School and Lake Como

Buongirono!

We started our intensive language class this week. They weren't kidding about it being intense. The American students are finding that it is really similar to Spanish, and I see resemblances to French which helps a little bit. It doesn't help however when the teacher asks me a question, and I answer with a confident "Oui.. I mean Si". I didn't think I would be as nervous to practice on the locals, but I am. I find though, that when I go out, I talk to people as if I really know what I'm doing. They can't understand a damn thing I'm saying though of course. Haha. I feel like a huge keener because I really want to learn Italian! I think everyone in our program does as well.

I was disappointed to find out that we aren't taking classes in the main university. It is truly beautiful. The architecture is unreal. Walking through the courtyards I had already scoped out places I could sit and study with my coffee. Unfortunately, I just found out that because our courses are in English, we are in the international building about a block away. It feels as if we are the diseased ones quarantined in the building down the road. This is going to isolate us; there is no doubt about it. I would really like to meet more Italian people, though I do love everyone in our international group. It is easy to meet them at bars, but it is not as easy on the streets especially when we walk in packs and have "tourist" stamped across our foreheads. Once our Italian class is finished, we are paired with Italian students who want to improve their English, so that will help a lot.

I got over my cold. Thank god! It is not fun sitting on a tram filled with a ton of people and sneezing and sniffling and trying to pronounce "Mi dispiache" properly without infuriating someone. I am feeling tons better. I don't even have time to be sick here! The two international student organizations "ESN" and "ESEG" have something planned for us literally every single night. It is crazy! I can't even keep up! It is awesome because we get discounts because we have a large group. The negative side is that I feel like I missed something if I didn't go out one of the nights.

The bar we went to on Friday night was the coolest bar I have ever been to. Paris Hilton ended up making a guest appearance there the very next night! Not that she is my idol or anything, but it is still cool! The bar is called Karma, and it is only open in the summer because it is completely outside. We made it the very last weekend. It is very odd to see trees in a bar. There are five or six sections of the bar all playing different music. They are all unique. Some areas had fountains, some had couches of all colours - it was awesome! The best area was this huge round dance floor with strobe lights and a dance stage in the middle that you walked down into kind of like a bowl. It reminded me of an arena but obviously a lot smaller. The kicker was that foam rained down! It wasn't like the foam parties that are held at the max that seem a little over the top. It was glamorous! I was shocked the first time it happened because I had been dancing for a bit already, and then suddenly it was raining bubbles! The lights made all of the bubbles twinkle, and it was amazing. I only wished that I hadn't gone in the bubbles at the beginning of the night because my hair was siiiiiiiiicccccccckkkkkkkkk after haha. The Italian boys didn't seem to mind though haha.

I really was wondering if I had just come to a fancier Kamloops bar scene until we went to Lake Como on Saturday. I was feeling pretty ill from the night before, so I didn't even really feel like travelling at first. The train took about an hour to get there. Immediately I was floored by the way that the town is set up. Houses are built into hills. It looks incredible! We toured the city with our group. We entered the Duomo (apparently Duomo means cathedral and many Italian cities have their own landmark Duomo), and Jesann wasn't allowed in because of her shorts. haha. I had to put a sweater over my tank top, and it was an extremely hot day! The church was very ornate and beautiful. I wish that my two grandmas and my mom could see it. They would probably appreciate even more than I did. We walked through the town and were shown that the town had once been surrounded by large walls. Some had still been standing, and upon seeing one I was reminded of "Age of Empires" the game haha. It looked like a castle wall. We got stuck in the rain for a while, and waited until it cleared or the next train would come. It cleared after about 30 minutes, and we were able to walk toward the lake. The town is like Sun Peaks in the sense that it is a village with the lake as its main attraction. You have to look at photos of this lake, it is unreal. George Clooney has a house there! I had no luck finding him.

We were so hung over that we ate McDonalds.. at Lake Como. Hahaha. They call it McCafe.. classy McDonalds? That is pretty twisted. In a lot of public places you have to pay to use the bathroom, like train stations, etc. I've only done it once. .5 Euros! To pay to use a bathroom I would expect someone there to wipe my butt for me, but the facilities were below par for sure. I tried to get my money's worth haha. Anyhow, at McDonalds, there is an open door policy usually for the bathrooms. At Lake Como, they have a concierge type man who basically overlooks the restaurant to see if you are a customer, so that you may use the bathroom. I guess people would try and go there to use the bathroom, so they wouldn't have to pay. I found this quite entertaining and tried to take his photo. I think he is half in a photo, but take a look.

On the way home, I was feeling travel fever. I was extremely giddy. We decided to go to Venice this weekend!! Venice! It is nice to have little goals, as opposed to which bars we should go to. I am thoroughly looking forward to going to Venice.

By the time we got home, I was fed up with not having found a cheap(ish) bottle opener. I had made an actual delicious dish of pasta (after several less appealing attempts), and me and Jesann sat down to watch Project Runway on my computer. I was feeling a little desperate for my wine. I tried a fork, I tried a knife, I even tried knocking on every door on our floor to find an opener. I ended up with pieces of plastic (not cork) everywhere, and walking around like a fool with no one answering their doors except for a man who didn't drink (but I understood that! haha). In the end, I smashed the top off on our balcony! Too funny. The girls thought it was hilarious, me - I thought it was necessary! haha. My first bottle of wine in Italy! It didn't have a lot of body to it, but it was 2 Euros! The way that it had broken was at an angle, so it acted like a spout. This encouraged me to keep pouring! haha.

I wish I could transport everyone I love from Kamloops here. I guess that would defeat part of the purpose of this trip, but I do really miss everyone! Little things will remind me of someone, and I want to share it with them! Just don't forget me! I love you all,

Jess

ps. I will probably write twice a week. I am not sure if this thing e-mails you or something when it's updated? I'm not sure, but 2-3 times a week I will write, so check it when you're bored or whatever. <3