Roma,Roma.Roma

ON the 26th Caro ( Chile ) , Maria (Mexico ), Laura (France) and I got together and cooked a meal out of the food me and caro had at home ( since every place..was closed.. all the restaurant.. all the groceries stores.. there was no buses.. no trains.. no subways.. nothing..) and we played cards and talked all night.. it as fun! The next day..Caro, Maria and I woke up really early around 6 30 and…( after having gone to bed at 3 am.. ) and walked a few kilometers to the train station to go to Roma! We arrived at the train station at 7:24 and the guy selling tickets told us that we had just missed the strained .. it had apparently just left at 7:23 am… we couldn’t believe it…Devastated…We tried to call the bus company to see at what time they had a bus that was going to Roma.. but we couldn’t get through…so we decided to stick it out ant take the train to Rome that was leaving at 11:16 am. Exhausted we found a waiting room where we slept for a few hours.. We finally arrived at the Rome terminal at 2:45 pm.
Being the smart travelers that we are.. we asked around confident that we would find our way to the Coloseo. One Italian girl that worked at a small restaurant gave us a map and told us that we absolutely had to take the Subway , a bus, then a taxi and a horse to arrived there… it was unquestionably a distance that we mustn’t walk.. Maria who had been there stared at her like she was a complete idiot .. or that she was extremely lazy…(side note..Most Italian.. if you ask them for direction.. They tell you to take public transportation…just the other week.. an Italian asked me when the bus was coming to, that went to a theater which was a block away…. I told him it was just around the corner and that he’d arrived there before the bus even came by..and he gave me this look like I was crazy to suggest that he walked some where that was less than a half a kilometer away..) We followed the map ,we now had in hand.. and walked only a few blocks..before we could see the top of the Coloseo..






From the Coloseo we did the entire historical center of Rome and ended our day by visiting the church of the Vatican! I made a video for you guys… but I must warn you.. Im speaking in Italian-Spanish.. and its filmed upside-down depending.. on how I held the cam..

It was a lot of fun!!! Quite an adventure… The train back to Perugia was no exception..We had no idea what the schedule was going to be like due to the holidays.. and the fact that we went on a Sunday.. We ended up almost missing the last train… And there was also the fact that the last train on Sundays its a special train.. lol.. meaning.. we had to do a detour to Follino (which is further than Perugia.. ) to take a bus that would drop us of at the train station of Perugia.. And from there we had to take a city bus back to our neighborhood.. because honestly after walking all day there was no way we were going to back back from the station to our house at 12:45 in the morning… me and Caro got home around 1:15 am..It was quite a day !@
Pictures are in my photobucket under Italia < Roma

Exams & NATALE !

Ciao tutti!!
Adeso ho finito mi examenes , ( I’ve finished my exams..)
Out of the classes I took last semester, I only had to do exams for two of them.. a written exam that included grammar , oral comprehension, reading comprehension, and a written part.. I scored 25/30 (83% ) :) and I had to do an Oral exam a few days later which included a brieft presentation on a cultural aspect of Italy , and an interview ( which basicly ment my teachers could aske me any question.. in and tense.. and I had to answer on the spot.. in the proper tense.. using the proper grammar …) I scored 27/30 ( 90%) Thus.. I had a final average of 87 % … which is decent.. because its more than I needed to keep my GPA more of less the same back in the states… Accordingly I shall be doing C1 (which is the next level up ) next semester!

Per Natale...
I passed christmas eve with a few friends .. and some new people who didn’t want to celebrate Christmas alone… In total we were 6. We cooked a turkey and a mix of vegetables with sauce
..and for desert we had pandore ( which is a typical Italian treat for the holidays ) and of course vino, vino, vino..




I celebrated Christmas day which the same bunch of people, and one other friend of mine.. We did a type of potluck for “lunch” I made “Pâté chinois”
and “bonbon aux patate” and others prepared green salad and then a salad of mozzarella , tomatoes and basil, chocolate cake, chips, crepes ,pasta,and padore.. it was a nice little gathering.. Although I must be honest and say.. It didn’t feel much like Christmas.. None of the houses where we we’re , were decorated.. There was no Christmas caroling, and no one really mention that it was Christmas … it felt more like a gathering.. but nevertheless it was enjoyable.. it definitely beats spending Christmas all alone..

Pictures in my photobucket under italia < Natale

how were ya’ll Christmases???? Leave me a comment telling me how it went down..

Diciembre

So I I know I haven’t been blogging regulary , I apologies, I hope you guys are still checking the blog, and will continue reading it!

My 1st Italian semester is ending-
This is a picture of my B2 class (Advance Intermediate level )
(( More pictures can be found in my photo bucket under Italy>my university )) lovely people! Most of them are leaving Perugia within the next few days.. so that’s a bit sad , but We’ve all traded contact information! I can now happily announce that I know people in Japan, China, Australian, England, Sweden, Poland, Mexico, Chile, Amsterdam, and Germany! Thus now I shall have a place to stay when I visit all these places! How exciting is that!
Exams are almost over, I have one left on Monday, which is an Oral exam, meaning I have to be interrogated in front of three professors, and I will be graded on my Italian but all thereof them… should be fun.. lol my exam is scheduled for 9:45 am Wish me luck, send me some love..! thanks !
Then once I pass Monday’s exam I done !!!! and I’ll be on Vacation until the 7th of January.

The holidays are coming- My roommate and I are trying to figure out where we want to spend Christmas, new years, and the time in between…. ( she’s going back to Chile Jan 2nd ) We were thinking about maybe visiting Bologna , Trevi , Siena , Pisa ( we still haven’t gone there… ) then, spending New year’s either in Rome, Florence, or Perugia … Our Christmas plan’s aren’t written in stone yet either.. we just know.. that a few other friends will be joining us to celebrate it ! ( you guys should comment bellow and let me know , where you think I should spend my holidays ! )

Oh and one other thing ! Today it snowed in Perugia for the first time this year ! More Pictures can be found in my photobucket under Italia>Bianca Perugia it’s gorgeous outside, its still snowing… and my roommate is sooo excited because this is the 2nd time in her life that she sees snow! Lol and im smiling from ear to ear because im reminded of all the times I’ve played in the snow throughout my life ! I miss you all dearest family & friends !
Hope all is well !

just a quick hello..

Hi readers.. sorry I haven't been blogging... I'm in my exam period... I'll blog after exams... here's the beginning of my Christmas decorations (in the mean time) I hope all is well with ya'll ! Lots of Holiday cheers !
smile, and the world will smile back at you!

(I DID NOT TAKE THIS PICTURE.. i found it.. and it made me smile ! )

Venezia

Hi readers .. long time no blogging huh ?
I don’t really know what to write… I was sick in bed for a week or so.. thankfully I have the internet in my new apartment :) so I spend most of my time in bed.. chatting and watching bootleg movies..
But.. then I eventually got better… it finally stopped raining in Perugia and then I WENT TO VENEZIA this weekend !! loads of fun! It was a group trip.. people from my university and other university in Perugia (we were all foreigners.. lol from japan,china,peru,Columbia,brazil,Belgium,france,chile,hungria,mexico,venezuela..I cant remember them all right now.. but.. all around the world! ) . We left at 6 am by bus on Saturday morning.. got to Venezia around 11:30 am the bus left us at the station and then we were free to roam around Venezia until 6pm . I went with some of my classmates , some new people and my roommate to discover the canals and streets of Venezia… We went to Piazza San Marco, where there’s the Basilica di San Marco( which is gorgeous.. its inside is covered in masacis from the marble floor to the gold ceiling) and a whole bunch of museums.. We walked along the Gran Canal , taking in all of the beauty…Its hard to describe how Venezia looks , so I urge you all to go to my photobucket under Italy and had a very short time to walk around.. At Burano ( which looks a lot like Venezuela with some canals..if you ask me..) we had some more time to walk around the town, visit the main church, and touristic boutiques. Then we headed back to Venezia where the boat drop us off in P.San Marco. From there we walked around Venezia some more.. to get to the Station where the bus was schedule to leave for Perugia at 5pm. It was a short visit… but it was amazing.. I had the chance to get to know lots of travelers , (and speak French with the ones from Belgium and france!) Due to the fact that the bus was very uncomfortable (NO one could sleep) we got into some interesting political discussions, comparing government and cultures.... PRICELESS.


Not the best written blog I know.. I'll work on it :)

Beginning of month II

It’s rain 3 times so far since I’ve been in Italy, the first time was pretty horrid, the rain was coming down pretty hard and with the wind.. kept opening and shutting my window panels.. Creating the soundtrack of an old horror film.. right before the monster finds its next victim.. ok well maybe I was just a little to imaginative.. the last two times was this past Saturday and yesterday .. Saturdays rain’s on Halloween night .. ( and no they don’t have Halloween in Italy.. I mean the clubs do.. for them it’s just another theme to make money..but there’s no house decorating.. or trick-a-treating..) is the reason I got sick..and then yesterday rain is caused me to be bedbound right now .. (it wouldn’t be so bad if every building wasn’t “over headed” (for my likings..) and the cold wind wasn’t so strong… grr.. I don’t know how long it’s going to last.. but.. the weather channel said it was going to rain a like every other day for the next two weeks.. so.. I guess ill have to get some orange juice and vitamin C .. and bundle up.

But.. wait that wasn’t the point of this post. I came to post about my weekend! Ready?

On Friday I went to the agency ( that finds.. and books apartments/Rooms/beds.. for students) and turned in my keys for the apartment I’ve been living in for the last month.. and got keys for my NEW living accommodation. I am currently sharing a room with a girl from Chile.. in an apartment where there’s a girl from Slovakia and a girl from china..( I haven’t seen here since I moved in.. but I heard here talking on Skype in her room.. lol.. according to my roommate she barely leaves her room.. ) It’s a nice little set up. I have the internet her… sometimes.. (that’s because there’s too many of us.. including the downstairs neighbors that are all on the same internet.. and apparently skyping takes a lot of the connection.. so.. if someone skyping.. only like two other people can get online.. the rest of us. Are out of luck..(if any of you guys know how to fix that.. leave a comment below! It’d be greatly appreciated) )lol.. Unlimited internet sounded too good to be true…

Moving on.. On Saturday About eleven of “us” ( some of the girls from the first weekend..and them some new people.. ) went to Assisi.

Assisi is a neighboring town that goes back… to 1208 It was a sunny day, a great day for adventuring out of “my” town.. ( well that is.. until it rain.. that night and got me sick..) We walked from the train station , through olive tree fields to the historical center, then to the Basilica di San Francesco d’Assisi. SIDE INFORMATION San Francesco D’Assisi was the guy who came from a wealthy family, who one day striped in the center of the town..declaring that he was abandoning it all to live a simple life…the one who took from his fortune and gave to the poor…( if you want to know more.. here’s the wiki link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_of_Assisi ) The rest of the day we walked around the town..went to a few more places like la Basilica di San Clara, the watch tower, we tried to go into the castle..but it was closed to the public.. I’m not sure why.. (I’ll have to go back some other time to visit it ) It was overall a good time.. lots of walking..

Saturday night we were all invited to someone in the other B2 group apartment.. I wasn’t sure what I was in for.. but it turned out to be this friendly Potluck… type of night.. There was Korean sushi, rice , soup, meat, etc.. and lots of Asians at the “gathering” ( my language class is like 70% Asian.. I think the other B2 is the same.. ) I meet some other people that were studying abroad, from Australia, France, Brazil, and Hungria .. I’m enjoying this whole clash of cultures… this way I get to learn a little bit of each cultures.. the only bad thing is.. that I thing that Perugia has a higher percentage of foreigners than Italian.. .So that’s kind of a problem.. I’m hoping I can get out of Perugia more often, or find out where the Italians are “hiding” in Perugia so that I can learn about the Italian culture as well… :) On my way there and back was when the rain caught me.. grr..
Sunday was pretty relaxed.. in the afternoon me and my roommate walk an hour and a half (there’s public transportation..But why spend €€€ when one can walk..) to go to “fiera del morti” which is a big fair/market where vendors come from all over … it’s an old Italian tradition I don’t really know what it has to do with the dead.. Besides the fact that it’s held from November 1 to the 5th.. And that November 1 is a day that Italian go visit the graves of their love ones.. The fair didn’t have any dead.. or sacred feel to it… it pretty much look like.. another outdoor fair.. With an amusement park next to it.. (Mostly games.. and a fairest wheel ) I bought my little Italian coffee machine there. (called a MOKA ) It makes.. like one.. shot of espresso.. but not as strong.. or maybe I’m getting use to Italian coffee…

Pictures are up under Italy>Assisi

what was your weekend like ? Leave a comment.. I miss you all xoxox

La Perugina

On Wednesday I went with my “class” to visit the Chocolate Factory “Perugina”. It was bought by Nestle a few years ago , due to the fact that the employees where asking for raises and the previous owner ( and founder) the Spagnoli family could not afford. So Nestle (the international sweets company) bought it. We all packed like sardines into a city bus and went to the Perugina, as we entered the factory we were given free baci and other Perugina chocolate.. Pictures were taken throughout the small “museum” ( I would call it a display room..) where the history of the baci was explain to us. Which was basically what I wrote in my previous blog.. Then we were shown a few old commercials for Baci. Such as this one

:-) We saw a gigantic Baci which won the Guinness World record in 2003, And then we were told that cameras or cell phones were not allowed within the actually factory… so I don’t have any more pictures … But I got to see the whole production of the baci ( La Perugina is the only factory in the world that produces the Baci, they produce something like 1200 baci per min. It’s ridiculous.. ) We also saw the production of the famous Easter eggs (that have a surprise inside :-) ) and then there was the Rossana, which is a chocolate with the flavor of rum ( I’m not sure if their actual rum liquid in it… I can’t remember.. But if you’re familiar with Rossana, please enlighten me by leaving a comment bellow.. ) There was also a whole bunch of other chocolate they make… like banana flavored, coffee flavored, baci with a cherry inside instead of a hazel nut , etc… It was a fun experience! Pictures are up in my photobucket under Italy> La Perugina
I finished Atlas Shrugged… so now I need another book… got any ideas ?

An update

I haven’t posted in a while.. So I figured that I’d give you guys all an update….
The EuroChocolate festival ended yesterday (Sunday) but like all the “true” Perugians say… EuroChocolate is a whole bunch of traffic.. By the 2rd day of the festival I had seen every exhibit and passed by every stand… it isn’t all that big… but it causes a WHOLE bunch of unnecessary traffic throughout the center of the city… One can’t even walk through main street without being shoulder to shoulder with someone else.. It made it a bit difficult to walk back from the grocery story with two heavy bags…. I think the greatest thing about it was all the free sample of chocolate.. And their version of Hot Chocolate (which is literally hot melted chocolate.. in a liquid from.. Thick and creamy its delicious.. but I don’t know how anyone could finish more than 5oz of it… it’s so rich..)
But I don’t mean to sound pessimistic..
I spend the rest of we week in and out of classes and becoming more and more independent :-)
On Tuesday I “fast walked” (the action in between walking.. and jogging.. …it’s kind of like walking with a purpose.. is there a better way to word it ? Leave a comment telling me what it is.. if there is.. ) through the upper side of my town.. and I figured out an hour long path through some hills, around the medieval wall and the country side. It’s beautiful.. And it‘s kind of a fun work out.. (I’ve been doing it every other day ..to get in some type of better shape.. :-) )
Then…Every Thursday and Friday my school have projections of random Italian movie.. This Thursday film that I attended was called “Recordati de mi”. It was a pretty decent movie… I think watching movies in Italian and listening to Italian music is the second best way of learning Italian and the culture of Italy. (This best of course is going to Italy and living it! ) So I think I’m pretty fortunate to be living all that I’m living.
As for my weekend…it was pretty relax.. I read 500 pages or so.. of “Atlas Shrugged” ( I’m almost done.. Ayn Rand has an amazing mind. I’m eager to read more of her work) I “cooked” for myself… (I think I’ve figured out how to make a decent pasta sauce.. with very limited supplies.. ) I walked around my town..etc nothing to interesting to blog about.. ((What did you guys do ? leave a comment… ))

Some things I’m looking forward too:
* Going to visit the Perugina ( the chocolate factory I talked about in one of my last post ) on October 28th
* Next Thursday.. or Fridays film ( I haven’t seen the posters for what they are yet.. but its always a fun way to better my italian..)
* Moving out .. And into an apartment ill be sharing with three other girls.. ( yay new experiences! )
* Having the internet in the new apartment
* A trip to Venice and the surrounding island on November 14th-15th
* I’m also planning to go to Piza ( to see the tour of Piza ) its like 2 hours or so.. from Perugia..

EURO CHOCOLATE / Mediaeval Stone Wall of Perugia

Euro Chocolate is a festival that started in Perugia because just about every other town has a festival of their own cibo (food) like.. a nearby town has a celery festival.. Because they produce some special celery that no other part of Italy produces… so on that note… Perugia decided to have a chocolate festival.. because through Perugina factory, chocolate was/is their biggest profit. Euro chocolate started out small.. But now it’s evolved into a ten day festival (that brings thousands of people to Perugia), with chocolate from all around Europe.. and even from Central America… theirs exhibits that explain how chocolate is made from the plant which becomes a tree..That creates “fruits” which they break, take out the seeds and dry them… they later grind them up… and it becomes cacao… (Wow that was a very short and simple.. description of the process.. lol.. I took pictures of the whole exhibition.. Their up on my photobucket under italia>eurochocolate ) at the festival they also have booth… upon booth.. That sells all sorts of chocolate.. and this past Sunday they had a chocolate sculpture contest.. (That was fun to see.. because of the chocolate that breaks off.. in order to form the masterpiece.. is given away to the public… ;-) I caught a little piece! ) I heard from my Italian culture teacher.. that at the end of the festival.. they give away a whole bunch of chocolate… I hope it’s true… id be set (as far as chocolate goes.. ) for the year !

When I wasn’t at EuroChocolate this weekend, I decided to explore my town some more.. I walked around my future neighborhood ( I can’t wait to move.. ) I found this beautiful park that has a gorgeous view of the valley that surrounds Perugia ( I didn’t take that much pictures.. because I figured ya’ll were a bit bored of the “countryside” pictures..but nevertheless there’s some of the park.. ) I also found this temple… and one of the gates of the city… Perugia was built in ... (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perugia) around the mediaeval period… it has this stone wall that surrounds the historical center of the city… and today I decided to walk around the entire wall ! it took about four hours… but the views… and the history that radiated of the old buildings.. and the arc doors of the city were definitely worth it ! I’m hoping to learn more about the history of Perugia.. so that I can share with you guys.. and enhance my experience abroad in Italy !

La Storia Dei Baci

This is a word for word translation of a short little assignment I had in class last Friday in regarded to the Chocolate festival that started that same day. What’s in (parenthesis) is information I thought was essential and/or interesting to know in order for the story to make sense.. I thought you guys might enjoy it…

but first here’s a little background info… the “Bacio” aka “Baci” is a little chocolate that is extremely famous in Italy… especially in my town… due to the fact that it was invented here in Perugia , and that the Perugina chocolate factory is and was one of the biggest money maker of Perugia… it keeps the town running.. it kind of taste like a “Rocher”( you know the chocolate with a brown and gold wrapper) but without the wafer part…

L’Italia è famosa nel mondo anche per I suoi “Baci”…quelli Perugina, naturalmente! Il delizioso impasto di cioccolato e nocciole naque per caso, nel 1922, dalle sapienti mani di Luisa Spagnoli che trovò cosi il modo di utilizzare le briciole delle nocciole legandole con il cioccolato fondente.
Italy is famous throughtout the world for its “baci” which is from the Perugina company.. obviously. The delicious mixture of chocolate and the hazel nut were born (invented ) in 1922 from the hands of Luisa Spagnoli, who found a way to use the excess chocolate (she owned another type of sweet candy chocolate factory before she opened up the Perugina due to the baci)and the hazel nut (which went to waste in the candy chocolate recipe) by covering them with dark chocolate.

La novità dolciaria, in commercio, per la prima volta nel negozio di Corzo Vannucci a Perugia, si chiamò “Cazzotti”. Ma subito si passò dalla violenza all’amore, ed ecco il “Bacio”
The new sweet ,started, for the first time in a pastry on the street name Corso Vannucci in Perugia ( it’s kind of like.. the main street of Perugia , there’s a bunch of high fashion stores, and restaurants on it now a day.. but I can only imagine that it was a very important street back then.) It was called “Cazzotti”. ( Cazzotti means fist in perugian slang for the Italian word “puno”( I’m not a hundred percent sure of the spelling ) Baci was first called like this because of its shape. Luisa said that its shape resembled a fist...) But rapidly it went from violence to love, hence the name “baccio” (which means kiss in Italian.)

Fu il grafico pubblicitario Federico Seneca, invece, che fece inserire nel cioccolatino il minuscolo foglietto con le più belle frasi d’amore di tutti i tenpi e che ideò il disegno sulla scatola; i due innamorati sotto le stelle, dal celebre dipinto di Hayez.
It was the a publicity grafic designer Federico Seneca who came up with the idea of inserting a small piece of paper ( wax paper ) with the most beautiful love phrases of all time, inside with the chocolate. On the box (which the chocolate back then use to come in.. ( now it just comes wrap in a silver and blue wrapping with the love note inside the wraping..)) there was a picture taking from one of the paintings of Hayez. ( I was told in class that it was one of his paintings of Romeo and Juliet )

Persino il duce, Benito Mussolini, venne sedotto da quel “baccio” quando, nel e subito esclamò “Vi dico, e vi autorizzo a ripeterlo, che i vostri baci sono veramente squisiti!” Nel 1934 la Perugina legò il suo nome ad un famoso concorso di figurine: “I quattro moschettieri”. E il primo premio era una Fiat Toplino.
Even the duke, Benito Mussolini, came to try the “baccio”, he quickly exclaimed “I say and I autorized one to repeat this, that your “baci” is truly exquisite” In 1934 the Perugina started a contest regarding the “four musketeers” collectable figurines. The grand prize was a Fiat car.

Poi arrivò la guerra e anche i baci dovettero aspettare tempi migliori. Il grande successo giunse negli anni ’60, gli anni del boom economico, quando la produzione ebbe uno sviluppo enorme.
Once the war ( World War II) started , the baci needed to way for better times to come. Its big success came in the 60’s, in the years of the economic boom, when its production became huge.

FIRENZE !! (Florence)

So what did you do this weekend ? (Leave your weekend in the comment section) I went to Florence! No wait.. Technically the weekend starts after work/school on Friday right ? ..Alright , well first thing fist, on Friday I got out of class at 10 am, and decided to go explore Perugia some more..I was on a mission to find a office or art supply store ,so that I could finally start my scrapbook that I’ve been collect things for… bus tickets, plane tickets, trains tickets, menus, business cards, random pictures..Maps…. you know.. The stuff a travelers “souvenir book” would consist of… On my way to find this store… I passed by one of the museums in my town that was exhibiting “Andy Warhol… in the city” without hesitation I walked in ( got the student discount ) and went to see some Pop art. The museum had some original prints of “The Gold Book” among many others.. it was pretty awesome ! after an hour or so I was back on my mission, walking around the streets of Perugia.. I found a mini groceries store (which is going to be very practical, when I don’t have time to catch the bus to go to the big groceries store ) I found one of the MINI metro stations ( the mini metro is like a subway that’s above ground that goes through and around Perugia .. it has little tiny wagons that can only fit like.. 8-10 people max. its really cute. ) and then.. I found an art supply store, which had stationary stuff in it.. :) goal accomplish! Nothing else happened Friday.. except that I went out with the same people I went out with last weekend.. to this .. traditional cooking Italian restaurant. Good food, but I couldn’t finish any of the courses… Italian.. I think eat way to much…. Maybe.. I haven’t made up my mind yet..
But anyways back to the original topic.. FIRENZE! On Saturday my future roommate (Carolina) and I caught a train up to Florence for less than 10€ (sweet! ) there we meet up with one of her friends (Vivi) who was also from chili ..And with the aid of a map and Vivi’s memory (from the previous time she had been to Florence as a family trip) we managed to find an Youth hostel (for way cheaper than any hotel) where we drop of our bags and went out to see the art and historical beauty of Florence. From Santa Maria del Fiore -Duomo, to Ponte Vecchio we walk around and took so many pictures that by the end of the night.. I was exhausted.
Sunday morning, we left the hostel at 8 in the morning to go stand in line at the Uffizi Museum . We took turns waiting in line while the other two would go around taking pictures of and with statues like Michelangelo’s “David”
after about two hours of waiting in line …We finally got it. I wasn’t prepared for all the works of art that I saw… paintings and sculptures..that must of taken a life time to accomplish… I saw Leonardo de Vinci’s
,,Michelangelo’s
, Boticelli‘s “Birth of Venus” and "Primavera" And so many others.. I wish I could of taken pictures… some were breath taking and then others were repetitive.. The Jesus theme honestly kind of got old.. After the 15th room or so that had the same images.. But by different painters..( ok ok.. maybe I’m exaggerating.. but there was a bunch of “Mary with baby Jesus, Jesus and the 3 kings, Mary and the angel, Jesus on the cross etc … paintings..) but I get it.. I’m in the country where the pope lives.. Of course it’s going to be very religious.
After the Uffizi Museum we walked around some more, we even tried to go inside the dome… but we missed visiting hours.. since it was Sunday.. and it was only open like 3 hours.. We went to Palazo Piti ,Palazo Vecchio, San Lorenzo, Piazza della S.S. Annunziata , Porta San Galzo…. Santa Maria Novella was our last stop before we had to catch the last train back to Perugia .. It was an great new experience… ! next I think I want to go to Venice .. Where do you think I should go in italy ?

Classes

So I'm almost done with my first full week of classes....
its interesting.. we haven't really gotten deep into any particular thing yet.. were more like reviewing.. tenses .. and grammar.... but my culture class is a lot of fun!!.. I've been able to connect some dots with what my teacher is telling me.. and what I learn last year in my international classes ( the world as a total system, geopolitics..etc ) It makes me smile that some things make sense!

Theirs a whole variety of nationality in my group, Chinese, Japanese, American, Irish ,Swedish , a guy from Switzerland , Mexicans , British , Australians , Russians ... and i know I'm forgetting some.. I'm hopping to leach onto a few of them.. and learn their cultures....

I feel like I'm in "L'auberge Espanol"

First Weekend part II

I figured my entry was getting a bit long.. so I made a part two :)
Sunday was a pretty slow/relaxing day.. I didn’t particularly have to wake up for anything.. I wasn’t sure what I was going to end up doing…. So I slept in.. ( I think.. im finally not jet-lagged.. and almost caught up on sleep.. ) Once I woke up.. I did some budgeting figuring out part of my money$$$$ situation… then I read some more of this little blue book I got.. ( it’s “the stranger’s guide to Perugia” I got it at the agency who is helping me out with a place to stay.. ) this little blue book is filled with everything.. from how to find a room , where to eat, what to do in your free time, to every bus and train schedule to get out of Perugia and visit Italy! I’m quite fond of it…
I got to this part where it mapped out a path for a walk where I could find the best view.. of Perugia.. Curious , I decided to try a go follow it… but.. I ended up making up my own path… I took some Wonderful pictures for you guys!! Be existed . hopefully they will be up at the same time this is.. (Click on the link ------------ :) want a closer look? Login in lola2314 password lorriana )
I found a beautiful church… called the “Oratory of San Berbardino” took some more pictures.. and continued walking around..up hill .. down hill.. through an alley, found some more eateries.. im excited to try out.. some Greek and Lebanon restaurants… some more Pizzarias … then onto the main road .. where to my surprise I saw a whole bunch of people lined up on the side of the street awaiting……. I wasn’t sure… then through the crowd I heard a band start playing.. and some flag twirlers.. funny looking guards..marching.. and a bunch of cars approaching in the distance.. I blended into the crowd and looked around for clues.. to what might be the cause of.. this parade…. After 15 mins.. or so.. all these photographers appeared. They were surrounding these two little short old man, dressed in bright fuchsia … priest they seem to be…
They made their way up to the center of the town, where a small stage had been erected.. joining then men suits and other black robe priest…. I finally asked someone next to me.. in broken down Italian.. what the commotion was all about.. and she told me that one of the two men in fuchsia was the bishop of Umbria.. ( or something.. like that.. I didn’t really understand.. but he was some important Christian figure.. ) I took some pictures… .. I stayed for a bit.. and listen to him talk… but didn’t really understand anything more than what im writing now..maybe I’ll google him.. and give you guys some more information!

Well until next time dear readers..

by the next time I blog.. I hope to have move.. and obtain wifi in my room! Keep you all posted.

-Lorriana

Ps. I miss you much <3

First Weekend part I

This blog entry is going to be a little bit different because I’m writing it while I’m off-line due to the fact that today is Sunday and everything ( well almost everything..there’s a few places open.. like the gelaterria ! (Italian Ice Cream Shop) )in Perugia .. is closed and I haven’t moved yet.. so my room still has no internet..

…So much to write I don’t really know where to start…
well I guess I can start by catching you guys up with what happened before my last post that I didn’t think to include while rushing to post at the cyber Café…
On Saturday a group of foreigners and I got on a bus for about 45mins and arrived at a small version of a mall where there was a store that resembled Stop & Shop ( Provigo ou IGA pour mes Quebecois! ) So you can guess that I went grocery shopping! Lol probably the only kind of shopping I almost like.. * Anyways.. So I bought the essential you know.. wine, cheese, bread , cereal, crackers, grapes, yogurt, lettuce and apples… that’s what ill be living on for a while.. when I’m not out discovering Italian cuisine :-)
Once I got back to my “room” my elderly landlady insisted on bringing me to her other house out in the country side where I could possibly move too… but first she brought me to the cemetery where her parents, her brother, her husband , and one of her daughters in buried… A bit emotionally awkward it was since I’ve only known this lady.. 3.5 days ?? Italian cemeteries are a different than American cemeteries.. Most people (that can afford it ) are I think? Cremated and placed inside a wall? That is erected in the middle of a gated wall… my landlady had a whole section dedicated to her family.. It’s hard to explain.. but .. to put it in simple words.. People in Italy are “buried” above ground. Those that can afford it however are actually buried underground with a simply cross at the top of the designated area.. I didn’t take pictures.. Because I didn’t think id be appropriate… with the whole… soul can be captivated by a lenses thing.. I don’t really need any spirits following me around…
My little old lady’s house was located at least a few miles away from my school ( not exactly what id want to walk at 6.30 in the morning .. to get to class at 8. Am ….) In a apartment looking neighborhood…like projects.. or condos… all on top of each other. With your neighbor’s window 20 feet away from yours… I don’t mean to make it sound… horrible ? but .. I was a bit disappointed.. as it looked like something.. id seen a million times before… I wont be staying there..
My Saturday ended with me meeting up with a few Sweden exchange students, and going out to eat..at this.. semi-facy Italian restaurant.. they all had seafood based pasta**.. I stuck with gelato..

*for those of you that care to know more about me and shopping.. ask and ill tell.. lol
** for those that know how fond of seafood I am….especially the smell…. You understand..

I Found a Cyber Cafe!

!!the computer didnt have spell check.. and im a horrible speller.. so beware! !!


So... sorry readers..
I didnt have internet access, but now I do.. well kinda Im in a cyber cafe place.. ( which is basicly a room.. with a bunch of computer and.. some phone booths )

So where did I leave off ?

Oh yes..
my living situation ... umm well im in the process of changing it... this little elderly women is adorable.. but.. I dont want to become her personal aid.. and worry about her all the time .... Im here to EXPLORE and absorb the culture ... (do you blame me ? ) So.. I decided.. Im moving out..
the Agency that works with my school.. is in the process of finding me somewhere else to live...(but in the mean time.. I met some other exchange student (chiniese,latino, english, italian, german) .. and they have a free bed.. in their apartment so I think im gonna move in with them.. if the agency cant find better.... )

And now regarding school, I passed my placement exam... Im in B2 which is the ..3rd highest course I could get in.. so im content.. but I have to make sure.. my credits will transfer over and all that fun stuff...

Other than that.. Im discovering the city were I now live... walking around taking pictures.. life is pretty sweet.. actualy..

I just miss my <3

*pictures to come once.. I get wifi in my new apt (fingers cross?) Stay posted.

Step One- Arriving at destination

I had a 11 hour flight...
+ time difference
+ transfers
+ 4 hour bus ride to Perugia
+ 20 min walk ( which took me 45 because I didn't know which way I was going.. and I was carrying two suitcases and my laptop bag... ) soo like 100lbs.. that I was Pulling up stair cases... in the city of ups and downs... No one willing to help ...except these french tourist which I caught speaking french and jumped into their conversation asking them for some direction.. Glad to help their "Cousine du Quebec" they handed me one of their maps.. and showed me the way to my destination. A bit less confused I carried on .. Stopping every few hundred feet to catch my breath... Down a narrow stone street , Up some decaying brick stairs , A few sharp turns and a 7 way intersections later I had finally made it.
All sweaty.. I climbed up a Few more flights of stairs following this short elderly woman... to my Apartment ( which I thought I was going to be sharing with a family .. and a roommate.. (but that's an other entry..)) I made it safe and sound.

Pictures to Come. Stay posted.

Goodbye America ... I'm off again.

Soo.. 3 days left before I'm leaving on a jet plane...
Things are a bit hectic, I'm in the middle of packing my life.. and my suit case :-)
Loads of fun..
But I'm exited. A new adventure awaits me, un-calculated circumstances, unforgettable moments, new lands to discover, a million facts to learn, a whole new culture to adapt to, hundreds of new faces to smile at. I'm a chameleon I was made for this. So here I come Italy, ( and all of Europe hopefully in my "free" time). Welcome me with open arms!