(Good Evening Everyone!)
It has been a busy last few days. Let's start back to Wednesday. Wednesday was the start of orientation which was the day after we had arrived. I felt like a freshman again and by the end of the day I was sick of it. Sure, there was some good information and things to take care of but I was hanging on by a thread trying to stay awake! Some how I was able to get through the day though. I also purchased a tiny, basic phone...I'll have to show you that one. Its so cute but texting sucks, haha. Wednesday night we managed to stay awake enough to go out in Italy. Some friends found a bar with real good deals (euros, of course). Very laid back and chill. We stayed there for a bit, we 'should' have went back to the hotel but instead we went to get our dance on or 'party down' as the American Consulate told us today, haha, at a club called '21'. It was so sweet, packed full of people but the dancing was great.
Thursday, (yesterday), we finally met our host families. The anticipation was killing me. I wanted to stop living in a hotel and actually get settled into my home. My host mother picked myself and my roommate up, she was driving a Mercedes Mini van. My roommate, Holly, is great. We seem to get a long really well and have a lot in common. We share a bedroom and off our bedroom is a beautiful terrace over looking all the beautiful buildings nearby. It gets better though. You climb a ladder which takes you to the rooftop terrace. From the rooftop you can see the whole city. It is absolutely breathtaking and has successfully exceeded my expectations. Dinner was served at 8pm, so Holly and I unpacked in between, also took a nap (thank god). Dinner was fantastic...fresh pasta with red sauce, salad, fresh green beans, chicken with spices, a splash of wine, and fresh bread. Dessert was a bit of italian ice cream and italian cookies, with a shot of espresso to wash it down.
My host parents are adorable. They are most likely in their 60's, have four kids which three of them live in NYC. Baldo, the husband, is the sweetest italian man with a great sense of humor. He wears a bib at dinner, baby yellow in color. Laura, the wife, is one of the sweetest people I've ever met. She also has a great sense of humor and you can really tell that Baldo & Laura truly love each other. They've been married 40 years. They are both very caring and easy to talk to.
Today, we had to get up early...which sucked. Holly & I walked to the train station and hopped a bus to get to school. If we walked, it is probably about a 20 min. walk but we decided to take the bus for now. Once we got there she registered for classes while I sat in the garden and waited for my specific time. I got all the classes I wanted so I was happy about that.
After a few meetings I went exploring with a few friends but found out stores are closed from 1pm-3pm. This is when they take their 'siestas'. So we hung around until then. Later on, my friend Julia & I went to actually explore. We bought some spectacular gelato and got our nails/toes done. Everything got done around 7pm, we split and I wandered around the streets (using my map of course) and explored the streets while heading home. Laura made me dinner. It was just her and I because my roommate's, Holly, grandmother came to take her to Rome for the weekend. Baldo went to visit family. Dinner was better than last night! (Which I didn't think was possible) We had bowtie pasta with Laura's homemade pesto sauce, thin beef slices with cheese and fresh basil leaves, and spinach. I'll probably say this about every meal I have here with them, but it was seriously amazing. Laura and I talked for about an hour and a half. I also found out that tomorrow she is taking me to their beach house on the Mediterranean. I am SO excited to lay on the beach and swim there in the beautiful blue water.
It felt so good to start getting to know her...I feel more settled this way.
The men are so forward/aggressive here. Not in a mean way or even bad way...as I have experienced so far anyways, but they are very aware of the women here. They are not afraid to look you up and down, and really let you know they are interested. I mean, some of them are obviously creepers, I'm not being naive, but even the good ones that don't creep seem more in tuned to women.
We have been warned though,"Ciao Bella"(Hello Beautiful) is a classic creepy line unless you're saying it to someone you know well. Another one housing staff told us--"Oh, you dropped something" the girl will say "oh, did I?" and the guy says "my heart" (I think that's hilarious) They tell us--"You're not going to find the love of your life on the street" Which I agree, haha.
Some of the girls I've become friends with and I were saying that the guys in the U.S. need to learn a little more charm because you almost have to hit an American guy over the head to let them know you like them. It's real funny.
All in all, I'm really enjoying it here. I've been meeting some great people and am trying to make friends with people in the community as well. Also, I will be doing an internship here so I will really get to be involved into the business district of some sort. On the side, I plan to volunteer in the elementary schools here and help teach younger children English!
I do miss home though, of course. I'd really like to skype with you all. So let's make a date and get on it!
Love you and miss you all!
<3Alex
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