|
|
Christina's
September
2000
Email
from
Italy
| Ciao
tutti!
sorry
about
the
mass
email...but
it's
the
only
way
I
can
tell
you
all
EVERYTHING
that's
been
happening
here
this
past
week!
First
things
first...strike
the
old
telephone
number
I
gave
you.
I
got
a
cell
phone
that
you
can
call
ANYTIME
with
an
emergency,
or
just
to
say
hi...so
I
can
hear
a
familiar
voice:)
the
#
is:
011
39
347
5508398
I
leave
it
on
at
all
times...but
on
the
rare
occasion
that
it
may
be
turned
off
there
is
voice
mail...it's
not
me
talking...but
just
leave
a
message
and
I'll
get
it
and
call
you
back:)
okay...now
for
the
whole
Florence
sha-bang...play
by
play:
I
said
goodbye
to
my
mommy
at
dulles
on
Tuesday,
Sept
12
as
I
made
my
way
to
Italy.
I
knew
absolutely
NO
ONE
in
the
program...so
I'm
all
by
myself...there
are
some
people
who
look
like
they
could
be
students
on
the
plane...but
I
was
too
shy
and
took
too
much
dramamine
to
even
care.
I
got
an
asile
all
to
myself
and
closed
my
eyes...before
I
knew
it,
the
plane
was
landing
in
Brussels
for
a
4
hr.
layover.
Now,
because
I
was
too
much
of
a
chicken
to
introduce
myself
to
anyone
on
the
plane
ride,
I
was
forced
to
do
the
whole
customs
thing
and
4
hr
layover
all
by
myself.
but
in
reality,
it
wasn't
bad
at
all,
I
sat
in
a
lounge
watching
the
airplanes
take
off
and
land
while
I
listened
to
music,
wrote
in
my
journal
and
dreamed
about
what
my
new
life
would
be
like
a
few
hours
from
then
in
Florence.
I
finally
got
on
the
plane
to
Florence
and
I
fell
asleep
once
more,
waking
to
find
the
woman
sitting
next
to
me
eating
my
Vegetarian
meal
specially
ordered
for
ME
with
my
name
on
it,
(granted
I
hadn't
aten
dinner
or
breakfast
because
I
slept
the
whole
plane
ride
before
and
didn't
have
any
Belgium
currency)
but
I
just
disregaarded
it
and
dozed
back
off...by
then
I
just
wanted
to
open
my
eyes
and
be
in
Italy.
Upon
arrival
in
Florence,
I
was
brutally
punished
by
having
to
use
my
incredibly
LARGE
muscles
to
get
my
2
overpacked,
insanely
heavy
bags
onto
a
cart
and
made
my
way
over
to
meet
the
director
of
the
British
Institute
and
the
rest
of
the
group.
He
separated
us
all
by
the
houses
we
live
in
and
sent
us
off
in
pairs
in
taxis
with
a
handful
of
money
to
our
new
homes.
That's
where
I
met
Maggie,
one
of
my
roommates/housemates..and
thank
goodness
she
was
there
because
she
was
the
only
one
whose
luggage
came
close
to
being
in
the
same
size
range
as
my
bags...so
I
didn't
feel
THAT
stupid.
Once
we
had
the
pleasure
of
experiencing
first
hand
the
precise
tactics
of
italian
taxi
drivers,
we
arrived
at
our
house
and
proceeded
to
pay
the
taxi
driver
and
somehow,
by
some
feat
of
God
get
our
luggage
up
the
stairs
to
the
tiny
elevator
that
took
3
trips
just
to
get
our
luggage
up
to
the
top!
Once
we
were
in
the
building,
luggage
and
all,
I
met
my
other
roommate/housemate,
Cambell,
and
Livia-
the
woman
who
owns
the
flat.
Livia
showed
us
our
rooms
and
explained
the
house
rules
to
us
and
left
us
to
unpack
as
she
cooked
us
dinner.
Maggie,
Cambell
and
I
went
for
a
walk
to
get
a
feel
for
the
city
and
just
to
do
a
little
chit
chatting
(maggie
and
cambell
already
knew
each
other
before
they
came)
get
to
know
you
kind
of
thing.
Dinner
was
delicious
and
Livia
is
a
wonderfully
intelligent
person
who
has
so
much
to
share
in
terms
of
perspective
as
a
woman
from
another
culture,
but
she
is
also
knowledgeable
of
our
society
because
her
mother
was
American.
She
also
is
a
sales
representative
for
Gucci
where
she
sells
to
laaarge
corporations,
etc.
After
dinner,
us
4
girls
went
on
a
walk
around
the
city
with
Yum-Yum,
Livia's
little
dog
(don't
worry
Dexie,
you're
still
my
#1
girl)
and
Livia
showed
us
our
school
and
all
the
wonderful
things
the
city
has
to
offer.
we
got
home
LATE...and
I
pretty
much
passed
out
in
my
bed
without
even
crawiling
under
the
covers!
We
had
an
orientation
meeting
the
next
morning
(thurs)
where
we
got
our
meal
allowance
and
maps,
etc.
and
we
were
introduced
to
all
the
professors/
coordinators.
Following
this,
wwe
visited
the
bank
to
exchange
money
and
we
went
to
the
Mercato
di
San
Lorenzo
to
do
a
little
shopping
and
get
some
lunch.
The
shopping
is
amazing...there
is
leather
EVERYWHERE!!!
We
then
took
the
bus
to
San
Miniato
(which
lays
on
a
hill
above
Florence
and
has
an
AMAZING
view)
where
we
me
out
Art
History
professor
and
proceeded
inside
the
Cathedral
as
she
gave
us
a
crash
course
on
frescos,
saints,
and
all
the
basics
of
the
types
of
art
we
would
see
in
a
church.
That
night,
we
had
a
Welcome
banquet
at
"Trattoria
4
Leoni"-
a
famous,
but
quaint
restaurant
right
around
the
corner
from
my
house
where
Anthony
Hopkins,
Sting
and
Harrison
Ford
love
to
eat
when
they
visit.
Afterwards
in
the
piazza
outside
the
restaurant,
there
was
a
lovely
concert
that
we
sat
and
listened
to
for
an
hour
or
so.
Once
more,
as
soon
as
we
walked
into
our
flat,
I
took
3
steps
into
my
room
and
craashed
on
the
bed
:)
Friday
morning,
wwe
had
Italian
place
tests
and
those
who
havent'
had
any
italian
began
a
crash
course
(if
anything
I
was
afraid
my
itaaliaan
was
less
than
par...but
more
than
half
of
the
students
here
have
never
had
an
italian
class
before
in
their
life!!!)
I
was
put
in
the
highest
class
with
3
other
students,
and
we
spoke
a
bit
about
ourselves
before
lunch
time.
I
went
out
to
lunch
with
Charlotte...a
new
friend
of
mine
from
Boothbay
Harbor,
ME
and
we
did
a
little
window
shopping
and
eventually
got
the
guts
to
go
into
a
few
swanky
stores
even
though
we
got
some
looks...especially
in
Tiffany's!!!
We
met
with
the
head
haunch
of
the
British
institute
afterwards
to
review
the
classes
we
had
chosen
and
the
girls
(maggie
&
cambell)
and
I
headed
home.
We
got
ready
for
the
evening
and
went
out
to
a
cute
little
whole
in
the
wall
down
the
street
from
our
house
and
had
a
cute
little
dinner
and
a
glass
of
wine.
Afterwards,
we
met
up
with
some
other
students
and
went
to
a
cheesy
discotec
called
Space
Electronico.
it
was
Hillariously
filled
with
Italians
trying
to
do
karaoke
to
80's
songs...but
we
eventually
found
the
upper
level
and
made
our
way
out
to
the
dance
floor
where
we
ddanced
the
night
away
:)
(I
must
note
that
if
it
weren't
for
my
girls
at
home
bringing
me
out
clubbing
with
them
in
DC
that
one
time,
I
never
would
have
been
able
to
survive
all
the
italiaan
boys
trying
to
rub
up
against
everyone!!)
We
got
EXTREMELY
lost
on
the
way
home
and
didn't
get
in
until
4am
(don't
worry
mom...it's
ridiculous
how
safe
and
quiet
the
streets
are
all
over
Florence!!)...but
I
slept
like
a
baby
once
more
to
say
the
least.
Sunday
was
a
free
day
so
Maggie,
Cambell
and
I
dedided
to
venture
off
to
the
Supermarket
outside
of
town
to
do
some
heavy
food
shopping
for
the
next
few
weeks
(going
food
shopping
anywhere
close
by
is
a
TOTAL
rip
off).
So
we
eventually
found
our
way
after
many
buses
and
a
long
walk.
It
was
quite
an
experience
that
took
a
good
3
hrs.
to
get
there
and
do
the
shopping...the
supermarket
is
so
tiny
compared
to
Giant...it
made
me
miss
good
old
Springfield,
especially
the
aisle
with
all
the
ingredients
for
baking...the
store
was
VERY
crowded
and
everyone
pushes...it
was
INSANE
and
it
was
quite
a
culutre
shock...but
we
caught
our
breath
once
we
got
out
and
smiled
at
one
another...we
knnew
we'd
have
no
problem
here,
now
that
we've
survived
that
experience.
We
traveled
another
hour
back
home...bus
to
bus..lugging
our
groceries
all
the
way
up
to
our
flat.
We
cooked
our
first
dinner
together
and
we
were
so
excited!
For
some
reason
maggie
and
cambell
are
extremely
impressed
with
my
"knowledge"
of
preparing
food...and
I
mean
REAL
food...not
cookies
or
anything.
But
we
all
sat
down
at
our
table
in
the
dining
room
and
cambell
brought
out
her
CD
player
and
tiny
speakers
and
we
had
a
good
old
time
listening
to
music
and
laughing
about
each
other
and
our
supermarket
experience
:)
After
dinner,
we
went
for
a
walk
around
town,
got
a
capuccino
and
sat
in
a
piazza
listening
to
a
band
play
some
cute
little
songs.
I
woke
up
early
Sunday
morning
and
walked
over
to
the
piazza
di
Spirito
Santo
to
go
to
Italian
Mass
in
one
of
the
most
beautiful
Churches
I
have
ever
been
in.
I
waas
in
awe
the
whole
hour!
Afterwards,
I
shopped
around
in
a
Sunday
market
that
was
going
on
outside.
Once
I
got
home
the
girls
had
woken
up
and
we
decided
we
needed
some
serious
exercise,
so
we
walked
to
the
edge
of
the
city
to
a
BEAUTIFUL
park
and
went
for
a
little
run.
Once
we
got
back,
we
met
the
director
at
the
bus
station
with
other
students
and
we
took
the
bus
to
Fiesole,
another
town
on
a
hill
above
Florence.
Another
BEAAUTIFUL
view
of
Florence
and
the
Arno
valley
from
the
north,
and
another
beautiful
Cathedral...this
country
just
can't
get
any
more
beautiful:)
The
girls,
Aaron
(another
student)
and
I
stayed
later
than
the
group
to
walk
around
the
amazing
town
and
I
took
tons
of
pictures!
Once
we
got
back,
we
all
went
out
for
pizza
and
ventured
home
to
get
ready
for
our
first
OFFICIAL
day
of
school!
I
woke
up
extra
early
on
Mondy
morning
because
i
was
so
excited,
but
nervous
also(I
actually
started
studying
my
verb
tenses
I
was
so
worried
I
would
be
behind...I'm
such
a
NERD)!
I
love
my
Italian
class!
My
professor
is
Awesome
and
has
TONS
of
spunk
(dad-
she
is
EXACTLY
like
emmarossa)
it's
the
most
advanced
class
out
of
the
5
and
there
are
only
3
other
students
in
my
class
(one
girl
goes
to
Duke,
another
boy
is
from
Poland...and
I'm
not
sure
about
the
last
girl).
Next,
I
had
Music,
which
is
another
awesome
class.
My
professor
is
a
Renaissance
lute
player
and
loves
to
sing
and
play
tapes
in
class
which
really
gives
the
class
some
character...he
also
brings
us
to
concerts
1
or
2
times
a
week.
I
ran
to
the
post
office
before
my
next
class
to
send
EVERY
one
of
you
a
postcard,
and
had
just
enough
time
to
send
them
off.
My
last
class
was
Italian
Cinema
and
my
professor
for
this
class
is
so
cute.
He
seems
very
quiet,
but
he
smiles
everytime
he
gets
excited
aboutt
an
era
or
film
genere
and
it's
so
funny.
I
really
enjoy
this
class
though.
He
shows
a
great
deal
of
clips
and
we
get
to
watch
one
move
a
week
out
of
class
for
it.
I
walked
home
with
the
girls
since
we
all
had
cinema
together
and
we
had
our
dinner
ritual
once
more,
except
it
waas
maggie's
turn
to
choose
the
musice
for
dinner
time...she
chose
some
crazy
'80's
CD
and
we
were
craking
up
all
during
dinner...we
even
started
dancing
to
it
towards
the
end
of
dinner
:)
Afterwards
we
went
for
a
walk
through
the
Ponte
Vecchio
and
sipped
on
some
cappuccino
in
the
piazza
of
the
Uffizi
Gallery
where
they
had
a
humongous
speaker
discussing
Italian
Culture
and
showing
clips
of
interviews
on
the
side
of
the
art
gallery.
I
had
Italian
this
morning
which
was
fun,
as
I'm
sure
it
will
alwalys
be
with
my
professor
:)
I
then
walked
to
the
park
and
sat
down
to
read
and
collect
my
thoughts
in
the
middle
of
this
grassy
field
shaded
by
big
beautiful
drees
just
starting
to
loose
leaves.
I
went
back
to
school
for
my
Cinema
class,
and
afterwards,
I
went
to
pick
up
my
new
cell
phone...Christina's
moving
up
in
the
world
of
technology
(yeah
right)!
I
rushed
back
to
school
after
I
got
my
phone
because
I
promised
one
of
the
other
professors
I
would
go
to
one
of
his
classes
where
he
teaches
italians
to
speak
english
and
speak
with
a
tiny
group
of
them.
I
met
an
Italian
Chemist
who
is
25
years
old
and
very
sweet.
Her
English
is
very
good,
and
she
wanted
to
talk
to
me
the
whole
time
about
how
she
looks
for
things
under
microscopes.
I
also
met
a
sweet
italaian
girl
who
synchranized
swims
and
wants
to
be
a
marine
biologist
in
America.
It
was
a
nice
time
and
they
were
so
excited
to
practice
their
English.
I
came
home
and
ate
some
cold
gnocci
and
waatched
Friends
in
Italian...but
it
just
wasn't
the
same
:(
Then
I
picked
myself
up
and
walked
on
over
here
to
the
internet
cafe
so
I
could
write
this
INSANELY
long
letter
to
let
you
all
know
how
I'm
dooing
and
to
catch
you
up
on
my
life
here
so
far.
I
hope
you
all
are
well...I'll
try
to
write
more
personal
emails
when
I
have
enough
time...but
until
then
I
hope
you
don't
mind
these
big
mass
emails...if
you've
made
it
this
far
in
reading...conngratulations...and
thanks
for
sticking
with
me
:)
I'll
try
not
to
ever
make
one
this
long
again...I
PROMISE!!!
(if
I
left
someone
out
of
the
MASS
mailing,
please
forward
this
to
them...I
accidently
left
them
out)
I
love
&
miss
you
all
like
CRAZY!!!
call
anytime...I'd
LOVE
to
hear
from
you!!!
ti
amo
e
arrivederci!
love
&
smooches...christina |
|
