Packages

NOBODY CAN SEND ME PACKAGES.

Just in case anyone ever planned to, I needed to let you know that I cant get them because it could cost me hundreds and hundreds of Euro to retrieve it out of customs.

Off to do a night tour of Rome tonight! Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps

My first alcohol buying experience didnt go too well. Trying to get the biggest, cheapest bottle of wine I possibly could, I ended up getting vino frizzante on accident, aka carbonated wine, aka alcoholic sparkling grape juice

The espresso is intense! I'm not used to having to add too much to my coffee but they are so strong so I'm gonna have to ease into the transition. The cappuccino's are awesome, not as intense as the espresso, but its still no huge classic caffe Americano back home. I'm gonna need something in the morning, and since the only thing I have at my disposal is a microwave in the lobby, it looks like either instant coffee or tea that I found at the supermercato. Instant coffee = nast, gonna have to try out some different types of tea.

Heading out at 8 in the morning for Assisi. I was already psyched for the trip, but I found today that if the weather cooperates we have the option of an early morning hike on Tuesday up the mountain that St. Francis did something special on (I'll have to find out the rest of that information to make that trek sound a little cooler). I wont have internet for a few days so I'll check back in Tuesday sometime.

PS - I always wondered how people said you are forced to learn the language more when you visit a country, it never made sense to me. Tell you what, I'm capable of speaking so much more Italian than I thought, and its awesome, so much fun to speak with the locals. I've been going down and chatting with the Italian lady that runs the cafe in the basement of JFRC a few times just to practice.

Beez - Go buy Colorblind CD by Robert Randolph & the Family Band (think Kirk Franklin jacked up with some ripping guitar and base)

Pictures

The slideshow on the bottom of the blog is now functional and so is the map. Eventually, the map will be much more full with points that I've visited. For now, if you click on it it will open up the map that I've created, and then it will have a list of the places I've visited on the side. If you click on one of those, a preview picture will come up, and above the picture is my name in a link form. If you hover the mouse over my name, a list comes up and if you choose Picasa Web Albums it will open to Picasa website with all my albums listed out! So, everyone will have access to all my pictures - check them out!

Roma è il più città nel mondo!

^ = Rome is the best city in the world!

I absolutely love it here, I really cant put it into words any more than that how amazing the past 2 days have been. The atmosphere in the school, the people here, the city, the feeling you get walking around the neighborhood, strolling through the piazza and shopping, buying wine, cheese, and bread for 5 euro - everything. It's just a totally different feeling from everything, it feels so comfortable and I've been telling everyone here that everything about this just feels so right.

Life is still really busy over here. We have various orientation events today and tomorrow and then we leave Sunday for our Orientation in Assisi for three days! Class starts on Wednesday. My roommate turns out to be another Marquette student which was totally by chance and he's a great guy. The food isnt bad, but I can see it getting old fast.

Not sure what else to update right now, my mind is real scatter-brained. I'm trying to upload my photos to online albums and Facebook and then edit the map on the right of this blog so it links directly to those pictures...hopefully it works out like I planned it too, so check it out later.

Andy/JBo - awesome videos of the boys

HERE!!!!

I'll get a more official post up when I get some more time, but I'm here and its the greatest place in the entire world. The day we arrived, 13th, we got to the hotel and then went out for pizza and checked out the town a little bit, and then yesterday we moved in and went to the Vatican and to the top of St Peter's Basilica - highest point in Rome...unbelieveable, I cant believe where I am and what I'm seeing. Went out last night with 20 or so of the other people that were here early and I can tell everyone is going to be awesome and some of the coolest people I've ever met.

HERE IT GOES!

Leaving the house tomorrow at 6 AM, driving to Syracuse with both my parents for a 11:50 flight, 8 hour layover in O'Hare till an 8:35 flight out to London, arriving at 10 AM local time (7 hour flight), leaving at 12:35 and getting into Rome at 4 PM after a 3.5 hour flight!

The couple friends that I'm traveling with and I are staying in a hotel the night of Wednesday the 13th, checking into JFRC Thursday the 14th and then touring around for the rest of the day, and meeting everyone else checking into the school on Friday the 15th!

I'll update when I get a chance these next few days...LET THE TRIP BEGIN!!!!!!!!!!!

L'AVVENTURA COMINCIA!!!!!!!