2 weeks later...

There are many excuses I could give you for not posting a single update in the two weeks that I’ve been here. The list would include:

- Lack of Internet connection. We finally got set up for the dorm Internet but it’s running at a snail’s pace. You may think I am being facetious, but we ran tests. Dial-up speed confirmed.

- A whole week of boring orientation made me want to get out and have some fun.

- I am in love with Italy and can’t force myself to sit in front of a computer for long enough to tell you everything I should be telling you.

- There is so much for me to tell you, I am struggling to collect all my thoughts and post them. (This is probably the most accurate)

I will try to make this post as short and to the point as I can. Unfortunately, for those visual learners, this entry will be photo free. This entry alone will probably be more than the connection can handle. So, now I guess I will begin.

The Flight: Oh, Alitalia. There was no delay at the airport and we departed right on time, beginning the most uncomfortable plane ride of my life. The seats were even smaller than usual; this must be due to the body figures of Italians. There was a lack of air vents; this must be due to the lack of air conditioning in Italy. I struggled to get comfortable to sleep, so I sat in silence for most of the flight, since the video they were showing was on a 10x10 inch screen, 4 aisles ahead, with no English subtitles. There was a little boy sitting next to me. He found it hard to sleep too, as he wanted to keep chatting. It was, in a way, adorable. He was from France and probably 14-16. He had just spent the past month visiting his friend who is doing an exchange program in Boston. Knowing the French attitude towards Americans, I was amazed at how much he enjoyed talking to me. He was eager to learn some new English words; most vividly, I remember trying to understand what he wanted to learn, the word was runway. There were two terrible plane food meals and before I knew it, we had landed in Rome.

The Arrival: I can’t believe I arrived in Italy over two weeks ago! I am still having trouble processing that I am here for 4 months. Maybe after this week it will feel more like home, since 3 weeks would be way too long for a vacation. I still forget that I need to learn Italian and actually use it; I still speak in English, hoping they can understand me. Sometimes I use both languages; the other day I ordered un water naturale… oops. Ok, so my flight got in around 8 AM. I zipped through the passport line and rushed to get my bags… where I waited for almost an hour. The good news is they both arrived without problems. I continued to go through customs… somehow I ended up to the taxi curb. No customs? Oh well, I had nothing too exciting in my bags anyway.

At this point I was exhausted and so ready to get on the bus to school, but of course, since it was the group flight bus, I had to wait for the group flight. Their flight was delayed and a few people arrived without their luggage. After about 3 hours at the airport, we were off to Viterbo. I slept for the majority of the 2-hour bus ride. I figured I had 4 months to enjoy the scenery and needed the sleep more. We arrived to Viterbo right on time, where we proceeded to check into a hotel. I think it took me 15 minutes to settle in before I crashed for another 3 or so hours.

Around 7, the group gathered for dinner, where we met everyone else who was along for the journey of this amazing experience. There are about 30 girls and 10 brave men. Great ratio for them I guess. We had an amazing custom Italian dinner that night: pasta, chicken, salad, and some sort of dessert.

Some of the girls who are in the program with me have been to Viterbo before, so they decided to take us downtown after dinner. We went to this little bar/lounge where I had my first Limoncello. It’s a crazy nightlife downtown. There is no one out before 11PM at night. Around then there are just crowds of people. Unfortunately, I was way too tired to stay up to experience it. We headed back to the hotel where I proceeded to become “dead to the world” until the alarm went off the next morning.

Orientation: Sunday morning, we gathered for some traditional Italian breakfast: croissants and Nutella (side note: I love chocolate, but I am not sure I’m a fan of it on my breakfast foods). Afterwards, we gathered into a room to receive our housing assignments, where we would be spending the next four months of our lives. Stefano, the program director, had a hard time spreading the news that there weren’t enough spots in the dorms for everyone who wanted them and that they tried to make the best placement for everyone. All I could do was pray that I was one of only 8 who had been placed there… I was. “Phew.”

Afterwards, we went for a grand tour of the town to see where all the key locations are, and where other students’ apartments were. It was so long ago that I don’t even remember where we went or what we saw. I just remember thinking to myself, this is nuts! I’m never going to remember where I am or how to get where I am going. Two weeks later, I could walk the town with my eyes closed. However, I think I will keep them open, the cobblestone roads are dangerous as are the Italian drivers! After a long walk in the hot and humid town, we headed back to the hotel to get our bags and head to the dorms. We had to walk about a 2/10 of a mile to the dorms, rolling our suitcases along. I was the first to be given a room assignment. Room 259. I will stop here with the dorm description and wait for a later post con fotos. I am finding it hard to remember how the rest of the day went, but I know I went out with some ladies for pizza for dinner. Not really hard to remember that, since I had a 50/50 chance to guess what I had.

Monday we trekked, all 1.25 miles, to the school’s campus, where we began or official orientation, you know, the rules and regulations BS. There was a short break for lunch and many of us opted to go for pizza (again!) We made our way back to the school just in time for Italian class to begin! So, I have been taking Italian for about two weeks now, and I still feel like I know very little. I’ll save the greater class details for a later time.

Tuesday, we continued with orientation and more language, as well as obtaining our permits of stay, which was an all-afternoon affair. After obtaining a student visa, one must register for a permit of stay. All 40 of us headed to the post office and one-by-one filled out a packet, then paid 60 something Euro to mail the sucker.

Wednesday, we traveled to the other university campus, which is much closer to the dorms. Unfortunately, none of us have classes there. We went to visit the USAC office and computer labs in this building. While there, we were also given a short presentation of Italian culture. It was very interesting to learn some new things, but only so much can be taught in 45 minutes. I am really looking forward to my Culture class… again more to come on this. Wednesday afternoon we had to ourselves due to a huge town holiday called Santa Rosa; again, more to follow.

The holiday continued Thursday; school was cancelled and most businesses were closed. There was a huge open-air market downtown; it was bigger than anything I have ever seen. This market fit every person’s needs from pets, to guns, lingerie to hardware and home goods. Who knew you could sell pets on the streets. The collection ranged from ducks and chicks to tiny turtles and guinea pigs. I am shocked that I didn’t make a single purchase: no pet, no purse.

Friday, we had another day of Italian class in the morning. The afternoon was spent on our first program field trip. We traveled to a little town called Cività di Bagnoregio. The town is on top of a hilltop overlooking the Tiber river valley. It is in constant danger of being washed away, so there are only 10 or something residents of the town. It is mostly just a tourist attraction with cafés and shops. The town is very old and very beautiful, with a gorgeous church in the center. Pictures will be included in a post very soon. Again, I can’t even recall what I did this evening, as everything in these past two weeks has been such a blur.

This concludes an update of week 1, minus a few points. I would love to continue and go into week 2, however it is 2 AM and this entry is already 3 pages in a Word Document. Plus, I feel like I have neglected many of you, so I want to get this up right away. Please check back in a few days for more updates, hopefully including photos.

Also, I would like to introduce my future entries. There is so much I can tell you, but you’d be reading for days, and I really don’t want to spend all day in front of the computer. You, my readers, will inspire my future entries. Please let me know what you want to hear about and I will tell you all that I can. This way I can focus on what you want to know, not about every little detail.