Order of Turkey

It was just a normal Sunday afternoon where I could be found lounging on my bed reading a book, when Abby and I decided to do something with our lives and go to the grocery store! We realized that the supermercato closes early on Sunday and we had about 30 minutes until closing time, but we were so desperate for food that this trip was a necessity. Abby and I strap on our backpacks (because we don't want to pay for the 9 cent plastic bag) and rush out the door. The majority of the walk to the supermercato is uphill but we are in such a hurry that we have to start running. Our backpacks are flopping all over the place because they are empty and I'm sure all the locals got a kick out of watching us. We definitely can't hide our American roots during times like these. So we finally reach the store totally out of breath and sweaty, but it's still open for business! I soon decide that I'd really like some lunch meat for this week, turkey to be specific. All the previous visits I had been too nervous the buy meat because I would have to talk to the guy working, and I knew that would result in some embarrassing way. I push my nerves aside and confidently try to say I'd like some sliced turkey in Italian. The man looks at me with a confused face so I repeat my request...but it only seems to be making things worse. He talks to the other workers and in conversation I hear the word Americana but nothing else. Finally with the help of another lady I realize that I was asking for "tabacchi" which is the Italian word for a small store that sells bus tickets and phone cards. I meant to ask for "tacchino" which is the correct word for turkey. After the man laughs at me for awhile, he hands me the sliced turkey. So much for not wanting to embarrass myself. Note to self: Avoid future humiliation and don't ask the butcher for a small convenient store.

Field Trip

The group left Wednesday to venture out to tour the World Food Program, which is centered out of Rome. It turns out that the student intern at WFP was actually a student from Auburn, so we felt the warm hospitality of the south right away. During a powerpoint presentation, Abby proceeds to sit in front of the large, round conference table, which seemed like a good idea at the time. This means that everyone else seated in the room had a perfect view of her face. Let's just say that Abby had a difficult time keeping her eyelids open. It was very entertaining for everyone...excluding Abby that is. Lunchtime rolls around and it is decided that we will eat lunch in the cafeteria. Yes, the dreaded word "caf-e-ter-ia." Everyone gets their plates filled with food and and we all one-by-one go through the salad bar happy because we will soon feed our starving bellies (learning about world hunger can work up an appetite). As we begin to eat we notice that the food just isn't as good as it looked. It was a bit depressing when I realized the smell coming from my fish was actually a stench and the lettuce from my salad tasted like cleaning supplies. So once again, one-by-one our group files to set our treys in the trash area looking very similar to the moment we got them. The sight of 20 treys of food going in the trash AT the World Food Program headquarters was actually a pretty sad sight. I felt like a terrible person throwing so much food away after we learned the statics of how many kids go to school hungry. Talk about feeling convicted!

After our lovely field trip at WFP, it was announced that we were now going to visit Hadrian's Villa to tour the ruins. So just try to picture a group of 20 girls dressed in nice, non-walking outfits showing up to tour this massive villa during the hottest part of the day! Within the first five minutes of meeting our tour guide, we knew it be be a long while before we returned to our bus. The tour was very interesting and we even attracted a young male who just happened to be touring Hadrian's Villa alone, who was also studying abroad. His name was John. Can you imagine the excitement he probably felt when he spied the group of 20 girls...I think he got the better end of the deal.

Observation

There is never a dull moment when it comes to public transportation. On the bus today, a woman yelled at me. In Italian. I have no idea what I did to make her angry, but I do know that you have never been truly yelled at until you have been yelled at in Italian.

Andiamo to Roma

Today the entire group ventured into the unknown world of ROMA...and what an unknown world it really is. Rome differed so much from any other place in Italy so far. I guess I should compare Rome to New York City because of the hustle and bustle city life with tons of tourism. I'm not quiet sure if we saw any true "Romans" because everyone else looked like tourists as well with a camera attached to their hand. Except for, of course, the nagging salesmen who have Gucci and Prada purses layed out on a blanket to prepare for a quick escape. I have to admit that I gave in and bought some knock off Ray-Bans that I am pretty proud of. Only 10 Euros. I didn't realize that you could bargain with these guys or else it would have been about a euro cheaper. Buying new shades can now be checked off of the list of things to buy in Italy.

As far as sight seeing goes, I felt like the ultimate tourist (minus the stylish fanny pack) but it was so amazing! We visited the Spanish Steps first, but honestly I thought I would be much larger in life...I still loved it though. We got to walk down Via Condotti, which is the fashion center of Rome. We passed by Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Valentino.. you get the point. It was nice to gaze into the display windows and dream of being able to afford a keychain. Later, we were walking through all these very tall apartments and cafe restaurants when all of the sudden we turn a corner and out pops the Pantheon! I think the fact that it took me by surprise made the experience that much better. The Pantheon was massive and by far the most memorable location. After lunch (Italian time, lunch starts around 2) we walked to Via Margutta. This street has personal significance because of the one and only Audrey Hepburn. Yes, Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, also known as Princess Anne and Joe Bradley from the movie Roman Holiday. Via Margutta is in fact the address where Joe Bradley lives, and Anne accidently stays the night on his couch because she wants to escape her princess duties. I'm trying not to get carried away with plot summary, but Via Margutta 51 is from Roman Holiday and today I had the most wonderful opportunity to visit the street in person. Needless to say, I will probably be happy for a week.

Observations

For the span of my Italian studies, I would like to point out certain observations about the Italian way of life that I think are worth mentioning. Starting now.

For some odd reason, Italians absolutely love the color purple. Odd, I know. Every store window has at least one item of purple clothing, if not all. I even spotted a young Italian man wearing all purple. It must attract the ladies.

Scarred for Life

So apparently, there are about 50 stray cats per block living in Ariccia that are extremely sketchy and always lurking in the shadows. Tuesday afternoon Cinzia (super cool 29 year old Italian teacher that feels more like our friend) took the group to visit the neighboring city, Genzano. She helped us with the public bus system, but hopefully that will be one of the few times I have to ride. We were left free to wander around and have dinner. I ate gelato for the first time- 2 scoops of fragola (strawberry) and 1 scoop pesca (peach) = delicious! Needless to say, that will be the first of many gelato stops! You might not recognize me due to severe weight gain when I return to the States. So later we decided to walk back to Ariccia from Genzano because it felt so great outside. As Abby and I were admiring the beautiful landscape and appreciating the beauty of the tree-lined side walk, we both simultaneously spot a dead, smelly, nasty cat just a few steps ahead. I could have sworn that it was looking at me because I had been complaining about the stray cat problem earlier. I know it doesn't sound that disgusting and repulsive, but going from complete awe and fulfillment to a moment of holding down your dinner was a pretty intense moment. And in that moment, I felt scarred...for life. I'm thinking that it is a sign that I should learn to appreciate and cherish the influx of animal life in Ariccia...

Oh, Photographs...

It has been really fun getting settled into the palace to make it feel more like home. One bulletin board was provided for every person in our living area, so I was a little bummed that I forgot to bring pictures from home. That was until I found an interesting group of photos that I had luckily forgotten to take out of my purse! The other day at my house I stumbled over a few really random, but hilarious pictures that I had to bring back to Auburn and show off.

-Michael, around age 6, posing in Colorado with the cheesiest smile known to man and possibly a busted lip
-Lauren, 6th grade, in a purple velvet nightgown pretending to read because we wanted to take "glamor shots"
-Polaroid picture of myself from 7th grade, braces and bushy eyebrows
-Abby and myself, 6th grade, showing off our famous book project made of Model Magic (the 2nd one because Mitzi ate the 1st)
-Wes Clay and I, 8th grade, posing for a yearbook picture and I have on cheerleading shoes with my cute outfit because I didn't think you would be able to see them....typical

So now, these wonderful and random photos are displayed on my bulletin board to remind me of home...which makes it way better than any photos that I could have picked out myself! I guess good things really can come out of being forgetful.

Travels

My first day of international traveling was quite the experience...
My flight itinerary consisted of flying to Amsterdam, waiting 3 hours, then heading off on a flight to Rome, where we would be picked up by a man holding an "Auburn University" sign. Sounds simple enough. Of course, plans never go as smooth as expected.

Abby and I left our parents at the Atlanta airport security cut off. As soon as we said good-bye, we looked at each other and said What the heck are we doing? Once we get to the gate, we realize that our seats have been changed to where we are not sitting remotely close to one another.... There was no way that we were going to be separated for the seven hour flight, so we plan to ask the nice-looking lady beside me to switch seats. We ended up being rejected, but this guy on the other side gave up his seat, so now we are sitting in the very middle of the airplane.

Once we arrived in Amsterdam, we had to go through customs to get to our connecting flight. I send my belongings through security, and of course something goes wrong. They take my purse and completely empty it. Finally, they find the threatening object...pepper spray! It was at the bottom of my purse, where I didn't even realize I had it.....about that time 5 airport workers huddle around the "threatening object." I have no clue what is going on because they are all speaking in Dutch, until one man looks at me and says "This is first time I find this here. It is forbidden in Holland" with a very serious look on his face. I knew at that moment that it would be awhile before I left security. The head airport woman comes to talk to me and ask questions meanwhile my popularity is growing with the other airport workers as they huddle around me and the pepper spray. Finally the same man tells me that I now have to wait to the airport POLICE to come. All I could think about was Bridget Jones and how she is put in a foreign jail because she accidentally had drugs in her suitcase. The police finally come to inspect the pepper spray and I frantically try to explain myself. They were very nice and told me I could go since I was traveling through Holland, not staying, and they will have to throw the pepper spray away. My breathing returned to normal and I thanked God for not being mistaken for a terrorist or getting arrested in a foreign country!

We arrived safe and sound in Rome some time that afternoon, which was really about three in the morning. Once we got our luggage we headed to find the man that would take us to Ariccia. That only took about 25 minutes! He drove the five of us to Ariccia while being a tour guide pointing out interesting things until we reached our final destination!

After an estimated 18 hours of traveling, we were finally there!