A Smallish Recount of My First Two Days in Italy

“This could be the very moment I feel that I’m alive: all these places feel like home.”

Chocolate – Snow Patrol

We’re landing! We just turned now, and I can see the countryside. Oh my goodness it looks like home. Somehow, I’m not afraid anymore. I feel free, alive even: chalk-full of curiosity and read to explore.

-Four Hours Later-

There are six planes in front of us to take off (we’re moving so less now). I haven’t quite been culture shocked, but I guess airports aren’t exactly the best places to dive into a culture. Did you see the Victoria’s Secret in terminal 1? Who wants to try on bras after you’ve had an eight hour red eye and feel gross and grubby? Ew!

The Italy stamp in my passport is a square. A square. It says “Fiumicino” and that’s it. Lame.

-Pause for Takeoff-

Well, we’re airborne and already over the water! All of Italy looks like home to me, and I was a fool to forget that.

 -May 15, 2015 3:30 pm-

The café down the street is perfect. With miss-matching china and almost hipster-esque wall hangings, it stands as a complete mockery of a British café and tea shop. I have great plans for my 5 euro stipend! Their cappuccino is excellent, and there is a fine selection of cupcakes, croissants, and fruit. Maybe I could spend some of my money on a focaccia for lunch during class days. We walked up the hill, almost San Franciscan in pitch, and were stunned by the amazing views. Next we went to University of Cagliari, and if you ever want to put 16 jet-lagged college kids to sleep, place them in a room at 3:00 pm, turn off the air conditioning, and lecture at them. That said, I enjoyed the competition between the other students, and had fun learning Italian phrases from the University of 

Cagliari and University of Padua students.

After class we had a few hours to relax before dinner at a restaurant at the bottom of the hill. Dinner was served in four courses: antipasta, pasta, main, and the coffee. Octopus potato salad, breaded and fried squid, chunks of swordfish, and zesty shrimp were served with clam pasta and fresh vegetables. It was delightful. I tried everything, and enjoyed hearing about the experiences of my fellow classmates. Tomorrow, we will have the morning off and then visit the home of Aldo Muntoni, a professor form UniPA. We will enjoy the beach and share a meal with the students from the University of Padua, I can't wait!