Life Updates

Howdy! I'll try to keep this going with little updates here and there until things really get moving. As far as travel destinations done, I've used my free time to do a lot of research. Rome is still a lock, obviously; Florence is also a lock, but I'd like to try and work out a day or two in nearby Bologna as well. Both are heavily influenced from the middle ages and the Renaissance, and being the history nut that I am, that's right up my alley. Looking into the Perugia Jazz Festival more, it will be in town for about 10 days, so that may be a better option of something to see during the week, rather than waste a travelling weekend on it. That frees up my plans a little, and as a result I've been running back and forth in my head of what else I would want to see. The Cinque Terra, Naples, Genoa, Verona, Venice, the Amalfi Coast, Milan, Torino, and Bari are all viable options, and each one has its own unique character and inviting aspects to it. It is a tough call but a fortunate one nonetheless. As my grandpa told me, anything you don't see is just an excuse to come back. If you're interested, take a glance at the map I have worked out for myself. I normally like to take things as I go and just kind of wing it, but this trip has brought out the planner in me.


View Italy Study Abroad in a larger map


I'm also trying to embrace Perugia as my home, a base to launch all of my excursions from. So many of the cities I'll visit will just be a weekend blitz, enough time to see the major tourist spots, take in some local cuisine, and hit up the night life. But in Perugia, I'd like to embrace the ins and outs, find little known spots that your everyday traveler wouldn't seek out, and get a true feel of what it's like not just to be somewhere but to live somewhere. From finding favorite cafés and bars to visit over and over again, knowing the way around without stealing a look at a map every few blocks, and hopefully making some friends with the locals. I'm trying to get a good feel of things to keep me busy while I'm in town during the week. I've already got a long list of sights, recommended restaurants, museums and bars/clubs that I plan on checking out. There's also a few towns nearby that would be good for a day trip, and I would especially like to get out to Lago Trasimeno, which I believe is the largest lake in Italy. It would be a shame to not see at least a little water while I'm there, even if I don't end up making it out to the sea.

In other news, I'm taking an introductory Italian class while at home in homes of learning a little bit to be able to get by. As far as the required material goes, it is not very hard, but the prospects of starting to learn a new language are daunting, especially with how comfortable I feel with German. In fact, I even noticed that when I don't know how to say something in Italian, I automatically think in German as a default. I guess I'm just used to thinking in German when I'm struggling to say something, or my brain knows I'm not looking for something in English, and it's not up there in Italian, so might as well just try German instead. Who knows, I just found it amusing. Despite the overwhelming thought of trying to take on as much as I can of a new language before shipping off and being immersed in that culture, I am enjoying it - I'm learning a lot, it gives me something to do while home, and it's nice to actually interact with some college kids while I'm home. As long as I can ask for/follow directions and hold simple conversations - even if I struggle greatly with words - I would consider it a success. The whole thing will surely give me a new respect for everyone who even makes an attempt at communicating in the host's language, as broken and as much of a struggle it may be for them.

Arrivederci! Io scrivo non più oggi. :)