I GOT IT!!

Ciao Bellas~
I would be remiss if I did not place this post...

My airline ticket arrived TODAY via Fed Ex! Can you see why I had to get this thought down?

I am so excited you guys... I leave September 1st at 2:10 from Chicago, so mark you calendars. I actually land in Germany, and the take a short skip to Florence in one of those little planes. I get there September 2nd at 8:00!! Can you believe it, crossing that 'ol date line... It is my first time to do so. I had a friend share with me that there is a Sunday he never saw, due to traveling to Africa, and he had two Fridays back to back. I let him know that it's a wash... he'll be OK. lol

My next steps include the following...

1. Collecting the info from my school. I don't think I mentioned that I will be taking classes at Studio Art Centers International (SACI) follow the link!

2. So I can use the info from them, to get my Visa. I will be going at the end of June to DETROIT! Yes, Detroit folks this is crazy... but this is where the Italian consulate says I have to go.

3. Still selling on Craig's List! You need it, I got it.

FUN FACTS...

Salve!

Well, let me tell you, I have just received a book, from a parent and friend, titled Living, Studying, and Working in Italy by Ward & Larner. My former colleagues know that I am all about the non-fiction reading and so I have been going through this in a ravenous fashion. It is truly a good read and I would recommend it!! So here are a few fun facts that I have learned. Feel free to apply them accordingly, especially when you come to visit.

1. If you ride the bus in Italy, it is on the "honor system." Can you believe it! The authors say, most folks just get on, but if the bus police catch you, you have to pay a fine on the spot, about 5 Euros, which is roughly 8 bucks!

2. Shopping there is NOTHING like here! You better know what you want in advance. You have to tell the shop owner, they pull it for you and you go to try it on. There is no flipping through the racks. In addition, I hope you aren't the modest type, because they will just come in on you "to help" and sometimes the dressing room is slightly open because it is barely covered by a curtain or door that covers the main areas of the body. Mi Scusi (Excuse me)!! And here is something I found hilarious; being a shoe girl. If you are trying on a pair of shoes and they don't fit, well it is not the shoes, "your feet are just swollen from the day." That trick won't work on me!

3. My Italian friends only spend cash! Dave Ramsey would be so proud. The authors say you will litter ally see people with WADS of cash! They also frown upon the credit card and the large shops are the only ones to take Visa/Master Card or traveler's checks. And don't even think of writing a personal check! This is totally unacceptable. That will take some getting use to, I literally think I have a few dimes in my purse, I am a total check card kind of gal. No mas! ( this is Spanish for no more, I don't know the Italian word for more...)

4. A final factoid. Paying your bills is often done in person. I guess since you are paying in all this cash you can't mail it. You just walk to the spot and you only pay every few months. And your water bill is the highest bill. Mind you, you are surrounded with water on three sides, a peninsula!

Final thoughts...

I am still working on the Italian, but I have a mom of a former student who said she would tutor me this summer before I go! Grazie

Still selling. The couch, a mountain bike, and bistro table for the patio are out! Still more to go!! UGH...

I start my art class here on June 9. It is a Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) Class! Wish me luck with that.

Lo Parlero a tu domani. ( I will talk to you tomorrow. Which is not really, but the Italians always say domani (tomorrow) when they really mean next week.)

First Things First...

Ciao Salve!

Well, this is my blog. A collection of thoughts and ideas, of expressions and sentiments and a few pictures along the way. I will apologize in advance for the spelling errors, comma splices, run-on sentences etc, etc, but I will do my best to double check before publishing. I think everyone who knows me, knows I can't spell very well! And my dissertation adviser would testify on the rest.

So I thought I would use this first post to answer a few questions that continue to come up...

oh, and the picture is not Italy, is actually NYC, Central Park to be exact, one of my favorite places and YES I did take this shot.

1. Do you know the language? No (which is also Italian for No, so can I say Si? I am steadily learning and driving the people around me crazy speaking in my broken dialect).

2. Do you have family there or know someone there? No (But, have you talked to me before? I know, know strangers! I am like my grandfathers in that regard, I would probably talk to a light post!)

3. Have you been there before? No, that is why this is such an adventure...

4. Do you have a job there? I'll get back to you on that one...

5. When are you leaving? and how long are you staying? I am heading over at the end of September. I plan to stay about 4-6months, but you never know...

6. Why Italy? Well, this is a very complex question. But the quick and short of it... I believe I am to be there. This is the easiest way to explain it. I know I also have so many other interests I want to explore and now that the Doctorate is done, why not. I am expecting great things!

I think this concludes the primary questions I have been asked. My next steps include:

1. Packing my office, since I have resigned from my job at the beginning of this month.

2. Selling like a mad woman on Craig's List! If you need it, I got it!

3. Finalizing jobs and visa stuff (I just realized this is sort of turning into a check list, shhhh, don't tell my mother!)

4. Packing my apt in prep to move. What am I going to do with all those shoes!?!?! YIKES!

Anti Presto (until next time)

Laci