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

June 15

I decided to stay in Rome this weekend for monetary purposes. I also wanted a chill weekend and some time to take my time and enjoy the city. I feel like most days I am hurried along to different places only staying long enough in one place to say that I have been there. I wanted to relax, walk slowly, and take in the gorgeous city I am calling home for 6 weeks.

Jasmine, Haley, and I saw the inside of the "wedding cake". I don't know the real name of the monument because no one (including italians) call it anything besides "the typewriter" or "the wedding cake." It had a great view of course. We, then, had a beautiful lunch near Piazza Navona.

The rest of the afternoon was spent walking around and window shopping. Oh, and I finally saw the Spanish Steps.

Once again, my computer is not letting me upload pictures. Will try again tomorrow.

June 14

I have been getting pretty homesick lately. I am just not the type of person who likes to be away from my family and friends for long periods of time. (and Yes! I miss other people besides Christopher ;) ) 


Today, we had class at Ostia Antica, which is another name for more ruins. I appreciate it for about 5 minutes and after that it gets hard to "use my imagination" to picture what was there. The guide points at a boulder and says "this used to be such and such. Imagine this and that here." Apparently, my imagination sucks. It also makes me feel like an ungrateful brat. However, I accept the fact that I am not a person who is inherently interested in history. I like to be told brief remarkable facts about a place or about people. I am not interested enough to listen in length to the whole boring life story. I wish I was but I am not. However, I do appreciate the fact that I am allowed to see places that most people will never see in their lifetime. To sum it all up, it wasn't my favorite activity of the trip, but I put on a brave face and a smile and tried to focus as much as possible. 

Reading a book written in Italian!

After class, we went to the beach. Haley and I bought this beautiful red tapestry with elephants on it. It was an impulse buy. I haggled for the first time and got the price down from 20 euro to 13.50 euro. Not too bad. I would post a picture but it is too sandy to take out. 

July 13

We celebrated Shelby's birthday and then had class. My group interviewed a cafè owner for homework. We have to present it tomorrow. I made a 86 on my quiz which isn't bad considering I made a few "dumb mistakes." Tomorrow we are having class at the beach. I am very excited!

I am sorry that the last few days have been boring to report. At last, school is catching up with me. :) 

June 12

I had my first quiz today. I am not sure how it went. I am not too worried about it because it was the first one. AND I just faxed in my pass/fail form to UT. :)

The other class has a test tomorrow so all my friends had to study after school. I did a little exploring on my own. (Surprising I know) I climbed this massive staircase which led into a beautiful church. Unfortunately, as in most churches, they don't let you take pictures. 

I also looked around the Campidoglio.

Cappuccino in the afternoon? Scandalous.

Part 1 of last nights dinner...delicious.