Salve tutti!

Addesso sto bevendo un spritz! (I am not an alcoholic) In Italy it is custom to have a before dinner drink. I like mine with Aperol compared to Campari which is too bitter (amoro)

These past couple of weeks have been a challenge all on there own; such as the infamous phone and internet which is still down and not working. I know I have been given this opportunity and I thank God for it everyday. Many of my friends are either out of work, in graduate school, or back home doing nothing... So, I should be only lucky to be here and surrounded by such wonderful people. Yes, it is hard to make friends, especially when I am not at work (I start Monday FYI,) and I am sure that I will meet new people everyday!

I love the people I am going to be working with! They are very kind and open. From the moment I first met them they have been very generous and kind to me, treating me like I was royalty or a VIP.

So I really had no right to be complaining all this time about not knowing anyone... I apologize for that. Granted, I have only been here for 2 1/2 weeks, I need to be patient. Something I lack. Hopefully, after living here for at least one year I will be given that gift!

I am making headway. Tonight or this weekend I may be meeting up with some people after dinner (I will be safe Mom.) Tomorrow I may be getting a bicicletta! FINALLY! Oh! And my family friend helped me figure out the wash, and the maid is able to do my wash, dry cleaning and everything else... I just made myself sound like the biggest mammoni but you know what? I AM! Well... used to be. I don't know to may mammoni's who live in a foriegn country alone.

I have been talking to my family and they have been constantly giving me courage and strength as I am not really a student. Typically, students would be around other students constantly. Me, I need to make my own friends, and do everything independently. This will only help me and make me a stronger person both physically and mentally. Although I still scream when I find a giant spider on my bathroom, bedroom, or living room wall.

ci vediamo!