in high company

So I definitely got a great deal living with the Pellets - apparently Anne (my host mother) is running for the presidency of MoDem of the region of Lyon. And here I was, unsure of the status of this "famille normale" was, and my host mom is off becoming the next Ségolène Royal. 

Also, I felt badly for being unable to communicate to my host dad, Antoine, that it wasn't a problem that his kids were arguing at the table tonight. My favorite (and only) host brother, Ferréol, was causing trouble with the youngest sister, Appolline. It really doesn't bother me at all, but I guess my silent reaction made Antoine feel like he should apologize, but that's just the way kids are. Anyway, the little one is pretty annoying. 

this is where i live

Just added some photos from my walk around the hood with my host bro Ferréol (he's 14 and is awesome). Click on the Photobucket link to find these and my shots from Ireland. We live in one of those buildings - he tried to point out my room, but I just smiled and nodded, not knowing what he meant...which seems to be happening more often than it should!

oh mon dieu, what have i done

After the fairytale that was my arrival yesterday, things have become hectic very quickly. We (incoming international students) had an organizational meeting at the Manufacture du Tabac building this morning and I was overwhelmingly adept at not talking to anyone. I have yet to submit my paperwork for my student ID card, my carte de séjour, to open my bank account, buy a new SIM card for my phone, ask my host parents for some documentation that I am living with them, talk to my parents...

in love with lucca

to my loyal reader(s)

i apologize for being out of touch for far too long - turns out that internet cafes can get quite expensive in tourist areas (imagine that), and when it comes to a choice between a cone of gelato and a half hour online, my sweet tooth cannot be denied.

right now i am in tuscany, and absolutely beautiful change from the southern coast. while the beaches were lovely, the countryside here is even more so. i'm resting my feet at an internet point before heading out for a full day of shopping, and the continuation of my quest for the perfect invicta backpack.

keep an eye out for a series of entries i'll start upon my return back to the states with the very original title 'what i learned on my trip to europe'.

also, i'll be leaving italy after 6 full weeks here this friday, and i'm sad to see it go -- but i'm sure that some of that delicious dublin guinness will be more than willing to raise my spirits!

a bientot

off the beaten sentiero

Just got back from an incredible weekend at the Cinque Terre. The weekend was filled with soccer-watching, mountain-scaling, and much consumption of delicious gelato. On our first day, we had the most amazing (unexpected) hike all the way up to two tiny villages called Groppo and Volastra which each had only one restaurant. But after scaling the mountain, any meal someone set in front of me would have been absolutely scrumptious. Another highlight was the Hogwarts Express-esque train we took back to Rome yesterday. It wasn't magenta, but we did have one of those compartments all to ourselves, complete with luggage racks up above and seats facing one another. I was very excited, to say the least.

Also, I can't forget about the other magical train ride we took on our last night at the Cinque Terre heading back to our hotel in La Spezia. All of us had had a little to drink, and the train was delayed by at least 15 minutes. While waiting on the platform, 2 cargo trains sped by, recalling the journey to Narnia in Prince Caspian. I don't need to tell you how awesome that was. Then, when we finally got on the train, the smell of marijuana and the sound of bongo drums wafted toward us, and lots of drunken people singing 'Volare' guided us back to the albergo.

I can't believe there are only 2 weeks left of the L'Aquila program -- time seriously does fly.

Thinking about taking a short trip to Rome this weekend with a couple other kids from the program. Don't forget to check out the new photos!

when life gives you lemons

We just got back from the most amazing weekend on the Amalfi Coast. On our last morning, I had a perfect moment on the beach. There were only a few other people there because I had woken up so early. I was listening to "Anyone But You" and looking out on the most beautiful place I have ever seen in my whole life. I was so overwhelmed that I had trouble breathing. I can only wish other people the opportunity to experience something so wonderful.

The title of this post is inspired by the lemon production native to the Coast -- we visited a lemon farm nestled into the side of a mountain and it was absolutely glorious.

Check out my photo site for more pictures!

Un giorno a Pescara

The group of us took a day trip to the seaside town of Pescara on Sunday. Most spent the day baking in the 90 degree heat and talking about the Dolce and Gabbanna speedos that reigned on the beach. While everyone was tanning, I sat under an umbrella that I didn't pay for and did some hard core people watching. I was really enamored with this couple sitting near me, and wrote this while relaxing on my beach chair:

I can't continue writing my homework until I get out what I think about this couple sitting under the umbrella in front of me here on the beach in Pescara. They are picture perfect. They have a small child who is no more than 8-10 months old. The husband looks possibly French with sleek, frameless glasses, a navy blue polo shirt, and a slender body. His wife is beautiful and freckled, wearing a pink flowered bikini with a matching headband. They hold their little daughter so tenderly. At one point, the mother was stretched out on a beach chair looking into her baby's face. She was stroking the child's hair, tucking it behind its ear, cooing. Her father held her later, walking around the tables and umbrellas while his daughter sucked her thumb. They are perfect in a perfectly unpretentious way, beautifully content and sun-splashed, oozing a European attitude I envy.