To Start With

Alright, so I created a blog. This is it. To start with, there could be a lot of spelling errors for a couple reasons. I'm not a great speller and Italian keyboards are different than American ones. You can choose whichever excuse you'd like. This particular post is really long. I like to write a lot and it covers a couple of days. I apologize.Francesca and I waiting at the Detroit Airport!!

To begin with I'm finally in Roma (Rome...if this location was a mystery to you). The flight was pretty long. I watched four movies. 17 Again, Confessions of a Shopaholic, Pink Panther 2, and I love you, man. That's a lot of slightly okay movies. I flew over with Francesca (who goes to CMU with me) and overall there were no real problems aside from lack of sleep. I'm going to blame this mostly on teenager #2 of 35 who sat directly in front of me and would not accept that his seat would go back no farther. We had our layover in Germany and then another hour and a half flight to Rome. That second flight was beautiful, at least what I saw of it when I'd occasionally wake up to snap circulation back into my wrist. We got to John Cabot and went through a very short orientation process and then got shipped to our apartment. I decided that I am not built to drive in Rome. I think I'd insta-cry if I had to do that. If you know anyone who's ever driven in Rome, or if you ever meet an Italian driver give them instant respect. The streets are insane. Rules do not apply here. They are all very small streets with very small cars who know how to park in spaces the car shouldn't fit in. Anyway. We got to our apartment which is about a 30-45 min walk from JCU and a 20 min tram walking combo. I found out I'm living with the two other girls from CMU so that worked out. Also, randomly, my RA from Grand Valley is going here. That was cool. She's not living with me. Do not get confused.

The view from my balcony

The apartment is awesome. It's on the third, which means 4th, floor. It's so big. Two big bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, an entry room, and a living room fully furnished. There's a random weird excersize bike, books left behind, creepy paintings, and other little things that are always fun to find around. Each bedroom has a balcony which looks out onto the street and since we're on a hill you can see for miles depending where you look. There's no TV which is a bummer, but my ipod is saving me which I'll thank Lise for again when I get home.

Last night we went out to find things we needed and get some food. In a matter of five minutes the skies turned from clear to run away dark and there was a huge storm, it didn't last long. Francesca, Jessica (another roommate) and I watched it pour from some steps leading to an apartment. A man, woman, and their bull dog were also there. They didn't speak English but we bonded. Then we bought things we needed with a lot of pointing and nodding and hoping we'd get what it is we were trying to say. I bought a fan from some hong-kong store. It has a foot on it but it's the best investment I've made so far. We went to this little pizza place that was delicious and pretty cheap and at that point any food would have been great. It's so cool to be in a country so different and listening to people talk and not having a clue what they're saying. We all went to bed at about 9 last night and I don't think that was enough sleep. My bed creaks, and not just a little, like it screams if you breathe too hard. I think it's funny. Francesca probably does not. My phone isn't working but random guy selling phones helped me so hopefully I will win and learn how to use it. Which is great because I forgot my charger at home so for a couple hours I'll understand.  

Today is orientation at JCU. We had to find our way with a map they gave us. Somehow we made it here because the street signs are so confusing and the streets don't always look like streets. More like paths that baby cars drive on. I've had a lot of information to learn today. It is still hot. We sign up for trips we can take on the weekend and there's so many choices. I think all my roommates and I are going to do at least 4 of them. One is a trip through Tuscany with wine tasting, one goes through cinque-terre (I know that can't be spelled right), and the last is a private island in the mediterranean. We have 5 weekends and hopefully we can hit venice for one. This weekend we're going to a private beach. I'm not upset about that hahaha. Tonight we're going out which will also be great. We have a meet and greet at 5 at a small bar by JCU, if you were wondering about my future. I think it's awesome that it's at a bar, that the college worked that out for us hahahaha. Okay, I'm sorry this is long. There is air conditioning in here so I took my time.

I do miss home. If I didn't say that. I do. Well, I miss people not so much the location. However, I am in Rome so having fun is working out too :-) I know once I get my phone working things will work out much better.

I'll try to update this when I can. For now ciao.
Anna