Un'estate in Italia

I haven't been able to write in a while but Siobhan and I will definitely write tonight! While I have the chance, MOM AND DAD: THANK YOU SO MUCH for letting me come here!! I am SO happy and having the BEST time. I love Italy and the people and the sites and EVERYTHING. I am getting to see incredible things I never could have even imagined and learning so much italian. (In fact...I dreamt in italian last night! I didnt understand my own dream, but its a good start, right??? haha). Populonia was BEAUTIFUL. I can't wait to show you the photos!! Siobhan being here made it even more fun. I wish you both could come visit so I could show you around Rome - i'm finally learning the streets! Anyway, its not even possible to explain how much I appreciate my trip here! I love you times a katrillion and am SO thankful to have parents that want me to learn and experience as much as you do! I hope we can skype soon!! Tonight Sio and I are getting our first Roman pizza, so we will try to skype after that!!
Love, your favorite daughter! hahah

Matilde and Tommaso came home yesterday, which was nice! They are so generous and always do everything to make sure I am happy and have everything I need. They leave again for Cerignola today with Giulio, so for the next few days while Carlo works and “studies” [:-)]I am on my own! This weekend I will hang out with Carlo again.

Carlo’s sister, Demetria, comes to the house a lot. She is married with a child and has another child on the way. Ginevra, her daughter, is so cute. She is always happy and laughing. Yesterday at lunch she picked up an empty basket and walked around the table offering everyone invisible “caramelle” – candy. The entire lunch she walked in and out of the kitchen saying “vuoi caramelle? Vuoi caramelle?” it was so cute! It took a little bit, but I finally understand a little of what she says. It is harder to understand her because she is so young – 2 1/2 . I actually learned a little Italian from her! She kept taking my hand and telling me “vieni” or “venite”, which means come or come here. I have a picture of her laying under the bed looking for the cat. "Vieni gatto! Vieni gatto!". It is adorable.

Giulio took me out with him and his friends last night, which was so fun. We went to a bar, but since his friend wasn’t working, we ended up going outside – it was funny because EVERYONE just stayed outside the bar talking and hanging out. I met a lot of people and got a chance to practice a LOT of Italian. People are very patient with me, which I appreciate soo much :-). We actually randomly met another American when he came to the group I was standing in and asked for a lighter. When he didn’t speak Italian I freaked out. It was nice to speak freely in English! He is from Texas and staying here for 10 days with his brother, who lives and is graduating from a university here.

Every morning the maid comes in and cleans my room and makes my bed for me. I feel so bad but the family told me that I am not allowed to do it myself because the maid has to “learn” to do everything. She is new to the family; Elisabett, the maid who worked here for 11 years, moved to northern Italy after having a child. I am not used to this!! Sharif, the new maid, cleans my dishes and picks up clothes and makes my bed, sweeps and mops my room everyday, and makes breakfast, lunch, and dinner and goes to every room to let everyone know when it is ready. I am so spoiled here!

Miss everyone! AND I AM SO EXCITED TO SEE SIOBHAN MARY MUNROE IN ITALY ON THE 27TH. SHE LOVES ME SO MUCH THAT SHE IS COMING TO VISIT ITALY! (okay…I might not be the reason…but it will be awesome to have her here!! Hahah) Sio I’m already planning restaurants to take you, parks to go to, things to see, bars to hit up, and people to introduce you to!! Sono felicissima che possa vederti a presto! We will have the BEST time – and I promise to teach you Italian :-)!!

Molto amore a tutti!

Yesterday I had a fantastic day in Rome. My host brother, Giulio, and I went to the pantheon. He knew a lot about the pantheon - although i'm a little embarrassed to say that my favorite fact was that even though there is a GIANT cutout in the top of the pantheon, when it rains, it doesnt rain INSIDE the pantheon. Somehow the air pushes outwards so that rain doesnt fall in the building. How cool is that?! I've included a picture of the hole in the top that rain DOESNT fall through. :-)

After the Pantheon, Giulio took me on my very first moto ride through the city - scary! It was VERY fun though. We went to a park where we met up with Giulio's friend Alex, (he spoke perfect english...whew!), and walked around the park for a bit. The history there was very interesting - I saw the (giant) house that Mussolini lived in. It was very cool because there were so many architectural styles incorporated into it. We also saw the house that (one of) his wife (wives) lived in. Apparently there is a secret passageway that connects the two. Very neat.

After the park we went to a coffee shop with Giulio's friend Marcela. She was very nice, and we agreed to help each other with my italian and her english. So glad to have the help! :-) While we were there, Alex and another friend of Giulio's met us there and we stayed for coffee and before-dinner martinis, which were delicious. (sorry, parents!) :-)
I am starting to understand more italian. I could pick up about half of the conversation at coffee. The other half....completely 100% lost haha. Hopefully by the end of my stay I will be able to contribute intelligently to a conversation :-)

I tried a new traditional Roman food yesterday as well that I fell in love with. Fava beans and pecorino cheese. Favas look like oversized green beans, but they are delicious. See below!

Today, Matilde and Tommaso come back to Rome! I am very excited to see them. They should be here in a couple hours. Until then, I think Giulio are going around Rome again.
Miss everyone lots!

Italy is beautiful! I still can't believe I am here for two months. Italian is difficult, but I'm starting to pick up on a few things. Ive learned a lot of new words and phrases. My host family is bound to get annoyed with me because I am always asking how to say things or what something means. :-P
Yesterday, friends from UNC and I went to the Vatican - it was incredible! La Cappella Sistina (The Sistene Chapel) was gorgeous. I had seen it before when I came to Rome with my family, but seeing it again was awesome. It was even prettier than I had remembered! We were soo hungry afterwards that we sprinted across the street to a random pizzeria. It was very tourist-y, but better than anything we could find in America nonetheless. :-). Food is much fresher here - when Brendan, Patrick, and I went to dinner the night before, someone at the restaurant ordered fish, and a waitress literally took a fish out of a tank and put it on a plate.
Today I am going to look at the Pantheon and tour Roma - by myself! I just hope I dont get lost....hah! I am very lucky that I am living near the Pantheon - all I have to do is ask where that is and I can find my way home easily.
Made a new friend named Karin - she follows me around everywhere! In fact, shes sitting on my lap as I write this. She has even taken over my bed - she takes the good pillow every night!! Here is a photo of her shenanigans:

Miss everyone tons!!