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