Am I Italian yet?

10:45 am, Friday May 20

Buon giorno! Good morning! That was my word of the day yesterday... I also learned how to say "How much does this cost?" One of my roommates and I ventured out to find a place to get some breakfast yesterday morning and found the most hilarious little store. At first, we walked right by it because we saw wine bottles in the window smelled pizza. After we walked by again, we smelled coffee... so we went inside. This store not only sold wine and pizza, but also coffee, pastries, jewelry, and candy. Quite the assortment. While I did not spring for wine at 8:30 in the morning, the pastry I got was delicious - I feel like I will frequent that store a lot. After having what felt like 20 orientations yesterday, we also got to do a little sightseeing. We walked along the Tiber River and around "Tiber Island" which is a little mini-island in the middle of the river that has the hospital on it. We also got to go to a delicious free dinner at a little restaurant called "Le fate" which  means "the fairies." And geez did they feed us. Starting out with antipasta, as is the Italian way, we had a mixture of cooked fresh veggies such as eggplant, potatos, and what I called giant green beans, then they brought out all different kinds of cheeses and tomatos, followed by bowls of little baby beans. Served "Italian style," they brought out large helpings of each dish for everyone to share. Mind you, when we finished one helping, the waitress simply replaced it with another. After all that, they brought us two huge plates of homemade noodles with a red sauce and cheese and another with homemade Italian pesto. Then we had dessert. Yikes... good thing we walked like 6 miles yesterday, I guess? My lesson about Italians yesterday is that they are very frank with you and love to use sarcasm. Our waitor last night was very friendly, but if you asked a question, would reply with a little "attitude," but as I have gotten this "attitude" from several Italians, I have learned that they are just that way. They are so hilarious... kind of following their own rules all the time. There's a No Smoking sign? Oh well, I want to smoke here so I will and no one cares. There's a red light? Oh well, I'll just sneak by anyway... no one's coming - that I can see...? Bus schedules - don't exist here. They come and go when they please. A hilarious people in a beautiful city... what could be better? I'm going to attempt again to upload some pictures... no promises though! We shall see!

Love to everyone!
Corinne