Ciao!

Hello all!! I have arrived. Well, actually I arrived on Monday, but internet access is very limited at the moment. We are supposed to get cards with passwords and such on them, but it hasn't happened yet, so this is my first 5 minutes on the internet since arrival. Our program organizers keep telling us that Italy focuses on charm over convenience... we are starting to get a little sick of the charm. :-)

A few things to fill you in on, then off to class, but I promise to have a better blog WITH photos soon. (pardon the lack of good punctuation and grammar)

1) My apartment is like I stepped into an Ikea catalogue... in fact my apartment came with a stack of Ikea manuals, so I suppose it is like a living catalogue. It is Amazingly modern. So there is no air conditioning, but A) it's chilly here now, and when I wake up in the morning I am freezing. B) they build there buildings out of stone, with tile floors, so they are colder to begin with. I know I may change my mind on that in the actual summer months (it is still considered Spring here).

2) Grocery shopping is so hard myself and some of the other girls go once a day just to try to figure it out. There are NO American brands at all, so you can't even go to a brand you know and then try to figure out which one you want. They have NO sliced turkey or chicken (aka lunch meats). And buying vegetables... well that deserves it's own post. 

3) This town is SO STEEP my calves are killing me. I fear I am going to have gladiator legs when I return (something not so desirable on a lady).

4) The Gelato is amazing... as are the cappuccinos... and pizza.

5) School is great and the other students are really nice.

6) Tonight the town officially welcomes us with flag throwers, wine, dinner cooked by the local ladies, etc. Again, that I will cover in another blog.

I miss you all!! I hope you are all doing well. I hope to have better internet access by this weekend, so I will start answering e-mails then!

Love ya!

Katie