July 3-5

Tuesday was uneventful. I went to school and then prepared for my final exam on Wednesday. 

Wednesday, we took our exams and took care of arrangements for going home and the end of the program. After, our presentation we ate a group dinner. 

Thursday was a long long day. Surprisingly, I didn't experience much jet lag at all. I fell back into the rhythm here pretty nicely. 

July 2

3 days until I come home. yayayay! I cannot wait.

Deadmau5 show was tonight. It was hands down the best light show I have ever seen. I can't even put into words how awesome the show was. If you ever get a chance to see him live DO IT! You won't regret it even for a minute. Getting a ride home after the show was terrible. Transportation in Rome shuts down practically after 12. It is ridiculous. No cab would pick us up because we didn't call them. They want you to order a cab so they can start the clock from where ever you are and make the cab ride cost more.

June 28-July 1

The next few posts are going to seem short and choppy. I don't have much time to do these. The last few days here are going to be very busy for me. If I have time later, I might add more details so keep checking my blog.

Thursday, we went to Cilento. We spent some time by the beach and then watched the game at a local restaurant. When Italy one, we had a karaoke dance party. It was a really good time.

Friday, we visited Pompeii. The tour guide we had was really great. I was excited to see Pompeii. It is something I always dreamed of seeing.

Saturday, we had a free day. Some people went to Capri and others went to Positano. I would have loved to go to Capri but it was very very expensive. Plus, I swore to myself I would see Positano one day so it wasn't too bad of a trade off. The bus ride there was terrible. I have never in my life been car sick but I was that time. The roads were very steep and the bus was going crazy fast. It was also extremely hot on the bus. Once we recovered from the traumatic bus ride, we made our way down to the beach. I cannot think of a prettier place to go swimming. Once we got back to Sorrento, we had a toast to the end of the program on the terrace.

Sunday, we went to the Museum of Capodimonte in Naples. I was not excited about seeing another museum. However, this one was the best I have seen so far. I loved all of the art. We also had the same guide as we had in Pompeii. She made the tour better.
Sunday night was the Italy vs. Spain for the EuroCup. I wasn't going to go out and watch the game but the others convinced me. We went to Circo Massimo. There were around 200,000 people there. It was absolute chaos. We couldn't see because of all the people so we ended up going to a cafe to watch the game. After the game, I tried waiting for the bus only it never came. I was really freaked out because I was alone at night with a bunch of rowdy pissed off Italians. Eventually, I had to call my host dad to come pick me up. I felt terrible because it was 12:30 by the time we got home. It wasn't the best experience ever to say the least but at least now I can say I have done it.

There is a whole other half.

June 27

All I wanted to see. 

I finally got to see St. Peter's Basilica. I wish I wouldn't have been so hot, tired, hungry, and therefore cranky. I would have enjoyed it a bit more. However, all of those things couldn't negate how glorious this place is. Absolutely beautiful.

June 26

The highlight of today was that we went and toured Villa Bourghese. Of all the Villas and Museums we have been to, this was my favorite. Our guide was extremely knowledgable and interesting. Every room was filled with beautiful works of art by the most famous artists. My favorite sculpture was Apollo and Daphne by Bernini. It was indescribably beautiful.

June 25

The reason I didn't write this last night is because I was too exhausted. I haven't slept through the night in over a week. My teacher yesterday said that she didn't think I was interested in the class. I told her it was just because I am so tired all the time and we have class at 2 during the hottest part of the day. I just can't pay attention. I feel like we are having class in an oven.

I made an 86 on my first Italian Exam.

Class went until 5 yesterday. After, Kelly and I got gelato and I went shopping with her to try and help her find a cute dress. No luck but it was a pretty fun way to waste 2 hours.

My host family told me I could sleep with the fan on. It was the best thing I had heard in a while. I actually slept most of the night. I only woke up once! I feel like a new woman. :)

June 23-24

Saturday, Haley and I went and saw the Castle St. Pietro and more of the Vatican. Haley got us on the wrong bus and we rode around in the heat for an hour and a half before we finally got on the right but and made it back to Largo Argentina. After that was a 25 min tram ride to her house. The second time eating at her house didn't go much better than the first. I was very tired from being in the sun all day. Her host mother force fed me practically an entire pizza. I hate being forced to do anything. So, her mom essentially told me I had a character flaw because I was unenthusiastic. Not the best thing to hear. Haley tried to tell her I was just tired but she said no that is her character. Awesome. After dinner, Kelly, Haley, and I went dancing.

June 22

I think I am going crazy from the heat. When I think about the fact that I have to make it through almost two more weeks of CONSTANTLY being drenched in sweat with no real relief, I start to feel pretty loopy. It is seriously way too hot here to not have air conditioning. I can't sleep at night anymore. Every day for the past week I have woken up at 4 ish in the morning wide away because I am so hot.
Today Haley and I tried to sightsee but our adventures were cut short because we couldn't take being outside any longer.

On a good note, Haley came over to have dinner with my host family last night. It was really fun. My host mom said my mom was a very fortunate lady to have such good, well mannered, beautiful children. :) She is so sweet.

Yeah, that is octopus. 

June 21

Today was a very good day. Class was short because a big group was going to the Vatican. I realize that I am here to study but class,  even if it is Rome, is very boring. It is a fact that just can't be helped.
We only got to see the Vatican Museum but that included the Sistine Chapel! It was all so beautiful. I am really glad I got to experience that. I want to go back and check out the rest of the Vatican soon.

Unfortunately, they do not let you take pictures of the Sistine Chapel. After, Haley and I had a really nice conversation in the park. It was a lovely way to end my day in Rome. 

June 20

I took some time this morning to clean my room and rest. We watched a documentary in class called Italy: love it or leave it. The two men who made the documentary came to our class to talk about the film. It was the first film to be recognized at South By Southwest in Austin! I thought that was very very cool. They were extremely interesting and very funny.

Haley and I unintentionally wore similar outfits today. We also made the same face in the picture without knowing. I was pretty embarrassed. It is no longer cute to dress alike when you are as old as we are. That stops being cute after age 4.

I had a lovely dinner with Kelly and Haley. We got a bunch of food and limoncello and wine for free. I think it was because we were actually attempting to speak in Italian. Italians love that. Also, finally we met someone our age. And he wasn't a total creeper. It has been near impossible to find other Italians our age who aren't total skeeseballs.  

Tried a Killkenny. Didn't really like it. 

Free Limoncello

June 19

We had our first exam today. I think it went okay. I got really tired during it. I think it is because it is so hot here and they don't have air conditioning. This is what I get for being homesick. Texas weather came to me and here it is worse because there is no way to cool off. They don't even have ice!


16 days until I am back in beautiful Texas.

June 18

OMG is it really the 18th already? Yikes. Time is flying by. I was literally about to type that I had done nothing but study today but this morning I went to see Caravaggio's Churches!!

Thought I looked cute today.

My favorite statue. "This guy. . . " 

June 16-17

I went to Santa Marinella with my host family. It is this super cute beach town. Literally everything there is cute. I loved it. It was pretty awkward Saturday when my host family just dropped me off at the beach to meet Chiara and her friends. Non of them talked to me. But Sunday was fun. I am now totally sunburnt. I am 21 years old. You would think by now I would know to put more sunscreen on. That is how I know I am not an adult yet. ;)

I finally got a picture with my family and OF COURSE I have food in my teeth. Just ignore my face.

Ignore the pasta belly.

Remember to pretend that I am not ruining the picture!

Giorgio