I haven't studied, abroad

Abroad, according to my experience and observations, students don't in fact study. My classes are 85% silliness. Before the end of the semester, I want to record one of my professors speaking because his accent is so ridiculously strong that, when combined with his bumbling/ frazzled nature, it's all anyone can do to keep a straight face in his company.

Some of my teachers (I can't call them professors) grade harshly on the one assignment that does come up every once in awhile, however, which isn't fair. I think that one of my professors only gave Bs on the midterm because she wanted her course to appear challenging. Sorry this is starting to sound mean, but my point is, academics for me this semester = not too enriching.

This said, I love my internship. I haven't talked about that and it deserves attention. I work for the Rome Independent Film Festival. It is one of the best parts, certainly the most unique, of my time abroad.
It's a small office in a really nice part of Rome where everyone acts like family.
When I work during lunchtime, they either take me out to eat or the festival director cooks gnocchi for us all to eat around the kitchen table.
They're extremely patient with my Italian and encouraging in general. The women are all beautiful and kind and meet all of the positive stereotypes of a European/ Italian (i.e. they weigh less than the mounds pasta they inhale).
Going out to lunch with them makes me feel as out of place and simultaneously magnificent as a freshman sitting at the cool table, except more so.

The awards show was at a club last night. Their car was full going home, so one lady found a friend to take her home so that I could get a ride back.
They bought me pizza from the 24 hour bakery on the way home.
They let me hang around with their group all night at the show.
Even though I kept obnoxiously asking what was going on and apologizing for the gaps in my Italian, IT WAS AS IF I WAS ONE OF THEM.

I generally don't like to go out late, but I will if being out is fun enough (Madrid was). Last night was the first time I was out supah late in Rome because typically IES kids are just going to American bars in the center of the city, thus no thanks. Last night, I didn't get back until 3:30 and enjoyed myself the whole time because we were at a really authentic Italian place with cool people. I met two Erasmus students, one from Istanbul and one from Germany, that I hope to hang out with again.

Basically, as if it's not evident, studying is the least important part of studying abroad. That may change when I am at a real university in the fall, but for now, the best parts of my time here aren't related to  any of my classes or my friends from IES-- minus Carolina, the Italian girl I live with, who remains perfect. I plan to stay in touch with Carolina forever, so between her and the internship ladies, I've made some Italian friends. Unfortunately, Italian men creep me out for the most part, so England would have been the way to go had I been selecting based on husband-seeking opportunities. But alas, I would have chosen Ben's Cookies over humans every day anyway.

I already know I'm going to London when I'm abroad in the fall because Stephen Fry is performing as Malvolio at the Globe. Be still my beating heart.

Wait for me, Ben's Cookies!

My Bologna has a second name, it's I.T.A.L.Y.

My continued study abroad plans have been confirmed long enough that it's time I spread the news. I will be returning to Italy to study abroad for another semester in the fall.

I'll have a single apartment in Bologna and will take classes at the University of Bologna through Brown.

Part of why I initially decided to study abroad as a sophomore was to allow for this possibility. I wanted to go to Spain, but the abroad office suggested I return to Italy- a plan that I'm now very pleased with. (Sorry to end that on a preposition, but try typing "a plan with which I am very pleased" and see how unnatural it feels.) I'm happy because: I am already familiarish with Italian culture, I'll keep improving my Italian language abilities, and I will keep checking cities off of my Euro bucket list, which grows ever longer. I'm sad because: I miss Claremont/Claremont friends.

It was tough to confirm this decision knowing I wouldn't see some people for over a year, but distance makes the heart grow fonder. Getting away from Scripps this semester has made me appreciate it in ways I couldn't/ wouldn't have had I stayed. A girl in Madrid on her second semester abroad told me that she wanted to really miss her college and then return loving it. I feel that my three semesters back at Scripps will be greatly improved following two semesters abroad.

Anyway, a bunch of my friends will be also abroad in the fall. (Suite mates: could you please remind me who is fall and who is spring?)

This spring break taught me that sometimes it's better to travel with people I know, rather than holding myself responsible for making new friends whenever possible. Traveling with kids on my Rome program is fun, but less comfortable, i.e. involves a lot of "how many siblings do you have"s and "are you sure you don't mind eating there? it doesn't seem like you really want to"s.

Knowing I get to come back to Italy is easing the anxiety of moving back. Spring is here in her fullest glory, making the thought of leaving extra unappealing. There was an awkward lull in the middle of the program between the excitement of arrival and the realization of the end but, recently, the last phase has given me a renewed gratitude for my surroundings.

So this is perfect. I get to go back to LA, see friends, eat Mexican until I bleed salsa, spend my fall flex dollars*, then come back to frolic once more + study at the oldest university in Europe.

Yay!


*your meal plan doesn't know you're abroad!! if you're leaving and can't make it to campus, give someone the gift of your card number/ the ability to buy every Naked juice at the Coop Store!

chugga chooo

I wish to take this opportunity to rave about trains because I am currently on one and because every time is a good time for train talk. By the way, I almost made he title of this post “Chugga choo choo- it’s my Train of Thought!”, but I did some really ashamed backspacing, as even I found that to be too much.

On March 30^th, I took a plane to Paris from Rome.  Planes, I think we can agree, are basically always terrible. If you have ever had the displeasure of flying Ryanair, then you especially know how bad planes can be. If you’ve never flown Ryanair, congratulations.

 If someone ever tells you they saw a celebrity on his or her Ryanair flight, that person is lying to you, because no one with a real adult budget would  enter the tin foil  stress generator that is a Ryanair aircraft. I could go on (there aren’t reserved seats, passengers often applaud upon landing, I once saw a man tear the wheels off of his suitcase in order to meet the unacceptably strict size requirements, etc.), but it’s time to talk about trains.

Since my plane to Paris, all of my travels around France and Switzerland have been by train. Currently, I am looking at beautiful mountain landscapes, I have my legs crossed, my computer is plugged into a socket, and yet I feel old-fashioned. Trains.

I know it seems like I’m going overboard with the affection, but I have such an abundance of train love, I need to share some of it with the world you guys.

I was in Paris, then Geneva, then a little city called Neuchâtel, then a littler village called Grimentz in the Alps, and now I am going back to Paris. I had a day to kill between the Alps and Madrid. After considering my fairly restricted options (given time and geography), I decided to spend tomorrow alone in the Louvre. I went to a museum when I was by myself in Spain (Barcealonea) and that was enjoyable. Museums give everyone the opportunity to feel graceful- probably due to how slowly one moves. A museum has the calming effect of a bookstore, except it’s better because you don’t have to deal with employees asking if you need help or telling you that those chairs and for the children, could you please decide what to purchase and put your shoes back on.

The museum in Barelona wasn’t even great because modern art sucks, in my (correct) opinion. Tomorrow should be a thousand times better. I should be napping now so I can get as much as possible out of my field trip, but I am serious- I don’t want to miss a minute of this train ride. I’m now two for two on having an open seat next to me during international train rides. Well, there was an old man who was technically in the seat next to me from France -> Geneva, but he spent the entire ride in the dining car. I literally became concerned about his health and considered telling someone to check the bathrooms, but there he was at the bar, munchin’ on croissants and lovin’ trainlife.

It’s been a long-time concern of mine that, when aliens first get a look at Earth, they’ll zoom in on an American airport, thus  getting the worst possible view of mankind. Even if you’re not flying Ryanair, the only positive thing about airports is that they make you feel better about yourself. Travelers used to dress up and now I sometimes wonder if people intentionally look disgusting as an F.U. to airport security. Like saying- go ahead and frisk me. You get to touch my oldest, cheeto-stained track pants.

So, have fun feeling dehydrated yet sweaty, airplane passengers. (In denial that this group includes me again on Sunday.)

WAaaaaiit really quickly- a guy checking my ticket just asked me how old I am and I said twenty because I am twenty and now I am freaking out because THAT SOUNDS OLD. What if he was asking because he thought I was a 39-year-old trying to get the student rate! Ehhhhhhhhh. Okayokay back to things.

After I return to Rome on Sunday, I’ll be swamped with work that I should have been doing on break, but then I will do an account of Paris, Switzerland, and Madrid. Plus I’ll have pictures uploaded.

Until then, I probably love you! (Probably because there’s a small chance you’re not Shayda or Erin or someone else who’s told me you read this.)

Bye!

Hang on. I have to bring you back to my train journey one last time because it is now raining on fields of yellow flowers outside. Also, I went to get some chocolate and can only describe walking into other train cars as seeing who is in other rooms at a party. And the other people at the party are Swiss businessmen making powerpoints.