quinto giorno

Sunday, May 8, 2011

FINALLY!

A day all to ourselves to spend however we please!

You’ll never guess how we decided to spend it…

AT THE BEACH!!!

It was the perfect prescription for our worn-out minds and bodies. It required absolutely no effort physically or mentally and we could turn our legs and brains off for a few hours. It was amazing!

Sure, I break for the beach at every vacay and I may have spent every day for 2 months at the beach last summer… So you may say: Seen one beach, seen them all. Right? WRONG. This was not just some beach! For starters, how many people can say they’ve put their feet in the Mediterranean Sea?? I’d say that’s pretty spectacular! And if that’s not enough to make it once in a lifetime, all the boobies and speedos I saw ought to be!!!!

HAHA! I saw so many body parts today. Mostly boobs. It seemed like it was all the old, overweight women with the confidence to bare it all! Their tummy’s hung over their swim-bottoms as they lay in the sand and their bare boobs sagged to both sides. It was awful. Half the guys were wearing speedos, the other half were just wearing their whitey-tighties. They might as well have been naked, because I’m pretty sure I saw it all anyways. There were lots of thongs today too… And majority of the buns were fall from steel. All-in-all, it was a very eye-opening and eye-squeezing-shut day!

There was quite a bit of PDA, too. I haven’t even seen that much lovin’ in movies! Everywhere we look, we’re surrounded by people who can’t keep their hands and lips off of each other. At the beach, on the metro, walking through the streets, and going through museums… It’s a soft-core porno! Now I know why they call it the City of Lo-oooove!

We even saw a lady pull her skirt up, her nylons down, and PEE in the MIDDLE OF THE STREET!!! For real, there are so many things that, as soon as I pick my jaw up off the floor, make me laugh and think to myself, “Only in Italy!”

There are guys dressed up like different Roman characters at just about every monument. They look like they belong in the movies 300 or Gladiator. They make their living by charging people to take pictures with them. I’m so stingy, especially with the exchange rate from dollars to euros and all the money that disappears in the process, so I refuse to pay for anything! I saw this steamy man dressed in some leather gladiator get-up, with long blonde-hair, lookin’ like Fabio. He saw me and said, “Ciao, Barbie. Let’s take a picture.” I asked him how much and he said, “2 Euros.” I tried bartering with him to let me take it for free and as perverted as he was, my eyelash batting wasn’t enough to make him budge. I gave up and started walking away to catch up with the group when he yelled, “But, I love you!” Just to keep the peace and have a little fun I yelled “I love you too!” over my shoulder. The next thing I heard was him yelling after me, “You want to do something, Blondie???” HAHA! We all couldn’t contain our laughter! Somewhere between bouts of laughing, I managed to keep the throw-up down, too.

I know Mom, Dad, and Colter are going to have a cow about that story, but I couldn’t help but share. Someone keep Colt from buying the next ticket out here! I have a good head on my shoulders and we’re all being very cautious! Like I said in one of the earlier emails, I actually feel really safe here and haven’t ever felt too threatened or nervous. Not any more afraid than I’ve been in Utah. It’s made a huge difference in the trip to feel so comfortable. Had I spent the whole time in fear, I wouldn’t be enjoying myself as much as I am!

Last night we got Gelato and took the metro to the Trevi Fountain to see it all lit up at night. It’s crazy that we’re actually living here and getting acquainted with the way of life to the point that we can spend our afternoon and nights just like the locals. We take the metro and walk everywhere! Just like the Italians! This is so much more than a vacation. We’re getting a real taste of Italian life, which is priceless!

The weather here is perfect. It’s been in the 70’s and 80’s the entire time we’ve been here. It’s hot, but not unbearable. It’s so good to feel the sunshine! Steve said that last year it rained the entire time, so I am so thankful for the beautiful weather we have! I’m getting quite a few new freckles on my nose and cheeks… Maybe I’ll come home looking like I did last summer from Hawaii!

Tomorrow is going to be insane. We’re taking a day trip to Assisi. We have to leave to catch the train at 6:40am and won’t be back home until about 8:30pm. I’m really excited to go there because Katie said that was one of her favorite things she did while in Rome! It’ll be a long day, but just like every long day here, it’ll be SO worth it. What I’m trying to get at, though, is that tomorrows email may make it there a little later. With the time difference, it may still make it by tomorrow your time… If not, Dad, please don’t call the Italian polizia! :) You’ll hear from me soon!

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY, MAMA!!! I tried calling you a few times, but I’m not sure what’s going on… The call won’t go through. So I sent you a text instead, I hope that made it through. If not, I hope you know how incredible you are and how grateful I am for you. I couldn’t have asked for a better Mom. God knew exactly what he was doing when he sent me to you… There’s no one in this world you gets me like you do. You make me laugh ‘til my stomach hurts and you always know how to make my tears stop. Regardless of the array of emotions and reactions I feel on a day-to-day basis, you have an understanding of each and every one of them and know exactly what I need to hear that day. You are my best friend and I thank the Lord every day for the incredible bond and friendship we’ve formed the last couple of years. I don’t know where I would be without you. You’ve helped me through every bad day and you’re the first person I want to share the news of my good days with. Thank you for pushing me when necessary and coddling me when I’ve gone too far. Thank you for knowing my potential and always encouraging me to achieve it. Thank you for your wonderful example. Thank you for your untouchable sense of humor. I am, without a doubt, the luckiest girl in the world. You’re one hell of a woman, Mom! I love you! Festa della mamma felice!

Ti volio bene!

Wit

quatro giorno

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Ciao Americanos!

Life is good in Italia!

…Other than the fact that I am running on absolutely no sleep.

I don’t think I’ve fully adjusted to the time change yet because I’m hungry and sleepy at all the wrong times. I haven’t been able to sleep since I got here! Even after all the Melatonin I’ve popped, I still lay in bed and toss and turn for a couple hours, sleep for maybe two hours, and then wake up and toss and turn again. I’ve gotten out of bed every day at like 6 am and just killed time by working out. This morning I laid in bed wide awake for an hour or two before I couldn’t take it anymore and I got up and ran the 7 flights of stairs 5 times. Or, I’ll go out on our huge top-level deck and watch the sunrise and the locals set up their shops while I “make contact elbow-thigh” from knowing Ab-Ripper by heart! It’s nice to have that time and motivation to work-out, but it catches up with me when we’re walking around Rome for hours in the blazing heat. I sweat all I do is yawn and take pictures! I always have intentions of going straight to bed after dinner, but plans like a walk to the Vatican or Gelato at the Trevi Fountain always seem to sound a little more appealing.

Today wasn’t quite as overwhelming as yesterday. We went to a huge museum at the Capital Line with about a bazillion sculptures and paintings. I have a feeling that is the first of many! It is incredible to think that each and every one of those sculptures was carefully chiseled into the detailed piece of work we still see today, hundreds of years later. These sculptures are MASSIVE! And there is so much detail in their wrinkles, hair, eyes, and expressions. I can’t believe how beautiful they are and how long they have lasted. I’ve never been an appreciator of art and I will probably never have a passion for it, but being here even has me in awe at these works of art. Paintings, not so much. Architecture… Eh. It’s the sculptures that really fascinate me! Maybe because 97% of them are naked men…? Haha! We’ll never know! Either way, I’ve been surprised at how interested I am in them. Hopefully it lasts through the next 27 days’ worth of identical statues!

We saw the Theatre of Marcellus, the Temple of Hercules Victor, and the Temple of Fortuna. We learned about the difference Greek architecture and Etruscan architecture.

We also went to the Pantheon today. I’m such an idiot… Everyone kept talking about it like it was the Eifel Tower, so I felt like the only person in the world who had no idea what the Pantheon was. I didn’t dare ask any questions. The adrenaline and excitement of everyone else was really contagious and really built up this building. Walking there, I was on pins and needles (no, but really… my feet were in so much pain!) anticipating seeing this building that everyone was so excited to see! We got there and it was cool, but not that cool. It’s absolutely ginormous. It’s a huge dome with a cut-out window in the top so the only light is the natural light spilling in through the hole. It really was pretty. And the architecture was incredible. To me, it just wasn’t chill worthy. BUT, since apparently it’s a hot commodity around here, I’m just excited to be able to say I went there. Regardless of how little it moved me!

Steve (our instructor) took us out to lunch today. I’ve been waiting all week to get that big bang moment and fall passionately in love with authentic Italian food. So far, not impressed. We eat breakfast and dinner at the hotel every night… It’s edible, which I’m delighted about, it’s just not the love affair I was expecting! But eating out at a real little Italian café proved to me there is still some good in the world and authentic Italian food really is to die for! It was like swallowing Christmas! Or chewing Disneyland. That’s how good it was! I was purely infatuated with that ham and cheese Calzone. I was finally convinced of the EAT Julia Roberts put in Eat, Pray, Love. For a while, I was having doubts.

Everyone here smokes. Everyone. We walk down the streets and see little kids puffin’ cigs! As young as 10 or 11 years old. It breaks my heart. It’s seriously worse than any trip I’ve ever taken to Vegas. The air here is toxic from everyone’s second hand smoke. And it seems like they do whatever they can to blow it all right in your face. I may have cancer when I come home!

Ps, I checked my grades and I got straight A’s!!! I honestly have NO IDEA how I pulled that one off. It had to of been an act of God, because I was prepared for the worst in my physical science class. That final raped me and I thought it would have for sure tampered with my perfectly hand-crafted 4.0 Associated Degree!!! But I am absolutely delighted to inform you all that miracles really do happen and I am graduating this semester at the top of Dean’s list! :)

All I can say is:

I’M EXHAUSTED!!!

Haha, kidding. I really am, but I only said that because I haven’t said it once this email and I didn’t know if you’d recognize me without it.

Really, tho, all I can say is:

Everything here is beautiful. Even if it’s found in the little old Italian woman playing the accordion on the corner, the shattered cement of an ancient building, a thin-crust pizza at a corner café, or a conversation between old Italian men in fancy suits… Everything I’ve seen here has earned a second glance. It’s all breathtaking and unique and spectacular.

I am drowning in luck and gratitude. I can’t believe I’m living in this opportunity.

Thank you for loving me, believing in me, and always encouraging me to take risks. This risk is unforgettable.

Hopefully my emails do something, however small, to bring Italy to life for you.

I wish you all were here.

Lots of love,

Wit

giorne tre

Friday, May 6, 2011

Oh my GOSH!

Parts of my body I never knew existed ache.

Corners of my mind I never knew I had are overwhelmed.

I had no idea what I was capable of until I came on this trip! A study abroad in Italy sounds easy, right? Right! Or else I wouldn’t have come! :)

Of all the things I’ve done in my life, challenging both physically and mentally, I have never known my limits to stretch as far as they have in the last few days.

I AM EXHAUSTED!!!

Have I said that before?? Haha!

I’m just counting on memory to convince me that I have legs and feet, because right now they are so numb that it’s just a matter of time until I start feeling phantom-limb-pains.

My mind is a Glad-bag that has been stretched to fill every last free space with something I’ve never known or cared about before. Some may call it trash, some may call it treasure… whatever it is, it’s a whole lot of facts, dates, names, and history. So much that I’m practically spewing out Early Roman word-vomit.

We were out on the town from 8 until 4 today.

We had to leave early to get on the metro before the “transportation strike” began. Apparently, it’s a pretty common occurrence here in Italy for the buses and subways to stop running for a few hours in the day to protest their crummy working conditions. They stopped running the metro from 8:30 to 1:30, so we had to bust-a-move to make sure we got out into town or we’d end up walking an asinine amount! We managed to squeeze our entire group onto the last train of the day and share very, very, intimate moments with complete and total, dirty, Italian strangers. It was a tight squeeze. Later, we saw a huge parade going down the main road of the strike. It looked more like a celebration than an act of anger. There were balloons and music and dancing. I’m starting to get the feeling that they “strike” just for a day off. Not a bad idea, yeah?

Today was the official beginning of STUDY abroad. Lectures began.

Is there any way to take the “study” out of “study abroad”?

We went back to some of the places we visited yesterday and got to spend more time there, actually go inside and explore, and sit through torturous lectures. I’m appreciative, don’t get me wrong. HELLO, I’m in Italy!!! It’s just so hard sit on a rock under a tree, sweating your eyeballs out, swatting bugs on your legs and squishing them on your paper, and trying to take notes while an Italian genius talks about things you’re not so interested in like you already know as much as he does. Can you tell I’m not a fan? I want more vacay! :)

We visited the Roman Forum, Arch of Titus, Arch of Constantine, Trajan’s Column, and the Colosseum. They are absolutely incredible pieces of architecture and I feel so small and insignificant in their huge shadows and hearing their resounding histories. It’s exciting to be a part of something so important.

After lectures and student-presentations were over, part of the group took a little side trip up to the Caphuchin Crypt, a Church of Bones. It was by far the most awe-inspiring place I have ever been. Probably the spookiest, too. It is an entire church where every wall and ceiling is decorated with the bones of the monks who died to that church after fleeing the French revolution. There are skulls, scapulas, tail-bones, pelvic bones, clavicles, arms, legs, and jaw bones in intricate patterns covering the entire church. Some are entire skeletons, but for the most part it’s a lot of bones placed in really incredible designs on the walls and ceilings. There are absolutely no pictures allowed, which I was so bummed about because it was by far my favorite place I’ve been so far, and I think it’s going to be hard to beat! It’s something you can’t fully comprehend until you’re there. And I wish I had pictures to show you a little creepy piece of how incredible and unique that experience was.

By the way, I was pooped on by a bird TWICE today! Really? Does that really happen?? What are the odds of getting pooped on even once, and I get shiz-splattered on me twice in one day!! It was hilarious the first time, but I was blowing steam the time the second batch was sliding down my face!

The first incident happened while we were sitting under a tree for our first lecture. I had killed over 237 little green bugs that were crawling all over me and survived a lizard attack in the bushes, so I thought I was hot stuff getting up and going through the museum. I ran my hand through my hair and felt something sticky, cold, wet, and slimey. I died a little bit inside!!! I looked at my hand and it was covered in bird-turd! I swallowed the throw-up and started laughing hysterically. You gotta laugh at things like that! I ran a wet-wipe through my hair, cleaned up my hand and went on with my day.

The next time happened at the end of a veeeeeery long day when we were waiting to divide up to either go back to the hotel or walk another bazillion blocks to see the bone church. (Which was sooo worth a bazillion blocks!) There were about 10 of us standing out in the end of this alley way when it sounded a felt like a huge splash of water. There were about 5 of us that screamed as we were drenched in liquid. At first, I thought someone might have tipped over a bucket from a window above us, but when we looked around, we were all covered in brown and white bird crap! FOR REAL!!!! Call me a hypochondriac, but I’m pretty sure I got in the worst. That little pecker got me good! I had a nice dollop right on the top of my head, oozing through my pony tail, on my purse, down my shirt, and on the back of my skirt.

I swear bird-crap should be like lightening… You should never be struck twice! I smell like bird crap. Every time the wind blows, I get a nice little whiff of the feces covering my hair and clothes and throw up a little bit. I had plans of coming straight home and showering, so I hope you all feel downright flattered that I put off showering to tell you all about it. I SMELL SO BAD!!! Hahahahahahaha. Only in Roma!!!

It’s such a fun trip! So many pictures, memories, laughs, experiences, and new friends. And a hell of a lot of bird-poop!

Love to you all!

Wit

giorno due

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Familia!

I'm just getting back to our hotel room after a loooooong day of walking and exploring! I'm exhausted and have never felt so good! I have a feeling I'm going to be saying that in every email I send home! Everything we do is soooo exhausting, but its so rewarding!

Sleeping last night was a little weird... The time change was awkward. Our bodies were so tired, but our minds knew it was time to be awake. We finally fell deep asleep and woke up 20 minutes before we were supposed to be meeting with our group! We hauled-A out of bed and made it downstairs in time for breakfast. It was the worst meal of our entire lives. They had yogurt and granola, so I was PUMPED! Of course, everything is in Italian, so I didn't realize it was PLAIN yogurt until after I took a huge bite. It was awful. Watery, sour, bitter. ICK!

We took the metro into the heart of Rome. We were underground with the grafitti and everything smelling like piss (sorry, Grandma!) and we walked off the subway and up the stairs, and I lost my breath. The Colosseum was literally footsteps away in all its glory. I was covered in goosebumps. That was the moment that I realized, "Oh my gosh! I'M IN ITALY!!!" Before that, it was kind of like a trip to some exotic slum of the United States. I'm not a huge history buff, nor am I excited by art or architecture, but I was almost brought to tears when I saw it. It was so unexpected and it caught me so off guard! I can't believe I'm seeing things with my own eyes that most people only get to see in photographs and on television.

We spent the morning and afternoon walking around Rome with the group. I don't know half the names of the places we saw, I am horrible! But the good news is I took pictures! We went to the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the Fountain of Truth. It was kind of like an orientation to Rome. We didn't spend a lot of time in each place, but we'll be going back throughout the next week and a half and spending more time at each one and going into more depth about the history. Not that I'm particularly excited for a history lesson, but I don't think I'll ever get sick of gazing at this beautiful place!

Steve took half the group home back to the hotel and the rest of us went exploring in Rome. We sat on the Spanish Steps and basked in the sun (the weather is SO nice here!!!) and got to know a really nice Dutch family. We walked around all the little streets and shops down town and took a special trip to H&M. Yes, it's in the U.S., but even McDonald's is cooler in Italy!! There were 7 of us running around together and I didn't feel scared or threatened once! I've been surprised at how safe I've felt this trip. It's not the cleanest place and there are some very interesting people, but I haven't felt uncomfortable at all. I'm being smart tho, don't you worry.

After our independent adventure, we took the metro back to the part of Rome we're staying in (pretty close to the Vatican) and just got back to the hotel. We're going to unpack until dinner in a couple hours!

I love you guys! And I love Italy!
Miss each and every one of you! But I'll see you soon enough!


Wit

primo giorno

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Safe and sound in ROME!!!

Our flight from Detroit to Amsterdam was soooo nice. I was able to watch 2 movies, get some good napping in, they served us dinner and it seemed like only a few hours later we were being served breakfast. We flew over London and were able to see the lights of the town and the ocean at night. It was an incredible view!
The Amsterdam airport was the nicest building I've ever been in. Not to mention the biggest or most confusing. We were able to find our gate in a jiffy tho! We watched the sunrise from our terminal. The flight to Rome was great, too. We were served yet another meal. And these dutch cookies that were to die for! Amsterdam is GORGEOUS! I loved watching out the window at all the green fields and pine trees. It looks a lot like Oregon on a sunny day! We flew over the Alps, too. Which was incredible.
I may have experienced it all from a plane/airport, but I was able to see so much of the world today! A lot more than I've ever seen from the Utah bubble. I stink, I'm tired, I'm greasy... But for spending the last 24 hours on a plane or in an airport, I really enjoyed it! Just like everything else in my life, I had myself psyched out over nothing and was preparing myself for the worst case scenario. Even the Arab on our first two flights left us alone! :) Everything went really smoothly and I'm happy to be laying in a bed right now!!!
We got to the hotel and had a "light lunch". Mind you, that lunch consisted of an appetizer of bread and cheese, and then they served us a huge plate of spaghetti. Thinking that was our meal, we practically swallowed it whole. Only to see them bring us a salad too. And a bowl of ice cream followed that. ...a LIGHT lunch, my eye! I might be taking a trip to fat camp on my way home from Italy!!!
Now we have a couple hours to take a nap and then we're going to grab some gelato and walk around a little bit. Not gonna lie, I'd rather just sleep until tomorrow. But it'll be fun!

I love you guys!
Thanks for all the love and support and for pushing me out the door. As much as I was dreading this, I'm already so glad I'm here!

I'll try to keep you posted often.
See you before you know it!

Ciao!
Wit

Once in a lifetime...

I’m sitting at the airport wondering whether to cry because I’m so excited or cry because I’m so scared.

I leave for a study abroad in Italy in one hour.

It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and deep down I really am excited. Really.

Somewhere beneath the fear and anxiety, is a big, bright, cheerful ball of excitement. I’m just waiting for these 3 flights to go smoothly so that the sunshine can start breaking through the clouds.

I just keep reminding myself of all the reasons I decided to spend a semester in Italy. When the stress and anxiety start to rain on my parade, it helps to remember what inspired me to go on this adventure in the first place.

I want to broaden my horizons and see the world.

I want to be a part of something so big that I feel humbled and realize my utter insignificance.

I want to feel so small caught up in the hustle and bustle of such a big, famous city that I could practically melt into the background.

I want to live a life filled with memories that I’ll enjoy looking back on and look forward to sharing.

I want to be somewhere the culture and passion are so thick that I can practically grip it in my hands.

I want to gain an appreciation and understanding of God and his hand; to see the people and creations I have yet to see.

I want to create a story with risk and adventure and play an active role in every scene.

I want to take advantage of this time in my life when I have permission to be selfish and do things for myself.

I want to end this single chapter in my life with something worth remembering.

I want to experience.

I want to feel.

I want to live!

So, with that said… Here goes!

We are now boarding for Delta flight 2223 to Italy!

(Through Detroit, the #1 crime capital in the US, and Amsterdam, no less)

Ciao!