pet him... but his owner called him away. I smiled while I finished my kicks.
I went to the southern part of Roma for lunch, but ended up deciding I just wanted to eat at the bakery near the flat instead, so lunch was at about 3. *This proved to be a trend over the next two days. I thought there might be a place similar to one mentioned in my tour book that looked promising, but since it took over an hour to get there (ridiculous traffic) and almost 2 HOURS getting back (even MORE ridiculous traffic) I decided I didn't want to waste time wandering around an unfamiliar area (you're welcome dad. ;)
When Nico got home, we did some homework with Lavi and Marti (after which, Marti wanted to show me some kung fu and fell hard on her knee on a hard wood floor, I'm almost 23, not 6, and that would hurt me! she cried a bit but then was right as rain soon after.) Then went upstairs. Raffa made pasta carbonara, I think it's probably Nico's favorite by the extreme awe he held when she offered to make it.
I swear this kid has the COOLEST bath toys! He has the entire Spongebob Squarepants cast in 'real' life versions (a real sponge, a plastic starfish that looks nothing like Patrick, an octopus, a toy crab, he even has a toy rodent of some sort in a plastic ball for Sandy; these characters are "his" Spongebob cast, I think it's awesome.) He says that Spongebob is probably the most popular cartoon in the world. I told him I agreed since I know people who are six that love it, and I have a friend who's TWENTY-FIVE, Sabrina Ioollaa Fergeson, and totally adores it! He probably did more playing than actually cleaning but whatever, I at least made him wash his hair after tennis.
Giorgio always tells me stories about different things in European, and sometimes American, history. He is very well versed in history of all kinds. I'm not particularly fond of the subject, but when he tells me different things it usually has a funny twist and makes it worth listening to and learning something. For example, today I learned not only is Aukland in New Zealand, apparently, it's the capital. Viola'!
Well, I think that's about all I can recall... not a super exciting day, but fun none the less.
Until next time kids, remember, only YOU can prevent forest fires.
:)
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
I Just Haven't Met You Yet
Settembre 21, 2010
I ran 6 miles in Villa Ada today... wait for it... I did NOT run around the lake. Ok, I did the last mile and a sprint around the lake, but that's because I'd covered a lot of the rest of the park. It was nice seeing other things besides the lake, and more of the lake, and a different corner of the same lake... It made the last trip around the lake much easier and more enjoyable.
When I got back I took a shower and went to Fontana di Trevi... just planning to people watch and hear the water. I watched and listend... then I spent an unexpected 1.25 hours drawing a lamp post... it turned out nice... but a lamp post. ? I don't know... then went and had lunch near Trevi at a place recommended by a friend that had a delicious pizza... he said it was a hole in the wall, so I don't think I found it... but I was on the right street unless there's another Murano glass shop near Trevi Fountain on it's left... The pizza wasn't great, so I don't mind trying another place anyway.
As I was leaving the fountain apparently some lady had taken a picture with one of the fake gladiators and didn't want to pay him... I know they're cheesy and out of place and kind of tacky... but that's how the guy makes his money... He wasn't very happy, apparently she was German and he was saying he was Jewish and then something about her being a Nazi... Just give the guy 5 euro lady or delete the pictures.
Also about food, on the way home, I wanted to try a cannoli, but the pastry shop by the flat didn't have any, so I had a delicious brownie thing... it's a good thing I run a lot... I think once I try all the new goodies, I'll have my sweet-tooth satiated...maybe... for dinner, since I was helping Nico with his COPIOUS amounts of homework, Raffa made pasta carbonara(pancetta/bacon & eggs), eggplant, and grilled/seared tuna. I'd never had cooked tuna I don't think. It was great!
SO, Nico still had math homework(that I wanted to get finished yesterday but was over ruled), and a HOW-TO project(writing a lot of instructions about paper mache' piggy banks), and Italian writing homework... the math was the worst... they had a worksheet practicing knowing which numbers were larger... they also had to write over 120 4-digit numbers changing their order with subtle variations... tedious and time consuming, but by the end, I could tell Nico was better at seeing patterns in the numbers, I hope that was the plan... sheesh.
Since he had so much homework, after snack, he started and didn't finish until after we ate dinner... so he only got about 30 minutes of free time, which he watched a few cartoons with... then off to bed. We'll do the math earlier next time. ;)
I think that about sums up my day...
oh and Duck Dodgers kicked Marvin the Martian's butt... with a mirror for his disintegrating ray gun.
Dub. Out.
I ran 6 miles in Villa Ada today... wait for it... I did NOT run around the lake. Ok, I did the last mile and a sprint around the lake, but that's because I'd covered a lot of the rest of the park. It was nice seeing other things besides the lake, and more of the lake, and a different corner of the same lake... It made the last trip around the lake much easier and more enjoyable.
When I got back I took a shower and went to Fontana di Trevi... just planning to people watch and hear the water. I watched and listend... then I spent an unexpected 1.25 hours drawing a lamp post... it turned out nice... but a lamp post. ? I don't know... then went and had lunch near Trevi at a place recommended by a friend that had a delicious pizza... he said it was a hole in the wall, so I don't think I found it... but I was on the right street unless there's another Murano glass shop near Trevi Fountain on it's left... The pizza wasn't great, so I don't mind trying another place anyway.
As I was leaving the fountain apparently some lady had taken a picture with one of the fake gladiators and didn't want to pay him... I know they're cheesy and out of place and kind of tacky... but that's how the guy makes his money... He wasn't very happy, apparently she was German and he was saying he was Jewish and then something about her being a Nazi... Just give the guy 5 euro lady or delete the pictures.
Also about food, on the way home, I wanted to try a cannoli, but the pastry shop by the flat didn't have any, so I had a delicious brownie thing... it's a good thing I run a lot... I think once I try all the new goodies, I'll have my sweet-tooth satiated...maybe... for dinner, since I was helping Nico with his COPIOUS amounts of homework, Raffa made pasta carbonara(pancetta/bacon & eggs), eggplant, and grilled/seared tuna. I'd never had cooked tuna I don't think. It was great!
SO, Nico still had math homework(that I wanted to get finished yesterday but was over ruled), and a HOW-TO project(writing a lot of instructions about paper mache' piggy banks), and Italian writing homework... the math was the worst... they had a worksheet practicing knowing which numbers were larger... they also had to write over 120 4-digit numbers changing their order with subtle variations... tedious and time consuming, but by the end, I could tell Nico was better at seeing patterns in the numbers, I hope that was the plan... sheesh.
Since he had so much homework, after snack, he started and didn't finish until after we ate dinner... so he only got about 30 minutes of free time, which he watched a few cartoons with... then off to bed. We'll do the math earlier next time. ;)
I think that about sums up my day...
oh and Duck Dodgers kicked Marvin the Martian's butt... with a mirror for his disintegrating ray gun.
Dub. Out.
Let it be- Paul McCartney
Settembre 20, 2010
So everything was normal in the morning... I swear my description of the mornings is what makes the blog so long... and it's the same every time... guess what, today was no different.
After Nico left for school, I went to Villa Ada and worked abs, chest, and some inadvertent back, which consisted of pullups, side v-ups(kind of like lying on your side and then raising your legs and touching your toes), inverted pushups, bicycles on an incline, wide pushups, and the plank... I was TIRED after I finished 3 rotations through them all... I ended up not even being able to barely stand on my hands when I was doing the inverted pushups the 3rd time... almost fell on my face... in a public park... which people watching... I would have laughed at me... BUT I didn't fall. ;)
After a long morning at the park I went back and had a birthday lunch in celebration for Ms. Kaitlin Marie Rangel!! HAPPY 21st!! WHOOP! I had a PB&J, a plum, a pear, a piece of cake(which I hummed happy birthday while I ate), and a glass of milk. BEST LUNCH EVER ;) Then I went down town and wandered around looking at some shops... I found a cool "stationary" shop... it had pens and paper and such, but then it had everything from cheap pens to Mont Blanc pens... and nice brief cases and stuff like that. *By the way Dad, Diletta told me there's really not a "bad neighborhood" here, just some places you have to use common sense at night and things like that... which I have (in theory ;)*
I asked Diletta how I'm doing as an Au Pair, she said Nico seems to have fun with me and is getting things done as well, so I'd say I'm doing a right, bang-up job. ;) ...Even with my faults... hey, it's a constant learning process. I saw a bulldog today and wanted to steal it, but refrained. I also had a nerdy conversation and it made me miss anatomy... I know, I know... I'm a masochist. It is fun though. I also learned the first, I don't know, 4 measures of the Harry Potter theme song on the piano... then got distracted by something shiny... speaking of shiny, my ring has grabbed the attention of some people I've noticed... probably because I spin it on hard surfaces every now and then...
Nico, Lavi, and their classmate Sophi worked on homework after school, learning large numbers and ordering them. Then they did a puppet show, it ended with the puppets being thrown around and used as projectiles... No projectiles in the house. EXCEPT RIGHT NOW! They also worked on a piece of poetry they're supposed to memorize for Wednesday... it's not bad, I don't know exactly what it means, but not bad... then we went a played futbol by the garage... I got hit on the right side of my chest with a solid kick, it stung a little... Marco, Anita's son is a good shooter, but not a great passer... but I think he's only 6... he's got time. ;)
Ok, I guess that's all for now... stay tuned next time when Duck Dodgers faces the maniacal Dr. Glockenspiel!
:)
So everything was normal in the morning... I swear my description of the mornings is what makes the blog so long... and it's the same every time... guess what, today was no different.
After Nico left for school, I went to Villa Ada and worked abs, chest, and some inadvertent back, which consisted of pullups, side v-ups(kind of like lying on your side and then raising your legs and touching your toes), inverted pushups, bicycles on an incline, wide pushups, and the plank... I was TIRED after I finished 3 rotations through them all... I ended up not even being able to barely stand on my hands when I was doing the inverted pushups the 3rd time... almost fell on my face... in a public park... which people watching... I would have laughed at me... BUT I didn't fall. ;)
After a long morning at the park I went back and had a birthday lunch in celebration for Ms. Kaitlin Marie Rangel!! HAPPY 21st!! WHOOP! I had a PB&J, a plum, a pear, a piece of cake(which I hummed happy birthday while I ate), and a glass of milk. BEST LUNCH EVER ;) Then I went down town and wandered around looking at some shops... I found a cool "stationary" shop... it had pens and paper and such, but then it had everything from cheap pens to Mont Blanc pens... and nice brief cases and stuff like that. *By the way Dad, Diletta told me there's really not a "bad neighborhood" here, just some places you have to use common sense at night and things like that... which I have (in theory ;)*
I asked Diletta how I'm doing as an Au Pair, she said Nico seems to have fun with me and is getting things done as well, so I'd say I'm doing a right, bang-up job. ;) ...Even with my faults... hey, it's a constant learning process. I saw a bulldog today and wanted to steal it, but refrained. I also had a nerdy conversation and it made me miss anatomy... I know, I know... I'm a masochist. It is fun though. I also learned the first, I don't know, 4 measures of the Harry Potter theme song on the piano... then got distracted by something shiny... speaking of shiny, my ring has grabbed the attention of some people I've noticed... probably because I spin it on hard surfaces every now and then...
Nico, Lavi, and their classmate Sophi worked on homework after school, learning large numbers and ordering them. Then they did a puppet show, it ended with the puppets being thrown around and used as projectiles... No projectiles in the house. EXCEPT RIGHT NOW! They also worked on a piece of poetry they're supposed to memorize for Wednesday... it's not bad, I don't know exactly what it means, but not bad... then we went a played futbol by the garage... I got hit on the right side of my chest with a solid kick, it stung a little... Marco, Anita's son is a good shooter, but not a great passer... but I think he's only 6... he's got time. ;)
Ok, I guess that's all for now... stay tuned next time when Duck Dodgers faces the maniacal Dr. Glockenspiel!
:)
Monday, September 20, 2010
Recovery
Settembre 19, 2010
I did almost nothing all day today. (For warning, this blog may be boring)...
10 miles/ 16.09 kilometers is a long way and does take it's toll on the body. When I woke up this morning I was a little sore. I didn't really have any plans, so I read, watched tv, surfed the internet, doodled and did laundry. I almost did all my laundry without a hitch... but while my jeans were drying on the terrace... it started raining... (double washed, score!) ... WELL, that about sums up the entire day... oh, I did finally change the clock on my computer to read what time it is here, not back home. That was kind of a big deal... Um... Oh! I got to talk with my sister on skype. :) ... but then she said she'd call back and never did... :( I still haven't talked to my mom on skype because she can't get the program downloaded on her computer :\ ONE DAY MOMMY!!! ;)
Even though I technically have Sundays off, Raffa and Giorgio asked me to watch Nico while they went to see Elton John... They went and Giorgio said he had a good time but doesn't think Raffa did (even though she said she enjoyed it...). They said they only knew two songs, "Rocket Man" and something else... those were probably the only two songs I would know too...
Ok, I'm done wasting your time. :) I hope you're all having a good day.
I did almost nothing all day today. (For warning, this blog may be boring)...
10 miles/ 16.09 kilometers is a long way and does take it's toll on the body. When I woke up this morning I was a little sore. I didn't really have any plans, so I read, watched tv, surfed the internet, doodled and did laundry. I almost did all my laundry without a hitch... but while my jeans were drying on the terrace... it started raining... (double washed, score!) ... WELL, that about sums up the entire day... oh, I did finally change the clock on my computer to read what time it is here, not back home. That was kind of a big deal... Um... Oh! I got to talk with my sister on skype. :) ... but then she said she'd call back and never did... :( I still haven't talked to my mom on skype because she can't get the program downloaded on her computer :\ ONE DAY MOMMY!!! ;)
Even though I technically have Sundays off, Raffa and Giorgio asked me to watch Nico while they went to see Elton John... They went and Giorgio said he had a good time but doesn't think Raffa did (even though she said she enjoyed it...). They said they only knew two songs, "Rocket Man" and something else... those were probably the only two songs I would know too...
Ok, I'm done wasting your time. :) I hope you're all having a good day.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Colloseum on FIRE!
Settembre 18, 2010
I woke up this morning blahblahblah... then I went downstairs and helped Lavi with her reading English. She's pretty good at it, but I think that some members of this family may have dyslexia... or maybe just get a little careless when they read. :)
After helping her, I went to the Stazione Termini to check the price of train tickets and see if the man at the counter could help me get any discounts. I asked about to Venice... about a 6 hour trip on the cheaper train, about 44 euro one way... I asked if it was cheaper for students? No. Cheaper if I book in advance? No. Cheaper if I try and get last minute seats as the train is about to leave? No. There are no discounts, what you see is what you get. Lame. But now I know and won't feel like I'm wasting money for not asking. ;)
I think sometime I'm going to get one of the cheap trains (11 euro) to Napoli, I've heard it's a great place to visit and see. Diletta warned me to not wear any jewelery though, because there is a lot more theft there apparently. Thanks in advance... I'm not sure if they can express mail an Aggie Ring to Italy... or that I'd EVER want it to have to come to that. *SAD DAY TO END ALL SAD DAYS*.
I left the Stazione Termini and headed back to the flat, Nico and Mattis were headed to a classmate, Shane's birthday party. I went for a run in the park. My goal was 10 miles. It took a LONG time, and now I have two blisters just behind my big toe, but it was worth it... I'd had 4 gelatos in 3 days soooo... I needed it. ;) When I finished I was EXHAUSTED!! My neck even hurt... from holding my head up, I guess...? But after I showered and cleaned up, I had a quick salad and some fruit (everyone else was downstairs eating, Diletta was watching a movie), then headed to the Colosseo.
The Colosseo on Fire was a new thing Roma decided to try, this was the first time it had been done. It was neat, they had white backdrops behind a lot of the arches and projectors displaying fire on them. It was a cool effect, and apparently VERY popular. They closed the street in front of the Colosseo for all the people. Afterwards I went and had a pizza, some gelato, wandered around some, then headed back to the flat. It was a good Saturday.
Tomorrow I'm watching Nico for Raffa and Giorgio (even though it's Sunday) because they have tickets for Elton John. I have to admit, I'm a little jealous. :)
Remember to keep your friends close, but your enemies closer... I'm not sure what it means, but just to make sure, HUG EVERYONE! :D
PACE!
I woke up this morning blahblahblah... then I went downstairs and helped Lavi with her reading English. She's pretty good at it, but I think that some members of this family may have dyslexia... or maybe just get a little careless when they read. :)
After helping her, I went to the Stazione Termini to check the price of train tickets and see if the man at the counter could help me get any discounts. I asked about to Venice... about a 6 hour trip on the cheaper train, about 44 euro one way... I asked if it was cheaper for students? No. Cheaper if I book in advance? No. Cheaper if I try and get last minute seats as the train is about to leave? No. There are no discounts, what you see is what you get. Lame. But now I know and won't feel like I'm wasting money for not asking. ;)
I think sometime I'm going to get one of the cheap trains (11 euro) to Napoli, I've heard it's a great place to visit and see. Diletta warned me to not wear any jewelery though, because there is a lot more theft there apparently. Thanks in advance... I'm not sure if they can express mail an Aggie Ring to Italy... or that I'd EVER want it to have to come to that. *SAD DAY TO END ALL SAD DAYS*.
I left the Stazione Termini and headed back to the flat, Nico and Mattis were headed to a classmate, Shane's birthday party. I went for a run in the park. My goal was 10 miles. It took a LONG time, and now I have two blisters just behind my big toe, but it was worth it... I'd had 4 gelatos in 3 days soooo... I needed it. ;) When I finished I was EXHAUSTED!! My neck even hurt... from holding my head up, I guess...? But after I showered and cleaned up, I had a quick salad and some fruit (everyone else was downstairs eating, Diletta was watching a movie), then headed to the Colosseo.
The Colosseo on Fire was a new thing Roma decided to try, this was the first time it had been done. It was neat, they had white backdrops behind a lot of the arches and projectors displaying fire on them. It was a cool effect, and apparently VERY popular. They closed the street in front of the Colosseo for all the people. Afterwards I went and had a pizza, some gelato, wandered around some, then headed back to the flat. It was a good Saturday.
Tomorrow I'm watching Nico for Raffa and Giorgio (even though it's Sunday) because they have tickets for Elton John. I have to admit, I'm a little jealous. :)
Remember to keep your friends close, but your enemies closer... I'm not sure what it means, but just to make sure, HUG EVERYONE! :D
PACE!
Friday, September 17, 2010
McDonalds, Soldiers, and Magic! OH MY!
Settembre 17, 2010
This morning started off like all the others... blah, blah, blah...
After getting my laundry put away(Thank you Anita for all your help <3), I hopped on the bus to go see the Pantheon, in all its grandeur and glory. The Pantheon was once used to worship all the Roman/Greek gods, hence the name, Pan(all encompassing)-theon(god or deity). When Christianity took over thanks to Constantine, it was converted to a sort of Cathedral for worshiping THE God. *Keep in mind, this is what I've gathered from bits and pieces that I remember from books and websites... I've not actually looked any of this up, so if you think I'm wrong, call me out on it. ;)* The outside is getting a bit of a face-lift right now, but the inside was phenomenal... enormous and spacious... all of the important Italian rulers are now buried there along with the painter/architect Raffaello Sanzio. There was also a small obelisk-like fountain outside the Pantheon in the piazza, it was nice. I decided to eat at McDonalds for lunch... I know, I know, what was I thinking... but they were advertising for the Mozzerellino... how can I not try a hamburger with a thick cut of mozzerella on it?! AND special sauce!? It was good, but le pizze/ i panini I've had were superior. (I'm sorry I ever doubted you, oh delectable delights)
After the Pantheon, I wandered back to the bus stop and stopped in a few clothing shops that peaked my interests... I found some jeans I liked for 39 euros, a jacket for 60 euros, and a bag for 40 euros... but as of now, I'm saving for a Christmas ticket plane ride home. :)
When I got back, I waited for Nicolo and Mattis to get home from school. We had an improvised birthday party for Nicolo's "Teddy", then Mattis and I started setting up the toy soldiers for our epic battle while Nico went to tennis lessons. We fought and fought and then I had to go make dinner so we called it a tie... it was going on for over an hour... maybe close to two... (I was winning, but didn't expect it to last long. They tend to change the rules sometimes ;)
Dinner was excellent, pasta, chicken, and zucchini. Giorgio paid me for the first two weeks I'd been working. I like getting paid. I thought I'd be making 1/2 this much in twice the amount of time... but a happy typo for my favor. :) Should help me get the plane tickets for Christmas a little quicker at least. We ended the day by watching Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban... YAY, great way to end such a great day!
This morning started off like all the others... blah, blah, blah...
After getting my laundry put away(Thank you Anita for all your help <3), I hopped on the bus to go see the Pantheon, in all its grandeur and glory. The Pantheon was once used to worship all the Roman/Greek gods, hence the name, Pan(all encompassing)-theon(god or deity). When Christianity took over thanks to Constantine, it was converted to a sort of Cathedral for worshiping THE God. *Keep in mind, this is what I've gathered from bits and pieces that I remember from books and websites... I've not actually looked any of this up, so if you think I'm wrong, call me out on it. ;)* The outside is getting a bit of a face-lift right now, but the inside was phenomenal... enormous and spacious... all of the important Italian rulers are now buried there along with the painter/architect Raffaello Sanzio. There was also a small obelisk-like fountain outside the Pantheon in the piazza, it was nice. I decided to eat at McDonalds for lunch... I know, I know, what was I thinking... but they were advertising for the Mozzerellino... how can I not try a hamburger with a thick cut of mozzerella on it?! AND special sauce!? It was good, but le pizze/ i panini I've had were superior. (I'm sorry I ever doubted you, oh delectable delights)
After the Pantheon, I wandered back to the bus stop and stopped in a few clothing shops that peaked my interests... I found some jeans I liked for 39 euros, a jacket for 60 euros, and a bag for 40 euros... but as of now, I'm saving for a Christmas ticket plane ride home. :)
When I got back, I waited for Nicolo and Mattis to get home from school. We had an improvised birthday party for Nicolo's "Teddy", then Mattis and I started setting up the toy soldiers for our epic battle while Nico went to tennis lessons. We fought and fought and then I had to go make dinner so we called it a tie... it was going on for over an hour... maybe close to two... (I was winning, but didn't expect it to last long. They tend to change the rules sometimes ;)
Dinner was excellent, pasta, chicken, and zucchini. Giorgio paid me for the first two weeks I'd been working. I like getting paid. I thought I'd be making 1/2 this much in twice the amount of time... but a happy typo for my favor. :) Should help me get the plane tickets for Christmas a little quicker at least. We ended the day by watching Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban... YAY, great way to end such a great day!
Spies, Lies, and Pocket Knives
September 16, 2010
This morning started off like all the others, wake up, eat with Giorgio and Nico then send Nico off to school. Pretty uneventful, but while we were eating, Giorgio did inform me that there was a spy among us… that Nico was going to tell Raffa everything that we did wrong while she was gone, a tiny mole in the clan of men. ;) Then Giorgio commenced to tell Nico how lying is ok if the intention is good, but only then… the whole situation seemed like a sitcom being set for complete failure… Then before I left for my run, I decided to use a little Aggie-ingenuity and fix my busted headphones, thus resulting in:
**Top 5 reasons I’m not an electrical engineer:
6. I hate math
5. I’m too good looking ;)
4. Unless Schrodinger was the full name of the pianist in Peanuts, I don’t care?
3. I cannot fail to attend class, not study, AND still make decent grades
2. I don’t pretend to understand “Black Magic”
1. I can’t fix a broken set of headphones with a leatherman tool, and scotch tape.
The headphones worked out of one ear before I started messing with them… now they don’t even have a headphone jack anymore… whatever. So I put on my FUNCTIONAL headphones and went to work out at Villa Ada.
I decided to take a couple different turns and ended up completely lost on top of the hill in the park… good news is I knew the lake was at the bottom of the hill, somewhere. So, I started running in what I thought was a good direction, and let me tell you there were some pretty steep parts on that hill… I was half running half sliding down the hill. At one point I actually tripped and started to fall but caught my feet on some loose leaves and before hitting my back and head on a tree next to me did a neat little sliding 360 turn, then just continued running on the now flat surface. It was scary but awesome at the same time. I got a little confidence booster while I was working out because there was another guy training for something with a “coach” and the guy training was kind of lazy, so it made me feel good about myself.
Since I was doing laundry (with the most appreciated help from Anita), I was unable to go see the Parthenon but did get further along in my second mystery, ’The Sign of Four’. Diletta and I watched some ‘Friends’ then when Nico got home we played at Lavinia & Martina’s flat before dinner. After dinner Raffa returned from France and showed us some things she’d bought. Diletta, Giorgio, Raffa, and I talked about healthcare, universities, and relationships over dinner some. Apparently the healthcare system here works well when they are managed properly, but unfortunately, the free health care is not managed hardly at all from Rome south in Italy. A lot of people go to Italian hospitals and get free care even if they’re not Italian citizens, thus they never have paid any taxes to support the free health care that they are currently receiving… I see this as a possible problem to the American health care reform (correct me if I’m wrong please). Apparently, the doctors here are good physicians but since the health care is low on funds from the people that get the free care without the pay and such, the state (who pays the doctors) cannot afford to pay them much. Therefore, many physicians work both for the state and have a private practice to supplement their income… that's a LOT of work!
That’s about all I have for today, after dinner, Giorgio and I watched some of a war movie/series that had the young boy from the first Jurassic Park as the main character, “The Pacific”. While we were watching (that was a lot of W’s in a row) we were chatting some and Giorgio mentioned that I have a very good Italian accent when I speak Italian... I don’t speak well...but when I do, the accent is good. ^_^ it made my day to know that people think I’m Italian when I speak to them… but then that usually causes them to respond... still working on that part...
BUONA NOTTE!!! <3
This morning started off like all the others, wake up, eat with Giorgio and Nico then send Nico off to school. Pretty uneventful, but while we were eating, Giorgio did inform me that there was a spy among us… that Nico was going to tell Raffa everything that we did wrong while she was gone, a tiny mole in the clan of men. ;) Then Giorgio commenced to tell Nico how lying is ok if the intention is good, but only then… the whole situation seemed like a sitcom being set for complete failure… Then before I left for my run, I decided to use a little Aggie-ingenuity and fix my busted headphones, thus resulting in:
**Top 5 reasons I’m not an electrical engineer:
6. I hate math
5. I’m too good looking ;)
4. Unless Schrodinger was the full name of the pianist in Peanuts, I don’t care?
3. I cannot fail to attend class, not study, AND still make decent grades
2. I don’t pretend to understand “Black Magic”
1. I can’t fix a broken set of headphones with a leatherman tool, and scotch tape.
The headphones worked out of one ear before I started messing with them… now they don’t even have a headphone jack anymore… whatever. So I put on my FUNCTIONAL headphones and went to work out at Villa Ada.
I decided to take a couple different turns and ended up completely lost on top of the hill in the park… good news is I knew the lake was at the bottom of the hill, somewhere. So, I started running in what I thought was a good direction, and let me tell you there were some pretty steep parts on that hill… I was half running half sliding down the hill. At one point I actually tripped and started to fall but caught my feet on some loose leaves and before hitting my back and head on a tree next to me did a neat little sliding 360 turn, then just continued running on the now flat surface. It was scary but awesome at the same time. I got a little confidence booster while I was working out because there was another guy training for something with a “coach” and the guy training was kind of lazy, so it made me feel good about myself.
Since I was doing laundry (with the most appreciated help from Anita), I was unable to go see the Parthenon but did get further along in my second mystery, ’The Sign of Four’. Diletta and I watched some ‘Friends’ then when Nico got home we played at Lavinia & Martina’s flat before dinner. After dinner Raffa returned from France and showed us some things she’d bought. Diletta, Giorgio, Raffa, and I talked about healthcare, universities, and relationships over dinner some. Apparently the healthcare system here works well when they are managed properly, but unfortunately, the free health care is not managed hardly at all from Rome south in Italy. A lot of people go to Italian hospitals and get free care even if they’re not Italian citizens, thus they never have paid any taxes to support the free health care that they are currently receiving… I see this as a possible problem to the American health care reform (correct me if I’m wrong please). Apparently, the doctors here are good physicians but since the health care is low on funds from the people that get the free care without the pay and such, the state (who pays the doctors) cannot afford to pay them much. Therefore, many physicians work both for the state and have a private practice to supplement their income… that's a LOT of work!
That’s about all I have for today, after dinner, Giorgio and I watched some of a war movie/series that had the young boy from the first Jurassic Park as the main character, “The Pacific”. While we were watching (that was a lot of W’s in a row) we were chatting some and Giorgio mentioned that I have a very good Italian accent when I speak Italian... I don’t speak well...but when I do, the accent is good. ^_^ it made my day to know that people think I’m Italian when I speak to them… but then that usually causes them to respond... still working on that part...
BUONA NOTTE!!! <3
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
I'm HUGE in Europe
Settembre 15, 2010
Today was pretty un-epically-eventful. Woke up a little late, realized no one else was up yet, went and took a quick shower(if I was going to face the world in a rush, I better freakin' smell good), then went back to "start breakfast" which is to make sure Nico is eating by 8. Well we ended getting him and his friend that came over to get a ride to school, Giorgio, out of the house by 8.35. Success.
I played on my iPod a little, then went to go buy my sandals(now knowing the secrets behind their operating schedule). I walked in, went to the sandals, asked(in Italian) if they had my size, he said something back to me(This is the most difficult part of conversing in a language you're not fluent in, the response), I agreed without knowing what he said, then went and took the sandal back to its display stand. I looked at some other things for a bit, then went back and asked if I could buy the sandal in my size. He responded(still not sure what he said), but I love that hand gestures is a universal language that breaks all language barriers. He made some motions, I recognized some words and I figured out that a lady had gone to get my shoes. When the lady returned, she asked(in Italian) if I'd like to try them on, I said,"Si grazie." Tried them on, they fit, I asked(yup, still conversing in Italian here) where I needed to pay, she told me, gave me the price to take to the cashier. I bought them and that was the most conversing I've done(in Italian) in 1.5 weeks. Success. Apparently I wear a size 44 in European sizes... which oddly equates to a 9.5 in the US, even though I wear a 10.5 US shoe... ???
I then went to il Colosseo to take a few quick pictures and get the "lay of the land" for when I return this weekend. They are doing a special lighting for it this weekend that they've apparently never done before. I now know how to get there, where to get my tickets, if possible, how to avoid the line to get in, and where to get the best angle of it in a picture with my camera.
I like the metro system, it's quick and easy, but VERY crowded going to il Colosseo... it happens. When Nico got home, homework was done with Lavi, and then they went to tennis lessons together. I should have gone with them, I sat here and didn't really do anything, but couldn't leave since I didn't know when they'd get back... so I read some, doodled some, and facebooked some.
Well, tomorrow I have no clue what I'm doing(besides laundry). I'll probably go check out the Parthenon... see what the hubbub is over there. The new pizzeria was really good, still not completely finished, but they were serving, cheap pizza with great quality, and family run. :) Mi piacere.
OK, that's all I got... Stay classy San Diego!
Today was pretty un-epically-eventful. Woke up a little late, realized no one else was up yet, went and took a quick shower(if I was going to face the world in a rush, I better freakin' smell good), then went back to "start breakfast" which is to make sure Nico is eating by 8. Well we ended getting him and his friend that came over to get a ride to school, Giorgio, out of the house by 8.35. Success.
I played on my iPod a little, then went to go buy my sandals(now knowing the secrets behind their operating schedule). I walked in, went to the sandals, asked(in Italian) if they had my size, he said something back to me(This is the most difficult part of conversing in a language you're not fluent in, the response), I agreed without knowing what he said, then went and took the sandal back to its display stand. I looked at some other things for a bit, then went back and asked if I could buy the sandal in my size. He responded(still not sure what he said), but I love that hand gestures is a universal language that breaks all language barriers. He made some motions, I recognized some words and I figured out that a lady had gone to get my shoes. When the lady returned, she asked(in Italian) if I'd like to try them on, I said,"Si grazie." Tried them on, they fit, I asked(yup, still conversing in Italian here) where I needed to pay, she told me, gave me the price to take to the cashier. I bought them and that was the most conversing I've done(in Italian) in 1.5 weeks. Success. Apparently I wear a size 44 in European sizes... which oddly equates to a 9.5 in the US, even though I wear a 10.5 US shoe... ???
I then went to il Colosseo to take a few quick pictures and get the "lay of the land" for when I return this weekend. They are doing a special lighting for it this weekend that they've apparently never done before. I now know how to get there, where to get my tickets, if possible, how to avoid the line to get in, and where to get the best angle of it in a picture with my camera.
I like the metro system, it's quick and easy, but VERY crowded going to il Colosseo... it happens. When Nico got home, homework was done with Lavi, and then they went to tennis lessons together. I should have gone with them, I sat here and didn't really do anything, but couldn't leave since I didn't know when they'd get back... so I read some, doodled some, and facebooked some.
Well, tomorrow I have no clue what I'm doing(besides laundry). I'll probably go check out the Parthenon... see what the hubbub is over there. The new pizzeria was really good, still not completely finished, but they were serving, cheap pizza with great quality, and family run. :) Mi piacere.
OK, that's all I got... Stay classy San Diego!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
All alone
Settembre 14, 2010
A morning with no mother. This morning, Raffa left for France to work until Thursday. Nico left for school dressed and on time, after having breakfast. Diletta showed me a couple of places to get my sandals at and I went to check the prices at both stores, I found a good pair at the first store but when I went back, it was closed. Giorgio says many of the smaller stores close from 1-4 so they can be open later, like from 4-8 or something like that. So I will return tomorrow. I forgot to put away the breakfast things like cereal and sugar when I left and didn't realize until I got back and Anita already had. She's a really sweet lady, and I like helping her with the immondizia(rubbish), sorting it, recycling, taking it out. I like talking with her in Italian because if I want to communicate with her, it has to be Italian, and there's no one else around to judge my mistakes. :)
After I got back from finding out the sport shop near piazza Buenos Aires was closed, I went to Villa Ada for a run/ab/chest workout... it was good, effective and tiring, but good. I tried a new trail today going back. It involved a BIG hill and lots of climbing, but I ended back on the path that I normally run back on, just more tired. When Nico got home, we started on homework. We finished his math(writing and spelling out large numbers), then we waited for Diletta to help with the Italian. Martina and her friend Sophie came up to get help with their homework too. I helped them with their English then Diletta worked on them with their Italian. They're only 6 so their Italian was just writing letters and their English was just reading.
Nico and I played hotwheels for a little while, some indoor hockey, some throw the pillow at Dub and pretend it's a saw blade... played some basketball... fun day all together. For dinner, Zia Paola(Aunt Paola) invited Nico to eat. So I made dinner for myself, and I have to admit, it turned out pretty well. Even if I was the only one who ate it. Giorgio and Diletta came in after I'd finished cooking and told me they'd throw something together themselves. I'll put the picture of my first full "Italian" meal in my album.
After dinner, Giorgio and I went and had a Gelato(fragola/strawberries&limone/lemon), then grabbed Nico from downstairs for a shower and bed. Everything is "ready" for tomorrow... I'm going to go over it all again when I wake up to make sure. I hope you are all doing well and staying safe. CIAO!
A morning with no mother. This morning, Raffa left for France to work until Thursday. Nico left for school dressed and on time, after having breakfast. Diletta showed me a couple of places to get my sandals at and I went to check the prices at both stores, I found a good pair at the first store but when I went back, it was closed. Giorgio says many of the smaller stores close from 1-4 so they can be open later, like from 4-8 or something like that. So I will return tomorrow. I forgot to put away the breakfast things like cereal and sugar when I left and didn't realize until I got back and Anita already had. She's a really sweet lady, and I like helping her with the immondizia(rubbish), sorting it, recycling, taking it out. I like talking with her in Italian because if I want to communicate with her, it has to be Italian, and there's no one else around to judge my mistakes. :)
After I got back from finding out the sport shop near piazza Buenos Aires was closed, I went to Villa Ada for a run/ab/chest workout... it was good, effective and tiring, but good. I tried a new trail today going back. It involved a BIG hill and lots of climbing, but I ended back on the path that I normally run back on, just more tired. When Nico got home, we started on homework. We finished his math(writing and spelling out large numbers), then we waited for Diletta to help with the Italian. Martina and her friend Sophie came up to get help with their homework too. I helped them with their English then Diletta worked on them with their Italian. They're only 6 so their Italian was just writing letters and their English was just reading.
Nico and I played hotwheels for a little while, some indoor hockey, some throw the pillow at Dub and pretend it's a saw blade... played some basketball... fun day all together. For dinner, Zia Paola(Aunt Paola) invited Nico to eat. So I made dinner for myself, and I have to admit, it turned out pretty well. Even if I was the only one who ate it. Giorgio and Diletta came in after I'd finished cooking and told me they'd throw something together themselves. I'll put the picture of my first full "Italian" meal in my album.
After dinner, Giorgio and I went and had a Gelato(fragola/strawberries&limone/lemon), then grabbed Nico from downstairs for a shower and bed. Everything is "ready" for tomorrow... I'm going to go over it all again when I wake up to make sure. I hope you are all doing well and staying safe. CIAO!
Monday, September 13, 2010
I hate taking tests
Settembre 13, 2010
I went to take my placement test at school today. I like to think that I did Prof. Cangelose proud, I recognized everything that was on the test... however... I didn't remember how to do everything on the test. However, as Raffa said, "If I knew everything on the test, there wouldn't be any need for me to take the class." A valid argument. I told the instructor that I have been taught this material at one time, but I would need a refreshing in it before I could confidently say I understood it. Out of the 6 pages, I am fairly confident I understood 4.5 of them... not terrible, right??? The instructor agreed a reviewing would be helpful. She said that she would let me know by email about my placement soon.
When I got back, I took the immondizie(rubbish) out for Anita, had un panino, and finished "A Case in Scarlet", Doyle's first Holmes story. I had gone out to look for some sandals at a couple of stores nearby so I could be private club, pool appropriate next time the opportunity arose, but I could not find any. I don't remember if I mentioned, but the family goes to a private pool and a bathing cap and sandals are required... even if you're bald and going to take off your shoes anyway... ;) It was a nice day, and when Nico got home, he had forgotten his math homework at school but we decided we'd have to do it tomorrow night along with Italian(it was due on Wednesday). I asked Nico what he wanted to do,I asked if he wanted to go to the park and play futbol, he said he wanted to read, so we read for a little while. Then played chess. He beat me. *raises fist in air shaking angrily, "NEVER AGAIN!"*
When Raffa got home I felt like I was being tested again! I still hate tests! She kept quizzing me on where things were for getting Nico ready for school and for dinner and ecc. I don't mind looking for things until I find them, but while someone is watching over your shoulder, you feel rushed and wrong all the time... I don't think I impressed her much. She will be leaving for France for a few days to work and I'm 'in charge' of Nico so she wants me to have things running smoothly. I'm not going to let the kid starve, or forget to make him do his homework... as best as anyone can...
I made dinner mostly, and it turned out pretty good, and helped Nico in the tub, he likes playing with bubbles and goggles and plastic bath toys... who doesn't though, am I right?! After Nico went to bed Giorgio and I watched 2012, that movie is INTENSE! Most pretty unbelievable, but good non the less.
That's about it tonight, Diletta told me a place where I could buy some sandals and that is the main goal for tomorrow... not that I'll be using them anytime soon, but you never know. I also promised my mom I'd get some pictures of me here in exchange for a good picture of her, but I SWORE I wouldn't put it on facebook, and I won't, Aggie Word. Good night everyone! Peace. Love. S'mores!
**PS- two things today that made me smile really big!
1. While I was waiting for the bus today, there was an Italian man in his good looking Italian suit walking with really small steps as he held his 4-5 year old daughter's hand and she was taking the biggest steps she could to keep up with Daddy. He wasn't agitated or impatient with her and she was just so content with her little pigtails... cute as a button.
2. While I was preparing Nico's bath he was more or less avoiding me and was in Diletta's(his sister who is 11 years his senior) room. I went in to get him and found them both dancing to music from her computer. So cute. I miss dancing with my sister. ;) LOVE YOU SIS!
NIGHT EVERYONE.
I went to take my placement test at school today. I like to think that I did Prof. Cangelose proud, I recognized everything that was on the test... however... I didn't remember how to do everything on the test. However, as Raffa said, "If I knew everything on the test, there wouldn't be any need for me to take the class." A valid argument. I told the instructor that I have been taught this material at one time, but I would need a refreshing in it before I could confidently say I understood it. Out of the 6 pages, I am fairly confident I understood 4.5 of them... not terrible, right??? The instructor agreed a reviewing would be helpful. She said that she would let me know by email about my placement soon.
When I got back, I took the immondizie(rubbish) out for Anita, had un panino, and finished "A Case in Scarlet", Doyle's first Holmes story. I had gone out to look for some sandals at a couple of stores nearby so I could be private club, pool appropriate next time the opportunity arose, but I could not find any. I don't remember if I mentioned, but the family goes to a private pool and a bathing cap and sandals are required... even if you're bald and going to take off your shoes anyway... ;) It was a nice day, and when Nico got home, he had forgotten his math homework at school but we decided we'd have to do it tomorrow night along with Italian(it was due on Wednesday). I asked Nico what he wanted to do,I asked if he wanted to go to the park and play futbol, he said he wanted to read, so we read for a little while. Then played chess. He beat me. *raises fist in air shaking angrily, "NEVER AGAIN!"*
When Raffa got home I felt like I was being tested again! I still hate tests! She kept quizzing me on where things were for getting Nico ready for school and for dinner and ecc. I don't mind looking for things until I find them, but while someone is watching over your shoulder, you feel rushed and wrong all the time... I don't think I impressed her much. She will be leaving for France for a few days to work and I'm 'in charge' of Nico so she wants me to have things running smoothly. I'm not going to let the kid starve, or forget to make him do his homework... as best as anyone can...
I made dinner mostly, and it turned out pretty good, and helped Nico in the tub, he likes playing with bubbles and goggles and plastic bath toys... who doesn't though, am I right?! After Nico went to bed Giorgio and I watched 2012, that movie is INTENSE! Most pretty unbelievable, but good non the less.
That's about it tonight, Diletta told me a place where I could buy some sandals and that is the main goal for tomorrow... not that I'll be using them anytime soon, but you never know. I also promised my mom I'd get some pictures of me here in exchange for a good picture of her, but I SWORE I wouldn't put it on facebook, and I won't, Aggie Word. Good night everyone! Peace. Love. S'mores!
**PS- two things today that made me smile really big!
1. While I was waiting for the bus today, there was an Italian man in his good looking Italian suit walking with really small steps as he held his 4-5 year old daughter's hand and she was taking the biggest steps she could to keep up with Daddy. He wasn't agitated or impatient with her and she was just so content with her little pigtails... cute as a button.
2. While I was preparing Nico's bath he was more or less avoiding me and was in Diletta's(his sister who is 11 years his senior) room. I went in to get him and found them both dancing to music from her computer. So cute. I miss dancing with my sister. ;) LOVE YOU SIS!
NIGHT EVERYONE.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Good Eats, without Alton Brown
Settembre 12, 2010
This morning I woke up, dressed in my dapper fitted shirt with awesome new tie and some good looking slacks and headed to church. I was there a little early after worrying I'd be late because I was "helping" Nico with his Italian homework. (I was watching him do it while Raffa helped him) The service was great, it covered loving your enemies and even sinners love each other, but only children of God are called to love each other as well as sinners and to not judge one another, that's God's job. God doesn't want us taking His job... and... that's about all I got out of the service since it was completely in Italian. The scriptures were in English, and that was about it. Maybe next week I'll find one... ;)
When I got back, Nico, Raffa, and I went to eat some Japanese sushi at a place nearby. I had spicy tuna and Nico and Raffa split a wide variety of things... it was good sushi, the second best I've ever had(Piranhas in Austin is AMAZING). Then we headed back to the flat, Nico wanted to go to the pool so they went. It was a private pool and I did not have the appropriate swim attire so I could not go this time. (Note to self, get bathing cap for bald head and flipflops for pool deck) I stayed at home and read some Detective Holmes... I love Sir Doyle...
When everyone got home later, Raffa made some more of the homemade pasta her friend Maria had made, (bellisimo) and some pork chops with rosemary that were delicious. She thought they needed to be cooked more, I disagreed, politely of course, and I said they were tasty and not over done.
Today was relaxing, and tomorrow I got to class to take my Italian language placement test. I think there are four levels, beginner, intermediate, advanced, and why am I taking this class... or something like that... I'm hoping that I get put in the intermediate class but if I'm in the beginner class I guess that'll be ok too... I just need to practice more...
Ok that's all for now. Night everyone!!
This morning I woke up, dressed in my dapper fitted shirt with awesome new tie and some good looking slacks and headed to church. I was there a little early after worrying I'd be late because I was "helping" Nico with his Italian homework. (I was watching him do it while Raffa helped him) The service was great, it covered loving your enemies and even sinners love each other, but only children of God are called to love each other as well as sinners and to not judge one another, that's God's job. God doesn't want us taking His job... and... that's about all I got out of the service since it was completely in Italian. The scriptures were in English, and that was about it. Maybe next week I'll find one... ;)
When I got back, Nico, Raffa, and I went to eat some Japanese sushi at a place nearby. I had spicy tuna and Nico and Raffa split a wide variety of things... it was good sushi, the second best I've ever had(Piranhas in Austin is AMAZING). Then we headed back to the flat, Nico wanted to go to the pool so they went. It was a private pool and I did not have the appropriate swim attire so I could not go this time. (Note to self, get bathing cap for bald head and flipflops for pool deck) I stayed at home and read some Detective Holmes... I love Sir Doyle...
When everyone got home later, Raffa made some more of the homemade pasta her friend Maria had made, (bellisimo) and some pork chops with rosemary that were delicious. She thought they needed to be cooked more, I disagreed, politely of course, and I said they were tasty and not over done.
Today was relaxing, and tomorrow I got to class to take my Italian language placement test. I think there are four levels, beginner, intermediate, advanced, and why am I taking this class... or something like that... I'm hoping that I get put in the intermediate class but if I'm in the beginner class I guess that'll be ok too... I just need to practice more...
Ok that's all for now. Night everyone!!
Surprise!
Settembre 11, 2010
Today I woke up later than normal, about 8.30. The boys, Mattis, and Nico, were up playing Mariokart while Raffa and Giorgio watched/ read the paper. I got took a shower and got ready to go to the Nazionale Museo. On the way to the museo I saw the car that I am going to own one day. *hint hint mom* I only saw it briefly as we drove by on the bus, but I know it was love at first sight. I don't know much about it, just that it was a black Lamborghini...*sigh*...so back from my daydream...I bought my ticket which was good to see the Museo and the Diocletian baths. I spent a little more than 2 hours in the Museo. Four levels, each one with something different on it. I think I'm going to have to make a separate album for all the pictures... or maybe just a brief intermission in my current album for museo pictures... the terra piano(ground floor); there were a lot of very cool Roman sculptures and some Greek sculptures. Primo piano(first floor); more Greek sculptures. Secondo piano(second floor); a lot of frescos and mosaics of ALL sizes. One fresco in one of the rooms was painted on all four walls of the room, like a garden. One of the mosaics was about a 15X15 foot square on the floor... the mosaics seemed to withstand the test of time the best, besides the bronze sculptures. The basement(interrato primo); had hundreds of monies from Rome and Italy throughout the ages.
I went to Irish pub I'd found after I'd finished the museo and ordered l'acqua naturale and a pizza with sausage, mushrooms, and cheese... delicious. Grabbed a caffe gelato afterwards then headed to the Diocletian baths. I'd lost my museo ticket but the man was nice enough to believe that I'd bought one earlier that day when I tried to show him the pictures I'd taken, but he said it wouldn't do any good since he'd never been to the museo himself. Haha. The baths were once the largest public baths in all of Italy... and the museum had nothing to do with that. It mostly had fragments of sarcophagi and alters with some worn out statues that had been in the weather a bit. It was still a beautiful building and garden, but I'm glad that I didn't pay to get in...
I headed back to the flat and slept for a good hour, I was tired. When I awoke, everyone was gone but Diletta, and she was leaving. I didn't feel like sitting there. So I went for a walk on via Nemorense, it has some neat shops and ristoranti. When I got back Giorgio was home doing finances for something and I read some in my new Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ontology. Nico called and asked what kind of pizza we wanted, I said surprise me, Giorgio wanted Napoli(every pizza has a name, I just don't know them all yet). We watched a Jackie Chan movie, the Babysitter, it was pretty good, much less action than most Jackie Chan movies... Then we went to bed.
Giorgio also talked to me about my pay and asked how much I'd agreed to with the agency I've been working with to get the position. I told him the amount they sent me in an email and he said that seemed low and that I should double check with the agency to make sure it's correct. That would be pretty cool if I was getting paid more! Then I could start saving for a plane ride home for the holidays! :)Surprise money! It's like a pinata, you just start whacking away at it, then BOOM! Good stuff! Ok, not exactly like a pinata.... ;)
I am going to go to an English speaking Methodist church in the morning and see if I like it or not.
Hope you're all doing well. Miss you. Stay safe. and like my freshman biology professor told us... "stay out of trees and don't smoke cigarettes!" :) NIGHT!
Today I woke up later than normal, about 8.30. The boys, Mattis, and Nico, were up playing Mariokart while Raffa and Giorgio watched/ read the paper. I got took a shower and got ready to go to the Nazionale Museo. On the way to the museo I saw the car that I am going to own one day. *hint hint mom* I only saw it briefly as we drove by on the bus, but I know it was love at first sight. I don't know much about it, just that it was a black Lamborghini...*sigh*...so back from my daydream...I bought my ticket which was good to see the Museo and the Diocletian baths. I spent a little more than 2 hours in the Museo. Four levels, each one with something different on it. I think I'm going to have to make a separate album for all the pictures... or maybe just a brief intermission in my current album for museo pictures... the terra piano(ground floor); there were a lot of very cool Roman sculptures and some Greek sculptures. Primo piano(first floor); more Greek sculptures. Secondo piano(second floor); a lot of frescos and mosaics of ALL sizes. One fresco in one of the rooms was painted on all four walls of the room, like a garden. One of the mosaics was about a 15X15 foot square on the floor... the mosaics seemed to withstand the test of time the best, besides the bronze sculptures. The basement(interrato primo); had hundreds of monies from Rome and Italy throughout the ages.
I went to Irish pub I'd found after I'd finished the museo and ordered l'acqua naturale and a pizza with sausage, mushrooms, and cheese... delicious. Grabbed a caffe gelato afterwards then headed to the Diocletian baths. I'd lost my museo ticket but the man was nice enough to believe that I'd bought one earlier that day when I tried to show him the pictures I'd taken, but he said it wouldn't do any good since he'd never been to the museo himself. Haha. The baths were once the largest public baths in all of Italy... and the museum had nothing to do with that. It mostly had fragments of sarcophagi and alters with some worn out statues that had been in the weather a bit. It was still a beautiful building and garden, but I'm glad that I didn't pay to get in...
I headed back to the flat and slept for a good hour, I was tired. When I awoke, everyone was gone but Diletta, and she was leaving. I didn't feel like sitting there. So I went for a walk on via Nemorense, it has some neat shops and ristoranti. When I got back Giorgio was home doing finances for something and I read some in my new Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ontology. Nico called and asked what kind of pizza we wanted, I said surprise me, Giorgio wanted Napoli(every pizza has a name, I just don't know them all yet). We watched a Jackie Chan movie, the Babysitter, it was pretty good, much less action than most Jackie Chan movies... Then we went to bed.
Giorgio also talked to me about my pay and asked how much I'd agreed to with the agency I've been working with to get the position. I told him the amount they sent me in an email and he said that seemed low and that I should double check with the agency to make sure it's correct. That would be pretty cool if I was getting paid more! Then I could start saving for a plane ride home for the holidays! :)Surprise money! It's like a pinata, you just start whacking away at it, then BOOM! Good stuff! Ok, not exactly like a pinata.... ;)
I am going to go to an English speaking Methodist church in the morning and see if I like it or not.
Hope you're all doing well. Miss you. Stay safe. and like my freshman biology professor told us... "stay out of trees and don't smoke cigarettes!" :) NIGHT!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Patience, Pubs, and Pasta
September 10, 2010
Today started off as any other day has this week, light breakfast, seeing Nico off to school, then I decided to shave. This was an ordeal. I had to try and get my trimmer to work for the first time in the 220 watt outlet with my converter… well, when I turned it on, it made this horribly loud buzzing sound, like the saw in a horror movie moving closer to the protagonist’s head or groin (depending on their gender). I immediately turned it off, then readjusted some things and tried again. Alas, still death whirring… So with my handy leatherman, I took apart my trimmer to see if I could fix it. After taking it apart, cleaning it, then tightening some things, I put it back together… and… you know that feeling you get when you are working with your hands, on an engine, or a machine, then you fix it and it purrs like a kitten? Yeah, me neither. I turned it on again and still I thought I was being invaded by hundreds of tiny Japanese airplanes in my bathroom. So I got in the shower with my awesome 2 blade razor Raffa bought for me and looked the inevitable bloodbath in the face. Funny thing, even with only two blades, the high pressure of the water made it feel super smooth and didn’t hurt in the least! I love Roman water! It tastes good, doesn’t give you diarrhea, and my shower has LOTS of pressure! After this LONG ordeal, I began to wander around the flat thinking of what I wanted to do today… After getting my laundry hung up on the terrace (terrazzo) upstairs, then trying to figure out how to ask Anita when I should come back so she could let me on the terrazzo to pick my clothes, I started perusing my Rick Steve’s book to give me sight-seeing ideas and decided to check out the catacombs that are smaller, less crowded. Luckily they’re about 5 minutes away walking (on my via Salaria trips, I’d trekked past it twice…).
The crypts are called the Priscilla Catacombs, between via Priscilla and via Salaria. As I got there, I paid the 8 euro (Rick lied, not 6 ;) to see them and decided to take the Italian tour that was leaving now instead of waiting 30 minutes for the English tour. I didn’t get a lot of details from the tour, but did get most of the main concepts. Affondo o nuoto… I sink or I swim. Afterwards, I went to the stazione termini to price train tickets to Milano e Venezia ecc. They were more expensive than I anticipated… Giorgio said the trains were becoming more privatized and so would be more relatively more expensive than they have been in the past. Sad day. But there are cheap-ish tickets I can still get, and apparently, flights out of Italy are more reasonable since there is more competition amongst airlines. Yay! I found a pretty neat Irish pub just near the stazione termini that I would like to go back to for lunch or something sometime… It was large, had a very Irish feel, and was full of Italians. I guess, that’d be a great place to hide from tourists. What tourist would look in an Irish pub for food while they’re in Italy?
When I got back and got my clothes off the terrazzo, Nico got back from school with his friend Mattia. Mattia was a very polite young man and was patient with Nico (he gets a little more rambunctious with his friends). Raffa made some pasta that an old friend of hers had made and given to her with homemade ragu sauce as well… oh my gosh, that was by FAR, the best pasta I’ve ever, EVER had. EVER! We also had grilled zucchini and carrots and pulpitte (meatballs). After dinner we played with toy soldiers in a war of Germany versus Scotland, and I definitely would have won if the Scottish bagpipe players carried weapons on them! What else are they going to carry in those little pouches around their kilts? A small .380! Then we watched the Garfield movie (I really liked it, Bill Murray rocked it, and Odie, so cute) and some Wii action, then headed to bed…
Tomorrow the boys have futbol practice, for their PE team and I’m not working… I just don’t know what I’m going to be doing all day… AH! I’ve just had an apostrophe! Yeah, bolt of lightning struck me ‘ead (Hook)! I’ll visit the National Museum near the stazione termini, then, have lunch at the pub!! I’m stoked! Sweet! Well, I’ll catch you cool cats on the flip side of your pillow. ;)
Rubberducky, out!
Today started off as any other day has this week, light breakfast, seeing Nico off to school, then I decided to shave. This was an ordeal. I had to try and get my trimmer to work for the first time in the 220 watt outlet with my converter… well, when I turned it on, it made this horribly loud buzzing sound, like the saw in a horror movie moving closer to the protagonist’s head or groin (depending on their gender). I immediately turned it off, then readjusted some things and tried again. Alas, still death whirring… So with my handy leatherman, I took apart my trimmer to see if I could fix it. After taking it apart, cleaning it, then tightening some things, I put it back together… and… you know that feeling you get when you are working with your hands, on an engine, or a machine, then you fix it and it purrs like a kitten? Yeah, me neither. I turned it on again and still I thought I was being invaded by hundreds of tiny Japanese airplanes in my bathroom. So I got in the shower with my awesome 2 blade razor Raffa bought for me and looked the inevitable bloodbath in the face. Funny thing, even with only two blades, the high pressure of the water made it feel super smooth and didn’t hurt in the least! I love Roman water! It tastes good, doesn’t give you diarrhea, and my shower has LOTS of pressure! After this LONG ordeal, I began to wander around the flat thinking of what I wanted to do today… After getting my laundry hung up on the terrace (terrazzo) upstairs, then trying to figure out how to ask Anita when I should come back so she could let me on the terrazzo to pick my clothes, I started perusing my Rick Steve’s book to give me sight-seeing ideas and decided to check out the catacombs that are smaller, less crowded. Luckily they’re about 5 minutes away walking (on my via Salaria trips, I’d trekked past it twice…).
The crypts are called the Priscilla Catacombs, between via Priscilla and via Salaria. As I got there, I paid the 8 euro (Rick lied, not 6 ;) to see them and decided to take the Italian tour that was leaving now instead of waiting 30 minutes for the English tour. I didn’t get a lot of details from the tour, but did get most of the main concepts. Affondo o nuoto… I sink or I swim. Afterwards, I went to the stazione termini to price train tickets to Milano e Venezia ecc. They were more expensive than I anticipated… Giorgio said the trains were becoming more privatized and so would be more relatively more expensive than they have been in the past. Sad day. But there are cheap-ish tickets I can still get, and apparently, flights out of Italy are more reasonable since there is more competition amongst airlines. Yay! I found a pretty neat Irish pub just near the stazione termini that I would like to go back to for lunch or something sometime… It was large, had a very Irish feel, and was full of Italians. I guess, that’d be a great place to hide from tourists. What tourist would look in an Irish pub for food while they’re in Italy?
When I got back and got my clothes off the terrazzo, Nico got back from school with his friend Mattia. Mattia was a very polite young man and was patient with Nico (he gets a little more rambunctious with his friends). Raffa made some pasta that an old friend of hers had made and given to her with homemade ragu sauce as well… oh my gosh, that was by FAR, the best pasta I’ve ever, EVER had. EVER! We also had grilled zucchini and carrots and pulpitte (meatballs). After dinner we played with toy soldiers in a war of Germany versus Scotland, and I definitely would have won if the Scottish bagpipe players carried weapons on them! What else are they going to carry in those little pouches around their kilts? A small .380! Then we watched the Garfield movie (I really liked it, Bill Murray rocked it, and Odie, so cute) and some Wii action, then headed to bed…
Tomorrow the boys have futbol practice, for their PE team and I’m not working… I just don’t know what I’m going to be doing all day… AH! I’ve just had an apostrophe!
Rubberducky, out!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Mountains and Valleys
Settembre 9, 2010
Today's blog is brought to you by the letter Q, it should be considerably shorter. You're welcome in advance ;). This morning I woke up and had 'colazione' with Nico, then he headed to school. I perused my "Rick Steve's: Italy 2010" before heading out to see the Cappuccini Monestary/Church/Crypt. It was very interesting and enjoyable. I could still name all the bones I saw, but not all the foramen and such... I'll have to "bone" up on my anatomy soon. ;)
After the crypt, I headed to the Spanish steps which is the most beautiful view of Rome I have found thus far. Climb to the top, then at the entrance of the cathedral turn around and you can see for miles and miles... che bellisimo! I sat in la Piazza de Spagna for about an hour and enjoyed the people, the sounds, and the sun. I "finished" one of my doodles... it's ok, but rough.
Before I did any of this I went to Vodafone and got a mobile phone. I bought 20 minutes on it which, since I am only using it in case of emergencies, should be plenty. The phone itself is just a loner from Raffa, it was one of her old phones that I actually had at one point as well. It's a good phone. :) (I don't think I'll be giving out the phone number to anyone besides the family though because I don't have many minutes and I'm cheap/frugal.) When the woman at my school asked me my phone number yesterday, I told her to just email me... I don't want 40 girl au pairs calling me every time they can't open a jar of marinara sauce...
After the Piazza de Spagna, I headed back to the flat(no troubles) and went for a run in Villa Ada. I think I'm going to go there more often to workout. It seems people go there to show off the benefits of working out. Italians are attractive. I'll just leave it at that. :) However, I planned poorly, it was 1400, and hot. I ran about 5 miles and then tried to cool down. It didn't work so well. I was still warm after a cool shower. Next time, I know better.
There was a lot of learning today at the flat, how to help Nico with his shower, how to get him ready for bed, la uva fragola (a grape that is sweet, but tastes like strawberries), pasta chitarra (egg pasta), marker will come off of a wood table after its bled through with enough elbow grease and wood polish, and how to do my laundry in the new (for me) washing machine. Soon I'll have this all down and it will be cake!
I'm hoping my Italian is getting better, I can't really tell, I think I can speak better, and understand a little more, but I'm still a little uncomfortable with it. Ok, that's all for now, remember to turn off your computers when you finish, turn off the lights when your not in a room, and save water when you can. Save energy. Save Money. Save the Earth. ;) (I just came up with that.)
Ciao ciao!
Today's blog is brought to you by the letter Q, it should be considerably shorter. You're welcome in advance ;). This morning I woke up and had 'colazione' with Nico, then he headed to school. I perused my "Rick Steve's: Italy 2010" before heading out to see the Cappuccini Monestary/Church/Crypt. It was very interesting and enjoyable. I could still name all the bones I saw, but not all the foramen and such... I'll have to "bone" up on my anatomy soon. ;)
After the crypt, I headed to the Spanish steps which is the most beautiful view of Rome I have found thus far. Climb to the top, then at the entrance of the cathedral turn around and you can see for miles and miles... che bellisimo! I sat in la Piazza de Spagna for about an hour and enjoyed the people, the sounds, and the sun. I "finished" one of my doodles... it's ok, but rough.
Before I did any of this I went to Vodafone and got a mobile phone. I bought 20 minutes on it which, since I am only using it in case of emergencies, should be plenty. The phone itself is just a loner from Raffa, it was one of her old phones that I actually had at one point as well. It's a good phone. :) (I don't think I'll be giving out the phone number to anyone besides the family though because I don't have many minutes and I'm cheap/frugal.) When the woman at my school asked me my phone number yesterday, I told her to just email me... I don't want 40 girl au pairs calling me every time they can't open a jar of marinara sauce...
After the Piazza de Spagna, I headed back to the flat(no troubles) and went for a run in Villa Ada. I think I'm going to go there more often to workout. It seems people go there to show off the benefits of working out. Italians are attractive. I'll just leave it at that. :) However, I planned poorly, it was 1400, and hot. I ran about 5 miles and then tried to cool down. It didn't work so well. I was still warm after a cool shower. Next time, I know better.
There was a lot of learning today at the flat, how to help Nico with his shower, how to get him ready for bed, la uva fragola (a grape that is sweet, but tastes like strawberries), pasta chitarra (egg pasta), marker will come off of a wood table after its bled through with enough elbow grease and wood polish, and how to do my laundry in the new (for me) washing machine. Soon I'll have this all down and it will be cake!
I'm hoping my Italian is getting better, I can't really tell, I think I can speak better, and understand a little more, but I'm still a little uncomfortable with it. Ok, that's all for now, remember to turn off your computers when you finish, turn off the lights when your not in a room, and save water when you can. Save energy. Save Money. Save the Earth. ;) (I just came up with that.)
Ciao ciao!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
All Roads Lead to Rome
Settembre 8, 2010
First of all, I'm sorry, but for some reason this site will no longer allow me to add pictures to my blogs. Sad day, I know. However, there is a photo album on facebook titled Rome 2010. I will be adding pictures throughout the year to keep you all in the loop of what's going on here, at least when I remember to have a camera. ;)
*side note* I saw a LOT of people today, tourists, locals, everyone. Upon looking at these people (it's what I do, people watch), I noticed no matter what the age, sex, or expression, the reason Italians are so attractive is their eyes (obviously, there are exceptions both ways). No matter what they are doing Italian's deep emotion embedded in their eyes (angry, romantic, despondent, curious, or endearing)the passion of the emotion is carried over.
Ok, so everyone who knows me, knows 2 things about me. 1-I can be stubborn. 2- I don't curse. Well, this morning starting off, I decided I was not going to look at a map all day, I would just hop from bus to bus, see what I thought I wanted to see and go from there. I hopped on the appropriate two buses and walked a little ways(there was some confusion amongst locals where the street I was looking for actually was, we figured it out in the end) to get to my school so I could talk about my classes and when they'd start and what level I would be at ecc. As I was entering the building, another girl was, it turns out we are going to be taking classes together, and she's from Austria. After we talked about school stuff I headed off to look at some sights, without a map, or direction in general... I walked past San Angelo's Castle then hopped on a bus that took me to Colonna Traiana (a big column that tells about the history of Roman victories), then to il Vaticano (a big deal amongst everyone, especially Catholics), and Fontana di Trevi (a big fountain originally used to show off Rome's water system). It was getting close to time for me to get back to the flat when I realized I had no clue where I was, I had wandered away from the Vatican and knew I had crossed the river, but unsure if I crossed it once or twice... so, I looked for a bus stop. If I could find one that would at least take me to the stazione termini I'd be fine. I couldn't find one... I walked a little while, still nothing... so I found one that said via Salaria, score, I know this backfired last time since I didn't realize how far via Salaria went out of Rome, but this time, I was ok with walking the 30 minutes back to the flat. So I hopped on the bus and went to via Salaria. When I got to via Salaria, I thought, "Poo. This does not look the same." So I started walking anyway. I asked one man where Villa Ada was, he didn't know. I asked another, he gave me a general direction, so I continued that way, then I saw (for reals) an Olympic training center. I stopped and asked which direction Villa Ada was, the guy was very nice and helped me, but felt bad for me because it was a long walk... I continued to walk, and walk and walk... (next time I'm just looking for via Nemorense, it's closer to the flat) I got back and found out from Giorgio e Raffa, via Salaria is one of the five original roads of Rome, it actually goes to Germany and France. I think I might have crossed a border illegally. I made it back in time (barely) and am still in one piece.
While I was "bus hopping" I came around a corner and saw a GIANT building, Victor Emmanuel Monument. While I don't curse, that doesn't mean I don't know how to, just that I know how to restrain myself. While I rounded that corner, the first thing that popped in my mind from the sheer size of the structure was, "Holy f***-tarts!". I know it's not appropriate, and that is why I didn't say it, but I sure did think it, that building was HUGE! The statue in front of the building is of King Victor on a horse. The horse is 40 feet long and Victor's mustache is 5 feet long. It is the largest horse statue in the world. I'm telling you, GINORMOUS.
After the day was over, I went and helped Nico with his homework and we played at his cousins'. When Raffa got home we went and got some books for school for Nico then came back. Nico forgot to mention he had both English AND Italian. So Raffa was working with him and he had been in a tired, I-don't-know-why-i-am-crying, mood and he wasn't making it easy to help him with his work. Raffa got mad, and did some yelling and such, I felt like I was in trouble and I had no clue why. We got everything sorted out, I made some pasta and Raffa made some fish, both dishes were magnifico (the fish was better). After dinner, I went to Fontana di Trevi at night and enjoyed the less populated scene. I stopped at a gelateria for a small tiramisu gelato, then headed home. No hiccups, no missed buses, just on, off, then home. It was a beautiful day.
Sorry for the LONG post, just an eventful day. If you'd prefer shorter, less detailed posts, leave a comment and let me know. KTHXBAI.
First of all, I'm sorry, but for some reason this site will no longer allow me to add pictures to my blogs. Sad day, I know. However, there is a photo album on facebook titled Rome 2010. I will be adding pictures throughout the year to keep you all in the loop of what's going on here, at least when I remember to have a camera. ;)
*side note* I saw a LOT of people today, tourists, locals, everyone. Upon looking at these people (it's what I do, people watch), I noticed no matter what the age, sex, or expression, the reason Italians are so attractive is their eyes (obviously, there are exceptions both ways). No matter what they are doing Italian's deep emotion embedded in their eyes (angry, romantic, despondent, curious, or endearing)the passion of the emotion is carried over.
Ok, so everyone who knows me, knows 2 things about me. 1-I can be stubborn. 2- I don't curse. Well, this morning starting off, I decided I was not going to look at a map all day, I would just hop from bus to bus, see what I thought I wanted to see and go from there. I hopped on the appropriate two buses and walked a little ways(there was some confusion amongst locals where the street I was looking for actually was, we figured it out in the end) to get to my school so I could talk about my classes and when they'd start and what level I would be at ecc. As I was entering the building, another girl was, it turns out we are going to be taking classes together, and she's from Austria. After we talked about school stuff I headed off to look at some sights, without a map, or direction in general... I walked past San Angelo's Castle then hopped on a bus that took me to Colonna Traiana (a big column that tells about the history of Roman victories), then to il Vaticano (a big deal amongst everyone, especially Catholics), and Fontana di Trevi (a big fountain originally used to show off Rome's water system). It was getting close to time for me to get back to the flat when I realized I had no clue where I was, I had wandered away from the Vatican and knew I had crossed the river, but unsure if I crossed it once or twice... so, I looked for a bus stop. If I could find one that would at least take me to the stazione termini I'd be fine. I couldn't find one... I walked a little while, still nothing... so I found one that said via Salaria, score, I know this backfired last time since I didn't realize how far via Salaria went out of Rome, but this time, I was ok with walking the 30 minutes back to the flat. So I hopped on the bus and went to via Salaria. When I got to via Salaria, I thought, "Poo. This does not look the same." So I started walking anyway. I asked one man where Villa Ada was, he didn't know. I asked another, he gave me a general direction, so I continued that way, then I saw (for reals) an Olympic training center. I stopped and asked which direction Villa Ada was, the guy was very nice and helped me, but felt bad for me because it was a long walk... I continued to walk, and walk and walk... (next time I'm just looking for via Nemorense, it's closer to the flat) I got back and found out from Giorgio e Raffa, via Salaria is one of the five original roads of Rome, it actually goes to Germany and France. I think I might have crossed a border illegally. I made it back in time (barely) and am still in one piece.
While I was "bus hopping" I came around a corner and saw a GIANT building, Victor Emmanuel Monument. While I don't curse, that doesn't mean I don't know how to, just that I know how to restrain myself. While I rounded that corner, the first thing that popped in my mind from the sheer size of the structure was, "Holy f***-tarts!". I know it's not appropriate, and that is why I didn't say it, but I sure did think it, that building was HUGE! The statue in front of the building is of King Victor on a horse. The horse is 40 feet long and Victor's mustache is 5 feet long. It is the largest horse statue in the world. I'm telling you, GINORMOUS.
After the day was over, I went and helped Nico with his homework and we played at his cousins'. When Raffa got home we went and got some books for school for Nico then came back. Nico forgot to mention he had both English AND Italian. So Raffa was working with him and he had been in a tired, I-don't-know-why-i-am-crying, mood and he wasn't making it easy to help him with his work. Raffa got mad, and did some yelling and such, I felt like I was in trouble and I had no clue why. We got everything sorted out, I made some pasta and Raffa made some fish, both dishes were magnifico (the fish was better). After dinner, I went to Fontana di Trevi at night and enjoyed the less populated scene. I stopped at a gelateria for a small tiramisu gelato, then headed home. No hiccups, no missed buses, just on, off, then home. It was a beautiful day.
Sorry for the LONG post, just an eventful day. If you'd prefer shorter, less detailed posts, leave a comment and let me know. KTHXBAI.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
A new way to see Rome.
Settembre 7, 2010
So today I was supposed to meet the woman who got me the Au Pair position and meet with her about what all it entails outside the flat, so at the house, I clean up some, make sure Nico takes his showers, brushes his teeth, gets ready for school on time, you know, stuff like that... well Ines, the woman I went to meet, told me that just having the one kid to look after was pretty lucky and I told her it was even better because he was easy to look after. She said if I feel like I have a lot of free time and want to make some money I could teach English for about 10euro an hour, as long as my family is ok with that. I'm not sure whether I want to or not, I mean an extra 20-30 euro a week wouldn't be bad... but I like my free time for wandering.
Speaking of wandering, so today Raffa bought me my student transportation pass which cost 18 euro and normally costs 30. It allows me to get on and off the bus or metro as many times as I want with no troubles... I LOVE IT! So today, instead of walking until my feet hurt, I got on a bus, rode until I felt like getting off, got off, then wandered some, then got on a bus again. Almost all the buses go to the "stazione termini" which is the central hub of transportation, both trains and buses. I eventually found my way there after looking in some beautiful basilicas and piazze(plazas). I found where I could get tickets to visit my friend Kristina in Bonn, Germany (but I haven't priced them yet) or to Milan, or even Paris... I'm excited! Well after lunch I decided to start trying to figure out how I should get back to the flat... I forgot to grab my bag when we left this morning because we were running late and it had my map and sketch book and water bottle... so I just started asking people where the park was near my house... I found out which bus ran that way, but I couldn't remember which stop was next to the house (when I say next to, I mean about 200-300 yards away). So I looked at the options on the list of stops. I recognized the street, Via Salaria, it runs right by the house **Just to let you all know, it is now raining** and yesterday when I found my way to it, I was saved because it was easy to find the flat from there. SO, I decided to just get off on via Salaria **it stopped raining** and figure my way out from there. Oops. Via Salaria is a LONG street, and I got off at the end of it... so while walking 20-30 minutes back where I needed to be, I was asked by someone where Villa Ada was, I thought, "I totally know this!" lost all my composure, forgot to tell them in Italian that I was going in that same direction and it was just behind this wall we are standing by and instead pointed in the direction of the flat I was heading towards... FYI you can get there the way I went, but I think it was better they didn't follow me there.
After Nico got back from school, he, Alessandro (classmate) and I played wii, and then some soccer near the garage, they taught me a new game with the keeper and didn't fully tell me the rules until we were finished... I lost. But 1-on-1 I totally was OWNING those nine year olds!! BOOM! Ha! But they were really good for being just nine. Alessi is like Nico, very well behaved and polite and funny too. His English isn't quite as good as Nico's but he also speaks French.
It was all and all a good day, no pictures since my camera was in my bag, but more to come, now I know where I want to take some in the basilicas I visited... class starts on the 27th of Settembre, the day before my birthday! YAY! tomorrow the plan is to go to the school, get acquainted with the bus routes, and meet the woman I've been communicating with. Let's hope it all goes according to plan, or not, whatever. ;) LOVE YOU GUYS!
So today I was supposed to meet the woman who got me the Au Pair position and meet with her about what all it entails outside the flat, so at the house, I clean up some, make sure Nico takes his showers, brushes his teeth, gets ready for school on time, you know, stuff like that... well Ines, the woman I went to meet, told me that just having the one kid to look after was pretty lucky and I told her it was even better because he was easy to look after. She said if I feel like I have a lot of free time and want to make some money I could teach English for about 10euro an hour, as long as my family is ok with that. I'm not sure whether I want to or not, I mean an extra 20-30 euro a week wouldn't be bad... but I like my free time for wandering.
Speaking of wandering, so today Raffa bought me my student transportation pass which cost 18 euro and normally costs 30. It allows me to get on and off the bus or metro as many times as I want with no troubles... I LOVE IT! So today, instead of walking until my feet hurt, I got on a bus, rode until I felt like getting off, got off, then wandered some, then got on a bus again. Almost all the buses go to the "stazione termini" which is the central hub of transportation, both trains and buses. I eventually found my way there after looking in some beautiful basilicas and piazze(plazas). I found where I could get tickets to visit my friend Kristina in Bonn, Germany (but I haven't priced them yet) or to Milan, or even Paris... I'm excited! Well after lunch I decided to start trying to figure out how I should get back to the flat... I forgot to grab my bag when we left this morning because we were running late and it had my map and sketch book and water bottle... so I just started asking people where the park was near my house... I found out which bus ran that way, but I couldn't remember which stop was next to the house (when I say next to, I mean about 200-300 yards away). So I looked at the options on the list of stops. I recognized the street, Via Salaria, it runs right by the house **Just to let you all know, it is now raining** and yesterday when I found my way to it, I was saved because it was easy to find the flat from there. SO, I decided to just get off on via Salaria **it stopped raining** and figure my way out from there. Oops. Via Salaria is a LONG street, and I got off at the end of it... so while walking 20-30 minutes back where I needed to be, I was asked by someone where Villa Ada was, I thought, "I totally know this!" lost all my composure, forgot to tell them in Italian that I was going in that same direction and it was just behind this wall we are standing by and instead pointed in the direction of the flat I was heading towards... FYI you can get there the way I went, but I think it was better they didn't follow me there.
After Nico got back from school, he, Alessandro (classmate) and I played wii, and then some soccer near the garage, they taught me a new game with the keeper and didn't fully tell me the rules until we were finished... I lost. But 1-on-1 I totally was OWNING those nine year olds!! BOOM! Ha! But they were really good for being just nine. Alessi is like Nico, very well behaved and polite and funny too. His English isn't quite as good as Nico's but he also speaks French.
It was all and all a good day, no pictures since my camera was in my bag, but more to come, now I know where I want to take some in the basilicas I visited... class starts on the 27th of Settembre, the day before my birthday! YAY! tomorrow the plan is to go to the school, get acquainted with the bus routes, and meet the woman I've been communicating with. Let's hope it all goes according to plan, or not, whatever. ;) LOVE YOU GUYS!
Monday, September 6, 2010
Day 1: Get 'lost' in Rome (check)
Settembre 6, 2010
So this morning, I woke up, had breakfast with Nic e Raffaella e Giorgio, here a breakfast is generally just a cappuccino or a small cafe with maybe some bread/fruit. Very light. After breakfast, Nic headed to school, I cleaned some, Diletta slept, and mom e dad went to work... at about 9.15 I headed out with my map, water, camera, and wallet (which had no cash in it...). The goal was to go see the large park, Villa Borghese... I was heading in what I thought to be the right direction until I looked at the map. Upon perusing the map, I came to the astonishing conclusion this is not the map I meant to grab. This map did not have the northern side of Rome, which is just where I happened to be. So I wandered a bit further and eventually found myself on the map... I wasn't where I thought I was... I was much further from the park than I intended to be. So, I headed to a nearby "bar" got un panino (a sandwhich) and ate the delectable morsel ravenously. After eating, I doodled some and then decided to head back to the flat... I left at about 1300 because it took me almost 3 hours to get where ended up because of the circles I walked around myself. Needless to say I didn't want to take any chances getting back because I was supposed to go with Diletta to pick up Nic. So I ended up finding the street that runs right by the house and got home in about an hour... then I took a nap... oh that was a good 25min nap... :)
After we went to pick up Nic, Diletta dropped us off at one of Nic's classmate's flat for a birthday party. There were about 20, 9 year old Italian children there, being loud, rambunctious, and having a good time. No one there spoke much english, but I am glad, that will help me pick up the Italian faster I'm hoping, I could understand a good bit of what was being said, but could not quite communicate in the same way... with time, with time. ;) Tomorrow I'm going to meet with the woman who helped me get my position here and is going to help me coordinate my classes, I also need to look at getting a bus pass, and possibly a mobile phone... not sure, Diletta apparently knows a bit about phones so I will have to ask her.
This picture is of one of the streets I wandered past in my lackadaisical trek this morning, I was excited because I studied this scientist in my Microbiology class this spring! He disproved the theory of spontaneous generation, that creatures do not simply spring forth when the conditions are appropriate. I got a kick out of it anyway... then again, I am kind of nerdy... whatever. ;)
So this morning, I woke up, had breakfast with Nic e Raffaella e Giorgio, here a breakfast is generally just a cappuccino or a small cafe with maybe some bread/fruit. Very light. After breakfast, Nic headed to school, I cleaned some, Diletta slept, and mom e dad went to work... at about 9.15 I headed out with my map, water, camera, and wallet (which had no cash in it...). The goal was to go see the large park, Villa Borghese... I was heading in what I thought to be the right direction until I looked at the map. Upon perusing the map, I came to the astonishing conclusion this is not the map I meant to grab. This map did not have the northern side of Rome, which is just where I happened to be. So I wandered a bit further and eventually found myself on the map... I wasn't where I thought I was... I was much further from the park than I intended to be. So, I headed to a nearby "bar" got un panino (a sandwhich) and ate the delectable morsel ravenously. After eating, I doodled some and then decided to head back to the flat... I left at about 1300 because it took me almost 3 hours to get where ended up because of the circles I walked around myself. Needless to say I didn't want to take any chances getting back because I was supposed to go with Diletta to pick up Nic. So I ended up finding the street that runs right by the house and got home in about an hour... then I took a nap... oh that was a good 25min nap... :)
After we went to pick up Nic, Diletta dropped us off at one of Nic's classmate's flat for a birthday party. There were about 20, 9 year old Italian children there, being loud, rambunctious, and having a good time. No one there spoke much english, but I am glad, that will help me pick up the Italian faster I'm hoping, I could understand a good bit of what was being said, but could not quite communicate in the same way... with time, with time. ;) Tomorrow I'm going to meet with the woman who helped me get my position here and is going to help me coordinate my classes, I also need to look at getting a bus pass, and possibly a mobile phone... not sure, Diletta apparently knows a bit about phones so I will have to ask her.
This picture is of one of the streets I wandered past in my lackadaisical trek this morning, I was excited because I studied this scientist in my Microbiology class this spring! He disproved the theory of spontaneous generation, that creatures do not simply spring forth when the conditions are appropriate. I got a kick out of it anyway... then again, I am kind of nerdy... whatever. ;)
Sunday, September 5, 2010
The Longest Day
Settembre 3-5, 2010
Well, entry number two (departure day: September 3, 2010) of this fantastic trip! After a tearful goodbye from my Mom, Dad, and Sis, I finally made it through security and onto BA194 bound for London. I have to say, when your mom is holding up the 150-200 people waiting to go through security so they can get on their plane by crying and hugging and crying some more, then hugging some more… then giving her son a kiss, then asking the woman mediating the impatient line of traveling patrons if the deodorant she has is ok to pack in the carry-on bag because it’s 3.5 fluid ounces… not 4, has a unique way of making a son love the fact that his mom is so ridiculously off the wall and doesn’t care what anyone thinks! The woman working the line even wanted to give me a hug after the ordeal. I’m really excited about this phenomenal trip, but I am going to miss my family a whole lot!!!
I think in the airport I was being a little more paranoid than normal, I brought both my carry-ons (each weighing about 25 pounds) into the bathroom with me for fear of someone thinking it was an explosive device of some sort. Then, when a guy asked a woman to watch his stuff while he ran to the bathroom (which the airlines advise against doing) I was thinking, “EXCUSE ME!!! This guy is a terrorist!!!” , leaving an Xbox 360 box with an unmarked black bag next to a densely populated airplane terminal!? Are you kidding me?! So after he left, the plane started to board and the woman “watching his stuff” got in line to board the plane… so there was this luggage (bomb) sitting there by itself, when an airport worker noticed it and came and took it. I thought, “Well, if it’s not a threat, this dude, just got ripped off! His fault.” Turns out, he was on my plane, and he came back from the bathroom, the world is NOT actually out to get me. ;)
On the plane I got the best seat ever, back row (I can recline as much as I want without feeling bad about the person sitting behind me, and I don’t have to wait in a line to get in the bathroom, AND I can just turn sideways and kick my feet out and stretch out) when I started talking to this guy on the other side of the middle seat next to me (he also knows the back is the best for the above said reasons). He was a friendly, talkative guy, Mike, and we started talking. Well, we were in mid-conversation when the woman that was supposed to sit in the middle showed up and asked me if she could get by. I was confused at first since she asked me to move the items in the middle seat and never actually said she was sitting there. So I moved the stuff in the seat and she asked if I’d like to sit there so we could continue our conversation… well, I didn’t want to seem like a jerk and completely ignore the conversation I was having with Mike, but… my sweet awesome seats… turns out the middle of the row isn’t so bad. Mike and I continued to talk about our families, his job, traveling, sports, US, UK, etc… The woman was really nice about letting me by when I had to pee or just stretch my legs. When I get to London, Mike said there was a Museum just across the Thames from the Tower of London about the history of surgery, since I was interested in medicine, he thought I would enjoy checking it out, I think it sounds interesting… but after all, I do only have 10 hours in London… we’ll see. ;)
So today is going to be one LONG post because that’s all it seemed to be… a long day… after I got to London I tried to get out of the airport. There’s no easy way to just leave terminal 5 of the Heathrow international airport… You have to have an escort take you out of the building, and then you have to take a train (I’d recommend the Heathrow Express, if you’re willing to spend 23£) to actually get to London. Well… about 12pm I arrive to London… get to see Hyde Park, Covent Garden, and SoHo. Before I decide to leave at 3pm/1500 (all times will hence forth be 24H so I don’t get confused…) so I could make it back to Heathrow and get my carryon bags, which were too heavy to carry around so I had the airport babysit them for 16£, and go through security again, and make it to my plane before it left me, at 1800. Well, I got my bags and made it through security by 1715… the plane didn’t leave until 1930… oh well… ;)
Keep in mind, this is going on 24 hours with no sleep because I was talking with Mike, or watching movies the entire plane ride over… well on the plane ride to Rome, I was barely able to stay conscious long enough to get a sandwich down then fall back asleep… so I woke up and we were landing… 2 hours of sleep… then went to get my bags from the carousel and had to wait almost 30 minutes, then piled the almost 150 pounds of luggage up and headed for the exit. I had my fill of airports for the “day”. I left the airport at 2315, a taxi driver, Paulo, found me and asked if I needed a ride. WOW! Apparently taxi driver’s have a license that says ‘I can drive however I want’, because he was speeding, almost hitting pedestrians, and driving on the railroad tracks… but we got to the flat just around 0000 which was late, but I was just glad to be there. ;) Briefly met Giorgio and Raffaella (dad & mom), then headed to bed.
September 5, 2010
This morning I woke up at noon and we went to the park next door (Villa Ada, for those keeping track of my exact location at home ;) for lunch. After lunch we had some gelato and looked around the neighborhood. I met some more of the family that had just returned from the US that lives on the first floor of the same building, the two daughters are 9 and 6, and very sweet. The grandmother who lives nearby stopped by to meet me, as well as the landlady/housekeeper. All were very nice. The view out my window is amazing and full of Roman life! Giorgio, Raffaella, and I ended the day by watching a great American film about WWII with John Wayne and Sean Connery and some other people appropriately titled, “The Longest Day”. Tomorrow is Nicoló’s first day back at school, he gets very good marks and is very smart. I’m excited to get out of the flat and wander around Rome some, I probably won’t get very far from the flat, but I’m ok with that. ;) Ok, time to get to bed, I’m going to wake up early and see Nic off to school.
GOODNIGHT EVERYONE! (as said in an old school Walton family way; Old school tv, don’t worry if you don’t get it.)
Well, entry number two (departure day: September 3, 2010) of this fantastic trip! After a tearful goodbye from my Mom, Dad, and Sis, I finally made it through security and onto BA194 bound for London. I have to say, when your mom is holding up the 150-200 people waiting to go through security so they can get on their plane by crying and hugging and crying some more, then hugging some more… then giving her son a kiss, then asking the woman mediating the impatient line of traveling patrons if the deodorant she has is ok to pack in the carry-on bag because it’s 3.5 fluid ounces… not 4, has a unique way of making a son love the fact that his mom is so ridiculously off the wall and doesn’t care what anyone thinks! The woman working the line even wanted to give me a hug after the ordeal. I’m really excited about this phenomenal trip, but I am going to miss my family a whole lot!!!
I think in the airport I was being a little more paranoid than normal, I brought both my carry-ons (each weighing about 25 pounds) into the bathroom with me for fear of someone thinking it was an explosive device of some sort. Then, when a guy asked a woman to watch his stuff while he ran to the bathroom (which the airlines advise against doing) I was thinking, “EXCUSE ME!!! This guy is a terrorist!!!” , leaving an Xbox 360 box with an unmarked black bag next to a densely populated airplane terminal!? Are you kidding me?! So after he left, the plane started to board and the woman “watching his stuff” got in line to board the plane… so there was this luggage (bomb) sitting there by itself, when an airport worker noticed it and came and took it. I thought, “Well, if it’s not a threat, this dude, just got ripped off! His fault.” Turns out, he was on my plane, and he came back from the bathroom, the world is NOT actually out to get me. ;)
On the plane I got the best seat ever, back row (I can recline as much as I want without feeling bad about the person sitting behind me, and I don’t have to wait in a line to get in the bathroom, AND I can just turn sideways and kick my feet out and stretch out) when I started talking to this guy on the other side of the middle seat next to me (he also knows the back is the best for the above said reasons). He was a friendly, talkative guy, Mike, and we started talking. Well, we were in mid-conversation when the woman that was supposed to sit in the middle showed up and asked me if she could get by. I was confused at first since she asked me to move the items in the middle seat and never actually said she was sitting there. So I moved the stuff in the seat and she asked if I’d like to sit there so we could continue our conversation… well, I didn’t want to seem like a jerk and completely ignore the conversation I was having with Mike, but… my sweet awesome seats… turns out the middle of the row isn’t so bad. Mike and I continued to talk about our families, his job, traveling, sports, US, UK, etc… The woman was really nice about letting me by when I had to pee or just stretch my legs. When I get to London, Mike said there was a Museum just across the Thames from the Tower of London about the history of surgery, since I was interested in medicine, he thought I would enjoy checking it out, I think it sounds interesting… but after all, I do only have 10 hours in London… we’ll see. ;)
So today is going to be one LONG post because that’s all it seemed to be… a long day… after I got to London I tried to get out of the airport. There’s no easy way to just leave terminal 5 of the Heathrow international airport… You have to have an escort take you out of the building, and then you have to take a train (I’d recommend the Heathrow Express, if you’re willing to spend 23£) to actually get to London. Well… about 12pm I arrive to London… get to see Hyde Park, Covent Garden, and SoHo. Before I decide to leave at 3pm/1500 (all times will hence forth be 24H so I don’t get confused…) so I could make it back to Heathrow and get my carryon bags, which were too heavy to carry around so I had the airport babysit them for 16£, and go through security again, and make it to my plane before it left me, at 1800. Well, I got my bags and made it through security by 1715… the plane didn’t leave until 1930… oh well… ;)
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| My new room, small but perfect! |
Keep in mind, this is going on 24 hours with no sleep because I was talking with Mike, or watching movies the entire plane ride over… well on the plane ride to Rome, I was barely able to stay conscious long enough to get a sandwich down then fall back asleep… so I woke up and we were landing… 2 hours of sleep… then went to get my bags from the carousel and had to wait almost 30 minutes, then piled the almost 150 pounds of luggage up and headed for the exit. I had my fill of airports for the “day”. I left the airport at 2315, a taxi driver, Paulo, found me and asked if I needed a ride. WOW! Apparently taxi driver’s have a license that says ‘I can drive however I want’, because he was speeding, almost hitting pedestrians, and driving on the railroad tracks… but we got to the flat just around 0000 which was late, but I was just glad to be there. ;) Briefly met Giorgio and Raffaella (dad & mom), then headed to bed.
September 5, 2010
This morning I woke up at noon and we went to the park next door (Villa Ada, for those keeping track of my exact location at home ;) for lunch. After lunch we had some gelato and looked around the neighborhood. I met some more of the family that had just returned from the US that lives on the first floor of the same building, the two daughters are 9 and 6, and very sweet. The grandmother who lives nearby stopped by to meet me, as well as the landlady/housekeeper. All were very nice. The view out my window is amazing and full of Roman life! Giorgio, Raffaella, and I ended the day by watching a great American film about WWII with John Wayne and Sean Connery and some other people appropriately titled, “The Longest Day”. Tomorrow is Nicoló’s first day back at school, he gets very good marks and is very smart. I’m excited to get out of the flat and wander around Rome some, I probably won’t get very far from the flat, but I’m ok with that. ;) Ok, time to get to bed, I’m going to wake up early and see Nic off to school.
GOODNIGHT EVERYONE! (as said in an old school Walton family way; Old school tv, don’t worry if you don’t get it.)
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