We arrived in Rome Italy on the 9th of January and in Perugia on the 10th. During our 3 hour bus ride from Rome to Perugia I noticed the italians graffiti just like the americans. Although, the entire 3 hours, I never saw a single line in the road being that the italians don't drive within them anyway, I am sure there is "SOME highway curtesy" somewhere in this country. We stayed in a hotel the first night and had a big welcome dinner. The next day we head to our apartment and that is when the "real italy" hit us. A little old man playing the accordian welcomed us with some italian folklore song. (since that day I have only heard nothing but american music). apparently the van was too big to fit through the alley way so we shortly found out how much hills we had to climb with our 200 pound luggage to our apartment on via bruschi. SO ADORABLE! it had one kitchen with no oven or toaster and dented pots and pans, 2 bathrooms, a washer (no dryer) and 2 bedrooms with double doors that lead to our balcony with a crappy view of a parking lot with smart cars.. but the balcony is nice! we unpack and head to the top of the mountain to piazza di Novembre for orientation at a fountain where scholars and philosophers went to learn and be educated. Mind you it has only been the first day and I have already lost about 50 pounds from this uphill climb. Later we go to dinner and have pizza and wine... maybe Im in the wrong place for pizza but I have definitly had better. its a shame. In Italy, everything is closed on sundays so Saturday nights everyone crams in the little food markets to buy food for sunday. My favorite part of Italy so Far is from 1pm to 4pm everything shuts down for a siesta. It is when everyone goes home and takes a nap!!! God knows I love my naps!! =] Our first dinner we cooked zucchini parm and tomatoe cucumber salad, then we during the week we cooked spinach and garlic with spinach filled tortellinis, chicken grilled salad, and chicken sorrento that I made and it just might be better than my moms. I am so domestic she would be proud!! When I get back, Im giving her and my grandmom a run for their money. All week long was intensive italian and Im registered for the 201 class. BAD IDEA!!!!!!!! I thought I knew italian until he started teaching his lesson in italian and we found out he doesnt speak english, but I have already learned more in one week than I have ever learned in highschool and college. This weekend we are going to get chinese food!!!! The chinese food menu is in italian and they speak italian! WEIRD!! hahahahaha. I bought my first pair of genuine italian leather shoes!!!! GORGEOUS!!! My birthday is coming up soon and although it will be EXTREMELY FUN, it will be kind of lonely, so I figured i would buy some shoes to make me feel better. I miss everyone!!! Arrivaderci!!!!