First week in April

It’s Sunday now, but unlike normal Sundays, it’s the first Sunday of the month which means that the main piazza is filled with antiques dealers. I am going to meet the Irish and Danielle and I don’t remember whom else in a few minutes to go down to Centro for that, but I thought it would be go to write a brief blog post to update.

This week was successful in that I am still alive, I understand more Italian than I did last week and I am happy and relaxed. I not only went to all of my classes this week, but also to a meeting with Professoressa Viganó with Elizabeth to discuss our class. This whole time I’ve been waiting for a bit of guidance and something resembling a curriculum, but as it turns out, our class will be us doing research on a specific topic related to agrarian economics and then either writing a paper or giving an oral exam. We can use English texts as well, which will make things easier, while taking away any excuse for doing a bad job. When Elizabeth asked how long she wanted our paper to be, Proff.essa Viganó said, “Boh…circa 50 pagine?” like it was nothing! Our jaws almost dropped off.
“No? Troppo?”
“Sí…” We were a bit ashamed by our laziness. But really, 50 pages? We’re Erasmus for heaven’s sake! She came down to almeno 20 which I think we can handle since we can write it in English, though it may be easier to just do research on a topic and read a lot and then give an oral exam because we can still use our lacking Italian as an excuse.

Presidente Acuna told me what my exam for Latin American History and Institutions will be. It seems like I am to read his book and pick three countries to talk about. I’m not quite sure if it’s to be written or oral. It’s a lot of reading. I do actually have a bit of work to do but I think I’ll be okay.

So far, all of my exams are in May, which means that June will be free to travel. I am very much looking forward to getting our and seeing Europe in June. I really want to go to Tunisia I think and be incredibly hot.

Welp (clap), it’s 11:30 and I have to get upstairs now.,,,Oh wait, I’ve got to tell you about moving my room! I’ll be back…..

Okay. It’s nighttime now. I went to the market with my Irish friends and it was wonderful. Beautiful pipes were plentiful and wonderful paintings and this, that, and the other. After a pleasant stroll through the market, Síne, Annie and I got Greek food at a wonderful Greek restaurant. It was incredibly tasty and we sat on a park bench and looked at the beautiful sun and got tan (or red, if you’re Irish). After a pleasant and relaxing several hours in the sun, we went back to Tridente and had a tea and an even more relaxing lie down on the terrace atop the 700-block. After I was thoroughly crisped, with the exception of raccoon eyes, it was time for the Catholics to go to Palm Sunday Mass and Gudi and I to have coffee and watch Friends. Four episodes later, everyone came back and we ate some Mensa food and now here I sit in the common room writing these words about my possibly-too-relaxing day.

But, back to moving to Tridente. Romain, before he left for Paris for a few days to chase the love of his life who he met a few days prior and is German but was studying here for a few days and then going to Paris, which is ironic because Romain is from Paris but he’s here and she’s there so she paid for his flight…yadda, yadda, yadda…told me that a room had opened up in his block and that I should try to move in so I could be closer to everyone. We went to ask about it the other morning and they told put me down to move and I was supposed to come back in a few days. Anyway, to make a long story short, I now live in the 200 block of the 3rd branch of Tridente, only a few short steps away from everyone I know. Scott was also able to move into the block across the hall so now everyone except Viktoria lives in Tridente.

Kevin is waiting for me now so he can see my room and use my bathroom so I’d better go.

Coming soon!
-My parents come to visit
-I meet my Uncle John
-I go to Norway (hopefully)
-I start doing school work

Best wishes,
David