Tuesday, August 25, 2009

664 to M-A to M-B



I am very very tired tonight so this update is coming to you in list form. Enjoy.


1. I was molested in the park today by a senile old italian woman. I was sitting on a bench while the little one played. She came up and started rambling on in Italian which I tried to explain to her I did not understand. She then started pulling at my shorts and stuck her hand up the OUTSIDE of my leg. I swatted and shooed her away, but before she left she grabbed my face with both of her hands, smiled and said "bella, bella." Oh, and then she look my purse and covered my legs with it. Apparently she did all of this because she thought my shorts were too short. I assure you they are not, by American or Italian standards. I asked Isabella (the mom) about this. She told me know the lady is a little crazy plus old fashioned...and that my shorts were definitely not too short.


2. Children need to mind. "I don't want to" is never an appropriate response when you are a child! It does not matter what a kid wants or doesn't want. It's a kid; it's supposed to do what it's told. My response is and always will be "I don't care." Might need to think about a reward/warning system with the little one...for my sanity.


3. I like that people in Rome still wear Eastpak and Adidas like it didn't go out of style 10 years ago....because, well, it didn't here. It makes me smile.


4. Smells. There are so many smells here. I love the smell of the house. I do not like the smell of the dad's cologne. (I suspect he bathes in it.) I like the smell of Metro line A. It is new and clean. I do NOT like the smell of Metro line B. It runs old trains and does not have AC. It is also scary as fuck. Old men here smell like alcohol all the time.


5. I do not get grumpy when I'm hot anymore. This is probably because I've been hot nonstop since I walked off the plane. When central heat and air hit this country it will be perfect. Until then I'll just work on changing my preference (read: controlling extreme mood swings when encountering warm temperatures)


6. I hear my voice again. I don't know at what point in the past few months I lost it but I stopped hearing my answers in my head. I didn't have that reassuring voice for a while that reminds you who you are and what's good. It got muffled behind so many other things. But it's back like a dear old friend that you never wanted to say goodbye to. I feel back in touch with myself. Not that I lost me; I just felt that I lost my clarity after allowing myself to stay in a very disconcerting place. It is more comfort than I remembered.


7. I went to the Colosseum this evening. It was perfect. I waited for the sun to set so I could see it lit up. So beautiful. I stood there feeling like I was exactly where I belonged at that moment. That's a nice feeling. I went to take a picture of the Colosseum, some other really pretty ruins beside it, and the moon, but my camera died as soon as I held it up. It was so so perfect but I guess that one was just for me.



Tired. The days are so full here. Goodnight.


Monday, August 24, 2009

Won't you take me to...



Well...Rome is everything it's cracked up to be. I can't believe how every angle, every direction, every thing is so gorgeous. It's amazing. Stunning. Mesmerizing. I think I'll fall madly in love with this city. I can just feel it already. I can't wait to see who I'll become in this setting. It's time for some changes in my personal life. Those I won't go in to, but I assure you this is the perfect backdrop.


The children. They are cute. They talk alot...ALOT. I only know what they're saying to me about 60% of the time even though it's in English. They randomly talk about coke. It's in daily conversation for some reason. Apparently it's a big deal to them. They don't listen very well which annoys me but they're children and I've given up on the hope that any child will ever be well behaved (unless I raise it...haha).


Random- There are NO Starbucks in Italy. I read a bit about it to figure out why and I am now pleased with that little fact. Here's what I found: In Italy they do not do variations of coffee and expresso; added flavors are ridiculous. Coffee is also considered a morning drink here. They do not drink it in the afternoon or evenings. Italians also would never think about taking their coffee to go. They sit and enjoy it. It is not served in plastic cups (like at starbucks) because they would never walk or drive while having their coffee. It is also a more private, intimate ritual between friends. It is not considered the social activity that Starbucks is in the states. Italian coffee is supposedly wonderful. I have yet to try it. Starbucks was also rumored to be an imitation of the coffee houses here, but with an American twist. Why would you want a duplicate when you're surrounded by the originals? All in all it does not fit the culture or way of life in the slightest. A starbucks here would bust quickly. Italians have already perfected expresso.


I'm going to need alot of alone time, I can tell. Children are not my forte and I need down time from it. I'm remembering why my family laughed when I said I would be looking after children. I miss Clint. He's a handful but atleast I love him. I'm rereading Eat Pray Love mainly because it was good for me the first time and I would like the insight again. I am sleepy and still working off some pretty intense jet-lag. Hopefully by the end of the week my rhythm will be in sync.


(I would like to note that as I write this 'Funkytown' is playing in the background from the father's office area.)


Friday, August 21, 2009

It's freezing in this airport!




Made it to London! Almost there.


You'll be happy to know that I did NOT cry on the plane. (I know, I surprised myself.) I'm sure my seat buddies appreciated my remembering to pack the big girl pants once we hit the runway. Nobody like a whiny baby at 35,000 feet. I'm a big fan of British Airways now. They give you this wonderful little pack of goodies that includes a BIG blanket, eye mask, toothbrush/toothpaste and socks(!). I was quite delighted with the last item. Flying internationally, they have by far been my favorite. Recommended.


I'm getting pretty excited, at least at the moment. This is subject to change within the next ten minutes. (Kidding...hopefully). I can't wait to see ROME! I miss that rush you get when your eyes are searching over a new place for the first time. You miss the little details because it all seems so grand. Monday will be the first chance I get to explore around by myself. AH! Now THAT excites me! I'm ready to meet the family. I want everything to work out beautifully. I'm also wanting to magically become a kid person within the next week. I'll let you know.


Mom and I went to Walmart (won't be seeing on of those for a while) before I left to gather some American things to take to the family. We picked up lots of different types of candy, some magazines, a GREAT youth illustrated encyclopedia of America, and a football. Speaking of football, how did I not know UGA was playing Florida on Halloween?! I might have rethought this trip had known that (kidding...hopefully.) Amanda Jones you better be at that game! I'm really concerned about how I'm going to get to see the games. Someone suggested that I find an American bar that shows it but I don't know if that even exists. I'm banking on Fox or another network streaming the games online. If not you guys might be seeing me sooner than you think.


My gate just opened so I have to head that way. I'm sure there will be several posts coming soon- lots of things to get out! Hope those of you at home are sleeping well!


Monday, August 17, 2009

dapprima



I leave for Rome in exactly 2 days, 19 hours and 10 minutes from when I started writing this. I'm sitting in Chattanooga, which is the perfect place to start writing for me. Tonight was beyond perfect. It was spent with two of the most amazing people in my life (I would even venture to say the world.) My heart is full. I have literally been on opposite sides of the world with each of these girls earlier this year and it all comes full circle back to this city.


Chattanooga holds much more meaning to me than I could ever put into words. It has been a home. It has been safety. It has been the perfect setting for this part of my life. It has loved me back. But this is not the time in my life for me to be settled and comfortable. It's the time to chase. Chase what other than the feeling?- I'm not sure yet. When I figure it out, I'll let you know. But I know what I'm doing is right.


It hurts to leave it. I don't like goodbyes.


My feelings for moving have been very mixed. I don't think about the magnitude of it very often because, well, it scares the fuck out of me. I decided it would be better to try to figure my way out than prepare to go in. (Really what kind of preparation is there when you have no capacity to process something entirely new?) I am excited. The traveller in me is frantic and ready. I am so wanting to start this next major chapter in my life. I am so anxious to see who I will become and the experiences that will play out. I am nervous but mostly excited.


The reasons for writing on this silly little thing are several. First, I want to keep the people in my life informed on what's going on with me. This is easier than trying to shoot out several emails every few days and keeping up with who knows what. Second I want to make myself write more. I don't discipline myself to do it everyday even though I strongly value the significance it has in my life. Finally it has always been difficult for me to be extremely open with a lot of people. I am a very private person other than to those I choose to be vulnerable with; even then the information discussed is intentionally selected. I want to share my story, without worries. So here's to it...


I'm sure there will be more soon. Forgive the sporadic, half developed, mini chats- It is 2:30am after all. I mostly needed to get a first post up. Stick around. I promise I'm much more coherent when I'm not sleep deprived :)