I've forgotten to mention how excellent the coffee is here. Not only in how it tastes, but how well it effects me. I got a cappuchino (which is basically the only cappuchino I drink here) halfway through my ethnic music class, and it made studying the bass lines of Cape Verde much more interesting. American coffee really pales in comparison, and I wonder if I will end up splurging and buying an espresso machine back home.

I went to church on Sunday, which for some reason made me feel back home, even though I never went to church at home. Everyone there was really nice, and best of all I got free bagels for breakfast! I also ended up taking communion, which I've never done before, and wasn't sure whether to spit out the 'body of christ', or whether it was eatable or not, but lucky Leanne was next to me and told me what to do. This week we're going to try to go to the synaggoge (however you spell it!), if they have english services. Switching off between these services kinds of reminds me of Flight Club, for those of you who have seen the movie, with Jack switching between all the disease meetings. I guess that isn't a great analogy though.

Saturday me and a few people went to the Uffizi gallery - we made reservations which was a very important recommendation since the normal waiting line looked about two hours, and we only paid $3 for a reservation. The gallery itself was fantastic, even for those with little art history background like me. My favorite painting was called The Slander, by Botaccili (whose name I forgot how to spell). It was also incredible to see paintings by Michelangelo, Rapheal, and Leonardo in person - only one more teenage mutant ninja turtle to see! Da'Vinci was especially impressive with his use of colors.

The biggest negative so far here has been the Americans. For some reason, abroad programs (and I'm guessing especially Italy) attracts rich, snobby, superficial, stupid, rude, partying Americans - or basically exactly the stereotype that these types of people have created. They come to Italy just to hang out with American friends in American bars and go party every night in American clubs, don't even try to speak Italian to the ... Italian, and complain about every assignment given in class, as if the fifteen minutes of homework every week is too much. And that's my rant on that subject.
posted by Jon at 2:48 PM
2 comments

 

---