Caro a mia familia, amici, e stranieri,

Just wanted to update you all and let you all know that my meeting at the Busonera (where I am working) went very well. I officially begin next week, and I love the people in the lab. They are all extremely nice. I am not sure if I mentioned this but I am working in the Department of Oncology and Surgery. :-)

CANT WAIT TO START!!!!!!!!! Finalamente!

Well! I have been here for just about one week! To be exact it is my 6th day here in Padova, and I have already done and discovered a lot. For example... there is a fencing gym five minutes from my apartment! When I found this out I was excited. Today I have to meet with my boss at the Busonera where I will be working for the next year. Her lab deals a lot with Neuroimmunology... something I am very interested in as a matter of fact.

Being in Italy is very different. Despite having traveled to Italy numerous times and even studying here in college, I must admit that being independent and no where near American students is both a relief and difficult. On the plus side, I am learning more about myself and how well I can cope with adversity. When I was in Italy with my class we spoke english to often, but being alone I am finding myself using Italian even more; at the cafè, at the market, and in phone conversations. So far so well (I think!)

If you thought the garbage in the States was a pain, spend a week with me. I have four separate garbage cans with four separate garbage bags for each... It was not easy understanding which goes in which... But hey! I am in a different country! It's fun and exciting!

I have adjusted very well! I am slowly but surely making friends, I am meeting a friend for lunch this weekend, and then going out with another (possibly) next week. To really press the small world story, my friend who I am going out with this weekend is a good friend of someone (my age) who I met at the golf course in Padova six years ago...


Padova really is a great city! It's beautiful, small, and very Italian! I have yet to see an American tourist!

a presto!

Caro tutti,

Well, I finally made it to Padova, Italy and I must say I am having the time of my life... Despite not knowing that many people yet, I have been able to make some friends. For the past few days I have been getting set up in my apartment which is very close to Prato Della Valle.

As I write this post I have no internet... in fact I am using WiFi. The ISP server says that by tomorrow (a domani) I should have internet access. Everything hear is piano piano... something I am not yet used to.

But enough of that... my apartment is beautiful and I even have a GREAT rock collection... If you took Geology with me at Franklin and Marshall College you would either want to vomit or jump for joy because all those rocks were on that one exam. I'm doing neither! But the collection is interesting and all the names are Italian.

I can really get used to the Italian life style. The markets here are teriffic! Fresh fruit, veggies, meats and flowers for a great price... These markets put those where I went to college to shame. In Palazzo Ragione there is in my opinon the BEST market in Padova. It is like the Mecca of Chelsea Market in NYC, or Arthur Ave in the Bronx... I will be going there a lot! In fact, tomorrow I am going there to buy my food (i miei cibi) for the week.... Because we all know that me and food go hand-in-hand.

Today I went to church (to an Italian service) for the first time with my great friend Elisabetta, who is like an aunt to me. Her and her husband have been ever so helpful, helping me become acclimated and meeting people who are my age. The Catholic Mass is very much the same except it is in Italian, and also at the end when you recieve the Body of Christ, it is basically the first one to the front. There is no line! That actually confused me, and I was wondering why people were cutting in front of me.

I have been taking the time to explore the city and discover all it has to offer. After all it has the best medical school in Italy...and some of the best markets. You really need to get lost.. but with a map... thats how I have been finding some of these places.

So many opportunities are awaiting me! Places to see, people to meet! In fact, I was just invited to go to Vallencia, Spain for a Ferrari Classic... Yes! PJ is going to a Ferrari Race! Sorry Dana, I know you are jealous... but I will take pictures!

Once I get my actual internet service I will post pictures!

a presto.

PJ

This is a picture of Prato Della Valle taken from http://h2dj.com/uclaradionews/files/padova.jpg

Ciao,

Greetings everyone! My year long research experience in Padova, Italy is about to begin! The last time I was in Italy was the summer after my freshman year in college, when I decided to take my second year of advanced Italian in a five week period; which was very intense (not going to lie.) Though it was intense, I came out of the program almost fluent, even I was shocked. What is more shocking is how much Italian I was able to retain. I completed my Italian minor beginning of my sophomore year (1 1/2 yrs early) and I am still able to read, write, and speak Italian. Now, a college graduate, I am heading back to Italy to begin the next chapter of my life (the one where many college graduates take the time to decide which route to take.) Lets face it! I worked hard for my four years at Franklin and Marshall College, and once I begin graduate school, and get a job, the time to travel and see new cultures diminishes. I am still not one hundred percent sure what I want to do in life. So, for the next year I will be assisting in medical based research in one of the oldest medical schools in the world, the University of Padova (L'Università degli Studi di Padova). This is going to be the experience of a life time. Apart from conducting research in a famous medical school, I will have the opportunity to travel to new places within Italy (I still I have not yet seen Southern Italy,) and discover new foods (Mom, don't worry I am not going to be eating strange meats.) 

By the way, did you know that Galileo Galilei taught mathematics, astronomy and mechanics at the Università degli studi di Padova? 

Saluti,

Paolo