miscommunication, if you will

And the classes continue! It was so hard to wake up this morning. I'm looking forward to catching up on some sleep this weekend. Snoozed my alarm a few times, then talked myself into getting up for yoga. Regular routine again: made a little breakfast, stopped by the cafe for a cappucino with Kaylie and Ashley, then walked to school for class. Once again, it was a chilly morning here in Roma! I wasn't looking forward to my morning on-site class outside in the cold weather. I got to my classroom and there were only a couple other students there. We chatted, made some small talk, then waited for the professor. And waited. And waited. 15 minutes later, the lady from the front desk walked in exasperated, explaining that our professor cancelled the first day of class.

Most people would be annoyed that they woke up at the break of dawn and walked 40 minutes to school just to have the class cancelled, but not if you're in the Eternal City! I headed back to the apartment, enjoying the beautiful Tiber River and the morning hustle and bustle. It was a nice morning, I had time to do some laundry which was much needed. I'd been putting it off because we don't have a dryer, just a washing machine and a drying rack plus a string outside the window to hang things up. I was a little intimidated, but I made it through fine. Did a little meditating since I had the apartment to myself, confirmed my flight to Madrid for spring break, then made a quick sandwich and headed back to school for Fresco Painting.

my favorite dome on the walk home

What an amazing class! Debbie is in the class also, as well as Alyssa (the girl who showed me the abandoned cats website from the first post). This is the class that I'm most excited about for this semester. How cool is it to say you've done fresco painting before??? As an art/art history major I find it awesome, but maybe yall don't share in the delight. We're visiting museums to give us ideas and to learn all about frescos, then we each get our own section of a wall in the studio to make the plaster, paint, or whatever you do to make the masterpieces (I'll learn soon I'm sure). The teacher is suuuper chill and pretty interesting-seeming. His names Petit, so I'm guessing he's from France? Who knows. At least this class isn't going to be crazy expensive like my other painting class. The only semi-requirement is a pocket sized watercolor set and a sketchbook to paint "whenever we feel the urge". AWESOME.

We got out early so I headed to the main campus with Alyssa to chill out for awhile before my doctor's appointment at 5. I'd been scared all day for this appointment. It's mandatory to participate in JCU activities or use the gym, and since I'm teaching I guess that fits that category. I'd heard what the process was from other girls who had already had their appointment, and it included getting an "electric shock" with "wires attached to you everywhere" and "weird beeping noises". Uh oh. The stories weren't far off..it was such a weird experience. I don't know exactly what the procedure was, but apparently everything was okay because the doctor told me I was "perfecto!" Thank goodness that's over with.

I headed to the apartment around 6 after a crowded bus ride (literally I felt like a sardine), and decided to stop in our favorite little shop since it was on the walk home. I ordered a croissant to hold me over until dinner, and then one of my dreams came true. The man behind the counter (who makes me my cappucino every morning) asked, "Basta? Fini? No cappucino?" HE REMEMBERED ME. Best. moment. ever. Goal #1: accomplished.

room "decorations" above my bed!

(hopefully after my art classes I can put up some canvases and drawings..)

 Evenings are so nice here. I hung out with the roomies, caught up on my research workbook, "decorated" my room (we can't put tape on the walls so I was confined to sticky notes only), and found some amazing new taylor swift songs to get ready for March 18 (AH I CAN'T WAIT). I didn't realize how late it was getting until I looked at the time and realized it was past 9 and I hadn't eaten dinner ah! Of course when I thought of food, I had a huuuuge wave of hunger come on. Thank goodness for the pizzeria across the street.

I ran over (literally 14 steps from our front door..I counted) and it was in full swing. I forget dinner for these people is in the middle of the night practically. I ordered a pepperoni pizza to go and played tetris on my ipod for the 8 minutes it took to be ready. Starving to death, I gave them the money (SO CHEAP I LOVE THIS PLACE) and ran back to the apartment. In the elevator I checked out my meal...only to realize that I had a pepper pizza! I need to work on my Italian pronunciation I suppose. Oh well, it was yummy nonetheless, and now I have leftovers for lunch tomorrow. And probably the next day, too.