Post within a Post within a Post...Enjoy!

I have absolutely let too much time pass between posts...and I'm sure that this entry will be a little too scattered with thoughts and events from the past two weeks so I apologize in advance! I am currently sitting in OU's new office, at my brand new desk (finally, after 8 months I have a place to work!), which has been wonderful. Last Thursday we had several visitors from OU here as we had our office inauguration party-it was very cool to see everything come together for such a great evening. It feels nice to know that even after I leave OUA, I will have been a part of the very beginning...literally, on my hands and knees scrubbing the floors to make sure everything was ready for last week (that might have been a little much). I even hand hot-glued the crimson and cream bows used for the ribbon cutting.

Before the party, one of my directors asked our friend Silvano (a 75 year old landlord of one of our student apartments and INCREDIBLE concert pianist) to play for the evening. I have seen him play several times now and he is truly remarkable. The man knows at least 500 songs by memory, and can pick up a new one after playing it once or twice through. He invited me to his apartment to work on a couple of songs together so that I would be able to sing with him-we ended up playing Moon River and You Don't Know Me....two songs that I have always loved but have never been part of my set. It was so nice to be able to incorporate something that I love so much into an evening dedicated to the work I've been doing for Oklahoma. It also helped me to realize how much I miss playing Thursday nights at Benvenuti's in Norman with my brother....I really took for granted having the opportunity to play out once a week for a couple of hours-and my voice, like any other muscle, is feeling the lack of practice! Speaking of which...I finally cracked this week. After eight months gym-less...I broke down and walked into the gym located right beneath my apartment (how convenient) and joined for the next two months until I am back home. Now, for most people, I understand that walking past a gym every day might not even be enough to merit a double-take...but for me it was absolute torture. I will admit, in the beginning it was pretty liberating to walk home with a bag of bread and a box full of pastries and know that I couldn't go to the gym even if I wanted to, so why worry about it. I actually enjoyed watching my body transform a bit in the beginning...but then it just kept changing and I had less and less energy....and I had finally had enough. I spent Sunday at a French market in Piazza Grande...which means I bought more cheese than I ever need to be eating on my own. Hence, the following day, it was time to reconnect with the treadmill. Oh exercise, how I've missed my 45 minutes of blaring music and elliptical-ing a day. I am sleeping better, not falling asleep in the middle of the afternoon, and completely enjoying my extra wine and cheese. Win-win.

I am also enjoying the masterpieces that my incredible new french roommate likes to throw together so effortlessly in the kitchen. The week after Eloise moved in, I opened the door and all that I could smell was chocolate and banana....she had baked a banana-breadish loaf but packed it with pieces of dark chocolate and oh, flame-cooked the bananas in Rum before even putting them into the bread. Heaven. It was a rainy, dark day...and I swear the smell alone made the entire apartment feel warmer. Elo has been such a blessing, and while I can't believe that I will only have two months left in the apartment that has become my home, I am very grateful to have been given the chance to get to know her. She is so generous and easy to talk to (her English and Italian is perfect...so it has been nice to have both of the languages together!)...and of course, I love listening to her speak in French, too! It's hard to believe that when I was a freshman in high school I actually spoke a little french...and now I know only a few words at best. It's actually kind of terrifying...as I absolutely do not want to lose the Italian that I have learned. So, if you know anyone who speaks Italian in the DFW area, please let me know : )

Continuing on the food trend, I spent last Saturday celebrating Marco and Chiara's birthdays (a brother & sister that have become incredible friends). Dinners at their house are always some of my favorite....not only because Marco should be a chef and open a restaurant, or because some of them are themed (I have a thing for themed parties), but because the company is always the best. Elisa and I were running a little late, but arrived to a table full of friends with glasses of prosecco waiting for us and Marco on his way out of the kitchen already with food in hand. We sat around the table for about 3 hours eating, drinking, and talking...at which point after enough glasses of champagne I almost started to cry because I realized that I would only be able to be a part of this for another couple of months. We changed the subject. I just always feel so thankful to have been included the way that I have...to look around a table of friends that 8 months ago didn't know me, that now don't even view me as the 'guest', but rather, just another friend. It will be these nights that I remember forever, and I have tried not to take a moment for granted.

Well, I think that catches things up a bit. Sorry if this post made you hungry.

Pass the Plate, Please!

So what if I've had a few glasses of wine and moscato...I LOVE Cooking Class Mondays. Last week, the students and I started the first of four cooking classes at a little family owned restaurant here in the center of Arezzo called Osteria delle Poste. Pietro, the father and chef, is the sweetest Sicilian man and not only do we love watching him effortlessly throw together plates of pasta, but it is so wonderful to see how much joy it brings him to be teaching us and enjoying everyone's company. The kitchen is usually pretty chaotic...as there are never measurements but instead ladels of crushed tomatoes...spoonfuls of minced garlic and more salt than I would ever care to know is in my food (but it's so good!). I have been trying to keep up with him so that I can put together a recipe book for everyone at the end of the class, but it is no easy task!

Tonight, we made Papa al Pomodoro (a traditional Tuscan soup with tomatoes, basil, garlic, and bread..the definition of comfort food), baked chicken with potatoes, olive oil and rosemary, Chicken Milanese (fried chicken cutlets), and homemade gnocchi with two different sauces (one cheese, one tomato). I had no idea how easy Gnocchi was to make! You just need to boil some potatoes, mash them, add some flour to roll into a dough, and slice away. It was clear that everyone felt much more comfortable tonight, joking with Pietro, carrying dishes onto the patio where we eat every week, and just relaxing to enjoy an authentic Italian meal.

It means so much to me to look around and see everyone so happy and content..and it always makes me want to work harder to make sure that they are continually given these kinds of opportunities in and outside of the classroom to really experience and to become a part of the culture. It is certainly not perfect, but there is so much beauty in that here. One of the things that I've loved about working in Italy is watching the way that it changes the students over the course of the semester-we are all so used to our busy lifestyles back home, and to come here and learn to appreciate a 3 hour dinner without feeling like you need to be somewhere else is such a gift. I hope that we can all hold onto some of this mentality at home, as I know it really is such a key to happiness and fulfillment. Some things about Italians are always funny to me....like the way that they don't know how to wait behind someone in line, or not run over your toes in the grocery store with their carts, but if you are a guest in their home you better believe you will be there for hours drinking coffee, talking, and sampling everything in their kitchens. I'd like to believe it's just because they are that genuine...nobody actually wants to wait in lines, so they just don't. Afterall, they need to rush home to make lunch or dinner for everyone!

After we finish eating, Pietro always brings out a plate of dessert and at least two bottles of sparkling wine. Afterward, his son Salvatore always asks, 'How was everything tonight?' and naturally, we all give him an enthusiastic smile as we say 'Incredibile!', hug and kiss Pietro on our way out, and tell them both how much we can't wait for next week.

Meal time in Italy has really inspired me to continue learning to cook, because I really do love nothing more than sitting around a table with the people I love and enjoying one another's company over a good meal and bottle of wine. Even if that meal means pancakes for dinner some nights...it is just so nice to have everyone together. Oh gosh, I miss pancakes. And sushi. I don't know how I'm even thinking about food after tonight's meal! Now I think I will make some tea, and sit down with my lovely new French roommate Eloise (she is the best...I am so lucky to have her here for the next few months!) to watch an old Audrey Hepburn movie in leggings and a sweatshirt. Thank you, Tuscany! Buonanotte!

Oktoberfest. I love my life.

About a month and a half ago, two of my friends studying here for the semester (Holly and Kara) called me last minute to tell me that there was one seat left on a flight that they were taking to Munich for Oktoberfest, and I told them to book it. I don’t know what it is about me and flying…but I think in the past if it’s been up to me to book a flight, it just never materializes. For me, booking a flight is like making an appointment to get your wisdom teeth taken out…why would anyone want to do that? I have a perfectly good Volvo in my garage at home that I love to drive, and a million trains to choose from when traveling on this side of the Atlantic. I realize that this is highly impractical and in reality not nearly as safe, but there’s just something inside of me that would rather run into something on the ground instead of falling 30,000 feet out of the sky. Nothing about that sounds appealing to me…even with a parachute. So, long story short, I am so glad that Holly and Kara just booked the ticket for me, because not only would I have cringed at the thought of booking a flight on RyanAir myself but I also haven’t been very good about taking time away from work, which our 7am Friday morning departure was going to force me to do.

Finally, the week of our trip arrived, and we were all really looking forward to a weekend away. Kara and I were also really looking forward to seeing Holly in her traditional ‘dirndl’ all weekend (now I want my own!). We spent the night in a hostel in Pisa, and after a loud night and about 20 minutes of sleep, we headed to the Pisa airport around 5:00am. Not surprisingly, we found ourselves in a check-in line full of American college students all ready for a weekend in Germany. Now, normally before I fly, it is nearly impossible to have a real conversation with me….I want to stand in line, walk to the counter, get my tickets, eat something fattening, get to my chair, fasten my seatbelt, and stare at the seat in front of me until we take off and get into the air. My friends and family could share more than a few stories about my ‘flying freak-outs’, but this could possibly have been the best I have ever felt on a flight. Lately, with all of the long international flights I’ve been on, I’ve been learning to actually look out the window and just enjoy the ride. I have no idea how or when this happened, but it is a huge accomplishment for me. Before I knew it, we were flying over the Alps and looking down over the most beautiful green rolling hills…I didn’t really have an idea of what Germany would look like (besides the buildings), and it was truly breathtaking from the plane as we landed. We flew into Memmigen, a little farming town about 2 hours outside of Munich, and I’m so glad that we did because he had the time to take the train and see the scenery. It didn’t hurt that fall was in full swing and the trees were all bright shades of yellow and red. While we were waiting for the train, we stopped into our first little Germany bakery to get a snack, a coffee, and at 9am, our first beer of the weekend. The earliest I have ever had a drink is probably the bloody mary I needed at 10am at the Texas state fair before the OU/TX game last year….and it was not very enjoyable. This, however, was a lot of fun…even if it was just to hold the pretty blue can and take pictures. It may also have had something to do with the fact that for about 2 hours after a flight I am the happiest person in the world, and just thrilled to be alive. I really do have a problem. Granted, most days I am just thankful to be experiencing everything that I’ve been able to do this year while I’ve been abroad.

It was about a two hour train ride into Munich, and it was thoroughly enjoyable to watch more and more people get on at every stop with their traditional dresses and men in knee high socks…all ready to have a good time. We sat next to a nice Germany man who explained some of the history of Oktoberfest to us-I decided that he looked like Billy from Hocus Pocus (the dead zombie from the cemetery….I didn’t tell him as I realize being called a zombie is not flattering but on our train ride home, I also met a boy who looked just like the blonde bully from the same movie..I have no explanation..maybe it was the beer). When we finally arrived, we brought our bags to our hostel, brushed our hair, and turned right back around to explore Munich. It was the perfect fall day, and I loved everything about the city. We were out for most of the afternoon, and on our way home to get ready for the night we stopped by the Hofbrauhaus to take a few pictures and warm up for the real event later on. It reminded me of a warm ski lodge (except enormous), with huge mugs of beer, the best looking comfort food you’ve ever seen, and people dressed casually or in traditional German costumes just enjoying one another’s company. I made sure to pick up a few mugs to bring home (I have no idea how I ended up fitting three into the kindergarten-sized BACKPACK I brought with me for the weekend…but it happened), and we all went back to the hostel to clean up for the night.

Everyone had told us that it would be almost impossible to get inside of one of the many beer tents (as they are reserved months and months ahead of time), but on our 2nd attempt, we met two great guys who had been working inside who pulled a few strings with security. Christian is officially my favorite person from Oktoberfest….he brought us right inside, got us 3 huge mugs of beer, and let us sit with a table of his friends. It could not have been a better night-we realized later that we had found the locals tent, which made it that much better. Everyone was so welcoming and fun. There was a traditional German band playing, tables and tables and tables full of people standing on the benches singing at the top of their lungs, dancing, and stopping every .2 seconds to say ‘Prost!!!’ and take a drink. We only drank one beer that night and it was more than enough. The tents close around 11pm, and after a night of no sleep, traveling, exploring Munich and experiencing Oktoberfest, that was late enough for everyone. We went back to the hostel, talked about how awesome our night was, and fell right to sleep.

We woke up to dark skies and pouring rain, but that wasn’t about to stop us! Holly put her dirndl right back on and Kara and I layered up to go back to the tents around 10. We stopped at a little coffee shop for some breakfast, and it was AMAZING. German pastries need to win some award…because they are the best. After all things apple and sweet and a cup of coffee…Kara was on a mission for a little more sugar for her drink and on her way, stopped abruptly to look to her left as the woman behind the bar was pulling a fresh batch of chocolate croissants from the oven. “Are those hot…….can I have one???”….the second round of breakfast was well worth it…even for the new profile picture alone, Kara!

We made our way over to the tents, but knew it would be more difficult to get inside today considering we were later than most and it had been cold and rainy. After a few unsuccessful attempts (German security guards are scary)…we first found a smaller tent serving only mixed drinks and desserts. We figured we’d stop in to warm up and then move on. It was like walking into a gingerbread house-it’s amazing to think that they build these incredible ‘tents’ (houses with real walls and a roof) only for a few weeks, and then tear them down. Nothing looks make-shift about them! After having a drink, we wanted to give getting into a more tradition and bigger tent one more shot. We found a younger, warmer looking security guard, and after getting the feeling like we were not going to make it in…I sunk to the level of pulling out a CD and signing it for him (after having him spell his own name because I had no idea how to pronounce it). Naturally, he made me sing first to make sure we weren’t lying…but it worked!! In we went and had beers in our hands within 5 minutes. Longer details aside, we mingled, met tons of friendly people, and had another awesome day. At about 5pm, after a beer and a half, we waved goodbye to Oktoberfest, enjoyed more German food, and went back to the hostel to pick up our things to head back to Memmigen for the night so we could catch our flight in the morning. The weekend went by so quickly, but was absolutely one of the best things I have ever done (and I don’t even love beer!). I will absolutely be picking up a Lowenbrau the next time I am home…I can add it to the list of beer I actually enjoy.

I wish we were able to stay in Memmigen for one extra night, as the town was so quaint. This trip made me realize just how close I am to all of these amazing places (it was only an hour flight), and that I need to try to keep taking advantage of it while I can over these next few months. It is difficult to leave for just two days with work, but I’m thinking over Thanksgiving I’m going to head to Brussels to visit one of my very best long-lost friends from Minnesota (she is coming here at the end of October!) and then spend a night in London before coming back to Italy. It is also a little difficult to keep planning weekend trips when I really want to spend time with the amazing friends that I’ve made here in Italy while I am still able to see them. I can’t believe sometimes that I will be home in less than three months. This has been such an incredible experience, and I have been thankful for every minute of it. Alright…I think I could have written a book about Oktoberfest…hope that this gives you all an idea and sparks an interest to go someday! When you do, take me with you…just book the flight first : ) Prost!!!!

A Day In The Life

So lately I've really only been blogging about specific events, but I thought it would be easier to keep up with posts if there were also just some normal, wonderful Tuscan days and their events involved. True, over the summer and occasionally now there were days when Italy didn't feel quite as beautiful (or rather, didn't smell that way...aka travel days full of ripe trains)....but when I am back in Arezzo, I am always able to find a quiet spot in one of the several parks to remind myself why I love this place so much.

I spent the afternoon yesterday at the US Consulate in Florence, which is a pretty impressive building. The fall group had a meeting there for a tour and to briefly discuss security, and I was very happy to join them. I think that because this September 11th has been particularly sensitive due to things currently going on in the States, the security around the offices was pretty heavy. I arrived about 45 minutes early, but was asked to sit along the part of the city wall that wasn't immediately in front of the Consulate, as traffic was not allowed to stop there. It was a strange feeling, actually, to see our flag waving above the street so isolated from everything else, when all of the other consulates on the same street were surrounded by people just casually walking by.

The talk was pretty standard, and afterwards I walked back towards the train station to head home to Arezzo. Not without stopping at my favorite homemade popsicle stand, of course! The weather has been so beautiful lately, though it seems the shift from summer to fall was sudden. In about one week the temperature has dropped a good ten degrees, the wind has picked up, and it's starting to get dark just a little after eight. It seems that no matter where I am, fall is still my favorite time of year. There's something about crisp air, smoke from a fire (no more cigarettes, thanks...I think I smoke about 2 packs of second hand a day), and a comfy sweater. Elisa has been begging to make an apple pie lately, so we're going to find a good recipe and get to work soon. I just love when everything starts to naturally slow down, and it seems more and more evident here that the pace of life is guided by the seasons much more so than at home..hence making everything about fall feel that much more tangible.

When I got off of the train in Arezzo there was a fair going on, and I stopped by to pick up some dessert for Elisa's family. I am fortunate enough to have dinner with them every Friday, which has become my favorite day/tradition. Not only is the food incredible but I love spending that time with her and her family. I cannot wait for Elisa to come home to visit and I can return the hospitality that she has continuously shown me. The first few stands were full of dried fruits, fresh olives, homemade breads, cookies, and...cannoli's. Now, I am not a huge cannoli fan, I must admit. But these were the real deal, ricotta filled, Sicilian masterpieces. I picked up a few of those, some coconut macaroons (also incredible)fresh olives (my new favorite snack!, and headed home to get ready for dinner. I left for dinner around 7:30, just as the sun was setting, and when I got up to the top of the hill that looks over the countryside on my way to Elisa's, I had to stop for a second and just take it in. The green hills with villas and vineyards speckling the landscape against the beautiful orange/pink/purple sky was stunning to say the least. I love how everything just gets quiet around dinner time when you get out of the center, because everyone is at home eating with their families. Our dinner was amazing as usual, and I think I could have eaten an entire second meal of just dessert. Enjoying the Italian 'diet' (it's anything but)has been difficult for me at times, as there is so much to eat that even after the best meals you are too uncomfortable to fully appreciate it. But, I think it has been so great for me to be able to constantly eat so many things that I just wouldn't eat regularly at home-like plates of pasta and heavy desserts. I rarely see anyone terribly overweight here, and though they are also not as thin and 'fit' as some people in the US, the girls and women, especially my age, just usually look so healthy and it makes meal time so much more enjoyable. It has given me more confidence in myself, even with a few extra pounds. The culture here is extremely genuine, and it's refreshing to feel so unconditionaly accepted.

After dinner I came back to the apartment and was a little too full to fall asleep, so I sat down to work on my resume a bit. On my way home from Florence a friend pointed out in one of the local newspapers that Syracuse University was looking for someone to work in their student life offices. I studied with Syracuse over the summer of 2008, and have so much respect for their program. I ended up submitting my application before going to sleep last night, more out of curiosity than anything! Regardless of the direction that opportunity takes, it was good to sit down and really sort through my resume anyway, as I will be applying for jobs when I get back home in December which seems a little surreal! I think I'll enjoy my last 4 months without getting too ahead of myself.

Well...there's a normal day! Some include much, much less productivity but I had to start somewhere : ) I think I'm going to get to bed early tonight...I'm still recovering from the Giostra and my ticket adventures. Arrivederci!

PS..Kara...I think I may have stolen one of your fabulous pictures for this : )!

The Business of Dealing....Giostra Tickets

So it's almost midnight (ignore the time below that logs when this post was submitted...it's still on central time), and I just got back from a successful trip to Porto Santo Spirito to purchase tickets for myself and the fall students to attend the quartieri's dinner Saturday night before the joust on Sunday. I realize that that sentence is loaded with references (seemingly in regard to Medieval Times) that probably mean nothing to just about everyone, so let me explain:

The Giostra del Saracino, or The Saracen Joust, is an event that originated sometime around 1200. Unfortunately, the game does not involve man to man jousting (no Heath Ledger in this town), but rather a man on horseback aiming for a small score-sheet located on the shield of the Saracen (an object that looks like a half armored man that stands across the piazza from where the horsemen begin running). There are 4 'quartieri' or neighborhoods, that compete against one another in the joust which takes place the second to last weekend of June and the first Sunday of September. Think OU vs TX vs Tech vs Chase Daniel. People are extremely loyal to their neighborhoods, and spend the week before the joust (which is the most active I've ever seen Arezzo) trash talking, wearing scarves with their neighborhood colors, and eating and drinking together. This brings me to the point of this particular post, which is the process of buying tickets to attend the official dinner of one of the four quartieri, which takes place the evening before the big event.

In June, I was lucky enough to have one of my very best friends, Elisa, make an easy phone call and reserve tickets for a group of students. This still involved some under the table passing of large sums of money, but otherwise the entire thing was quite seamless. We all showed up the evening of the event, Elisa had our tickets, we enjoyed a four course meal served by 20-somethings native to that particular neighborhood and drank endless bottles of wine (See above photo). This time, however, I went off on my own search for dinner tickets, and it went something like this-

1)Tuesday-First stop: Sant'Andrea. This quartieri has not only racked up the most victories at the joust, but has gained the reputation of the 'party' neighborhood with more young people than I have ever seen in Arezzo on every weekend combined since I got here in February. It is also located just outside the main bar, Mr. Blooms, which just happens to be one of the few bars that serves guinness here. Check. I stopped by around 4:00pm (right as things start to pick up again after a little siesta), and I was not surprised to find that there was nobody in the office. So, a nice older man pointed me in the direction of the bar across the street, so I walked over to do some investigating. There is always a point person for these ticket sales, and it is always impossible to find them where they are supposed to be when they say they will be there. I started talking with the group outside of bar and they all just said to come by later (around midnight), and whoever was selling the tickets would most likely be there. Just as I thought I was blending in, one of the guys made sure to let me know there was always an office open in his apartment. I appreciated that.

2)I started heading back towards my apartment, but stopped by another neighborhood, Santo Spirito, to inquire about their tickets as well (I was assuming there was a chance Sant'Andrea was already sold out and needed to be thinking my usual 98 steps ahead). I walked into what looked like an office/kitchen, and was told to come back later on to talk to their ticket dealer..also around 11pm. So at this point I head home, make my usual stop at the grocery store because I'm sure I can find something that I didn't already buy earlier, have a glass of wine and wait. Thank goodness, around 10, I was able to talk to someone via phone that knew finding 15 tickets together would be difficult, so I just decided to shift my focus to Santo Spirito, knowing that we could easily walk over to Sant'Andrea after dinner. So I waited a little while longer and then walked over to SS. After a little searching, I was introduced to Simino, who said 15 should be no problem but I would have to come back tomorrow, after 9pm for the tickets.

3)Santo Spirito 9:30pm Wednesday-after a glass of wine with some friends, I casually walk back over to where I've been spending what seems like the majority of my on and off time the past two days. I think I'm starting to look suspicious. I asked a few boys my age if they new if Simino was there, and they said he would be back around 11pm. So I left, again, but feeling confident that progress was being made.

4)Santo Spirito 11:00pm-Every now and then, after doing so many little things on my own these past few months, I still have this random, brief moment when this wave of shyness (is that a word?) comes over me. Particularly at 11pm, walking into a party alone, and starting to ask people if they'd seen Simino. Well, Simino was still out with friends, but I was given his phone number by about 3 people if I wanted to call him. I'm pretty sure he was probably beginning to think I was stalking him anyways...so I just thought I'd wait it out for a few more minutes. Surprisingly, I wasn't very frustrated. I was kind of enjoying talking to new people, and one of the guys that had been cooking brought me out a great little drink with red wine, lemon soda, and sugar. I realize you're all probably finished with reading this entry so I'll wrap it up! Simino finally walks in and just about everyone at the dinner had been looking for him for me, so I immediately got his attention, and asked him about the tickets. Well, this time he looked a little concerned, which made me a little concerned, and I waited while he shuffled around asking a few questions. Finally, he walked over and told me to follow him. He heads up a dark staircase, right above the small kitchen I had first walked into, and I'm thinking maybe I should have had some pepper spray. But, to my surprise, he opened a heavy wooden door into a huge, bright room with all of the costumes for the joust, and huge table full of tickets, with several people organizing everything. First, I couldn't believe I could have just walked up the stairs and found an office full of people with the tickets I had wanted! But, after I realized that the process was almost finished, I was just appreciating the way that all of this was organized (or unorganized). Simino handed me my fifteen tickets, I handed him an envelope full of cash, and that was that. I even made some new friends! I walked out in my cropped trench coat (it's been unseasonably cool), feeling completely satisfied. I'll be back with more pictures and updates from the real event this weekend! Buonanotte!

New Semester, New Rules

It's hard to believe that it's already the end of August, and I am 7 months into this great adventure. Like starting anything for the first time, there is absolutely a period of adjustment and I think that I have finally settled into a routine that feels right, which makes me even more excited for my final four months here. There were points over the past several months where I really questioned if I had made the right decision when I came to Italy in February....considering I arrived with no place to live, not much direction when it came to my job, and found myself alone in a huge apartment with too much time to think. At the end of the day I know that I live in Tuscany (which is incredible), but I have definitely learned that studying abroad and working abroad are two completely different ball games. It's like choosing to go to medical school in the most beautiful place you can imagine, only to find you have to look at it through a classroom or library window without having much opportunity to really get outside and enjoy it.

However, now that I have a better understanding of the way that OU's program works and what is reasonably expected of me (reasonably being the key word...which for me will inevitably still mean saying yes to things not exactly included in my job description)I am really looking forward to taking a few weekends to explore some places I have been dying to see, without feeling like I need to apologize for it. We'll see how that goes...but I'm in one of those moods to make my plans a reality and when that happens, things seem to work themselves out. It's nice to have that motivation back.

Spending almost two full weeks with my parents just before getting started with the semester was exactly what I needed, and I was so happy that they were able to visit-love you, mom and dad! I am so lucky to have the family that I do...I couldn't imagine many other people with the kind of patience and understanding that they have. We had a great time, visiting several places that I've already seen...but it is always so worth it to be with someone who is seeing it for the first time. Italy can be a rollercoaster at times...it has this power to be completely magical, and then beyond frustrating in a matter of seconds. But, inevitably, after a day of being treated like a tourist, or ignored at a cafe, or sold a lobster in your pasta only to find out it cost 100 euro at a place where everything was under 15 (still sorry, mom and dad!), you find yourself turning a corner and experiencing the most breathtaking picture of sheer beauty-whether it's a field of sunflowers, a quiet street in the middle of a busy city, the sun setting over tuscan hills, or a friend's family treating me and my family like part of their own around a dinner table. I think I just teared up for a second. Thank you, God, for all the amazing things and people You have allowed me to be a part of, even when I lose perspective for a little while.

I spent all day Saturday in Rome picking up the new students for the fall semester, and today and tomorrow will be with them at school for orientation. I will feel so accomplished if I can find a way to give them half of the joy that Italy has given me, and I hope to leave this semester with no regrets and feeling ready to come home. It will be interesting to see where the 1st of the year takes me. For now, though, I'm staying in the moment, enjoying every second (except the ones immediately following a dinner 3 times the size of my stomach), and hoping to do my best. A little pressure was never a bad thing...so lets see what I can fit into 120 more days!

Mangia, Prega, Ama

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert has officially become my summer must-read, for obvious reasons. It will also probably be one of the few books I get through over the next couple of weeks, considering I am attempting it in Italian. Beginning in Italy, it is Gilbert’s story of the search for happiness and satisfying a desire for adventure. I shouldn't be able to relate to a recently divorced 34 year old, but as I watch a number of my 20-something friends get engaged and beginning to settle down, I am given a brief flash-forward of what life could be like had I made the same decisions. She talks about living in Rome, meeting a multitude of men about my age or slightly older (where are they?), immensely enjoying conversation over too much food and wine, and inevitably ending the evenings alone (I think so anyway, it’s all in Italian....). I’m hoping that by getting all of this out of the way now, I won’t end up soul-searching for the very first time 10 years from now. As I’m sitting here enjoying a glass of wine (ok, two) and one of my many culinary experiments, I realize that my life looks like a mix of scenes from Under the Tuscan Sun and Julia & Julia. If anyone decides to make a movie about a 23 ½ year old experiencing life and following dreams, could Kate Hudson play me? That would be wonderful, though I’m sure Elizabeth is satisfied with Hollywood’s choice of Julia Roberts for the film rendition of her story. I’m looking forward to reading on and being inspired by the ‘do’ attitude Gilbert has. Anyone can talk about stepping outside of their comfort zone and doing the things they’ve always wanted to, but she actually did. I think that there is a lot to be admired in that kind of courage-I can only hope to channel and hold onto some of it myself!

I spent this weekend with my friend Luca in Florence and at the beach. I met Luca a few years ago, while I was studying in Florence. He swears I hit on one of his friends first, in the karaoke bar where we had all been hanging out. I won’t deny it. I do have photo-evidence of an unattractive wine stain covering my otherwise pearly-white shorts, and it was my first weekend in Italy….so I probably did flash a quick smile Niccolo’s way. Either way, over the past two years, Luca has become an incredible friend and I always enjoy spending time with him, and our discussions about how I’m too traditional and he’s too liberal, or I’m too Catholic and he’s too kind-of-Buddhist. I even got him to read a chapter from Mangia, Prega, Ama regarding Gilbert’s definition of God while I was reading my book on the beach. Baby steps.

I am really looking forward to the rest of this week. I think I’ll take a trip to Lucca on my own tomorrow-it’s a beautiful little Tuscan town, where you can apparently rent bicycles and ride around the city walls. Sounds like a good day-trip to me. Also, my mom and dad will be here this weekend and I can’t wait! I wish my brother could join us, but at least we had a chance to visit for a week in June. We went out for Elisa’s birthday and after a 4 hour dinner somehow still felt the need to teach everyone how to take Irish Car Bombs. It’s kind of a Leary signature, and I do enjoy surprising my friends with the ease at which I can take care of a Guinness. Only Guinness though-I’m sure someone from college has the video of my first and last attempt at ‘shot-gunning’ a beer. I think I’ll stick to slowly enjoying a glass of wine.

Well, dinner is finished, and I am off to get some fresh air before calling it an evening. Ci vediamo!