Mind the gap.

I know this is long but I promised you it's a really good entry and for those of you with mid-terms coming up, I know you're looking for something to procrastinate with.

My trip to London was beyond unbelievable. I had one of the best times of my life in that city. You should all go visit if you have an ample opportunity.

My journey started out very early, 5:30am to be precise, on Friday morning. The train that I had planned on taking had been cancelled so I was scurrying around trying to get on the right one. After four different trains, I finally ended up in Pisa. Ironically enough, my random Roger Williams roommates from Oktoberfest were on the same plane to Stansted. My flight to Stansted was great and the bus from Stansted to London Centre was quick and painless.

My first stop was to see Carolyn and Rachel! I had my first ride on the tube from Baker Street to go see them. The tube is SO CLEAN, ORGANIZED, AND USER FRIENDLY! I couldn't believe it. It's incredibly efficient and economical if you have an Oyster Card. An Oyster Card is essentially a frequent traveler thing. At any rate, I ran across the street to see them but forgot that you have to look the opposite way in London and nearly gave the two of them a heart attack. It was funny. I can't even begin to describe how awesome it felt to be back with them. I hung out with Carolyn for a while and then headed over to Megan, Kaitlin, Ari, Dana, Bettina, Sam, and Harris's flat.

When I got off the tube my phone wasn't working. I just began to walk and then I looked across the street and there was a yellow North Face that I recognized in an instant. It was Hillary and Sierra! They were staying at the flat that I was going to visit so we walked back together. On the way we encountered Megan. I ran up behind her and scared her halfway to China. Awesome.

When we got back to the flat they made me tell them all about Florence and everything. It was fantastic to see them. Everything was back to normal - resumed right from where we all left off. I missed my friends so much. I was there for a while just hanging out and then I left to go to Megan Ranquist's to see her Molly and Becky. It was so great to catch up with them too!! Their flat has a remarkable view of the city because it's a pent house. I was there for about an hour and then headed back to have Chinese with Mickey, Stephanie, Jessie, and Jill. From there I went to go to Erin's flat where I was staying the night.

She jumped on me when she saw me. It was so funny. I got to see Alex which was cool too.We caught up for a good part of the night and then I needed to go to bed because I was exhausted. We slept in on Saturday morning because we were both exhausted. We went next door to see Kelsey, Julia, and Sam and talked to them for a bit. Next, we mapped out a route to get to Clifford Street to meet up with my dad's friend Scott Burns.

Mr. Burns had offered to take myself and a friend out for lunch since he lives and works in London. The office that he works in is a hybrid of a new building and an old one which was really cool to see! He took us through an arcade that was built for the wife of a duke, I believe, so that she and her friends could shop safely. The things for sale in there were insane. There was leather, tons of jewelry, and a lot of other fancy things.

We had reservations at this restaurant called the Fountain Restaurant inside a building called Fortnum & Mason. It was SO GOOD! Mr. Burns and I got a cup of Onion Soup with a Haddock Omelette which may sound strange, but it was marvelous. Erin got a salad and salmon which was apparently very delicious as well. For dessert we got a Treacle Tart and Sticky Pudding - two English classics. Everything was beyond delectable. It was really quite nice to be able to meet up with one of my dad's friends. We talked alot about my dad and had a lot of other stimulating conversations about the difference between London and the States, taxi things, food, college life, and an assortment of other things. It was an incredible dining experience to say the least.

From there, Erin and I took off for Buckingham Palace, St. James Palace, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and Parliament. To get there we took a double decker! So much fun! There's nothing special about them at all except they are the things on all of the postcards :) The Thames is cool to look up and down because it's so big! So, I took all of the typical touristy pictures and even one in a red phone booth! Bahaha.

On the way back we went through Victoria Station and I bought a Starbuck's - sorry, had to. I wanted to go to the Sherlock Holmes Museum but Erin didn't so I ventured to 221B Baker Street on my own. So. Worth. It. I can't believe how much of a dork I am. I loved every second of being in this complete fantasy world of Holmes and Watson. The house was recreated just as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had described it. There were wax figures of characters from the stories and all of Holmes's old "belongings" and "letters". I had a blast. I even took a picture in his chair with the pipe and hat!

I headed back to shower at Erin's and then her and I went to go get dinner at the Duke of York where apparently the kids in her flat are regulars. I got Fish&Chips and a cider. Classic. We had some awesome conversation over dinner for sure.

I went out to meet up with Ari. Him and I were going to go to a club then meet up with everyone else for Becca's birthday at Megan, Molly, and Becky's flat. We had such an awesome time together! I really missed him! Anyway, the party was a lot of fun as well. After that, a group of 10 of us went to Piccadilly Circus to go to another club called On Anon. There were an exorbitant amount of people there. It was rather insane. We stayed for our money's worth and then headed out. I decided to just crash at Ari's because I wasn't sure exactly how to get back to Erin's and the tube was closed.

I got up early in the morning and then headed back to Erin's. Her and I figured out a plan and then I went to go hang out with Rachel for a while. I missed her and our conversations. We just sat and talked for a good two hours. I gave Mickey her 21st Birthday cards!! (HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUDDY!) Unfortunately, I had to leave London so I departed for Victoria Station to meet up with Erin for lunch. I got my ticket for the Gatwick Express and headed out to the airport at 3:30.

I arrived at Gatwick at 4 only to discover that I had somehow booked my flight for the day before. Yepp. Genius, right? I triple-checked the information wrong is the worst part. Amidst a lot of craziness and running around, I got myself a ticket to Milan. The only problem with that was that there weren't trains running from Milan to Florence after 8:30pm. I didn't get into Malpensa, which is an hour outside the city center, til 9. I figured I would just stay in the station overnight. It's not too bad, people have done it before. Anyway, while on the plane I asked the people next to me if they knew how to get the center. The woman at the end of my row said I could just follow her down there. I was super grateful for that.

For this part of the story, I'm going to leave out a lot of details for readability purposes. Once I got on the bus with her we began talking about a whole bunch of stuff. Oh, might I add that she was an Italian that spoke English :) At any rate, we are almost to the center when she turns to me and says that she doesn't feel comfortable with me staying in the station and that I could stay with her but her house was too small. Therefore, her boyfriend, Fabio, was on his way to pick us up at the station and they were going to find me a hotel for the night and pay for it. I was in shock. I didn't know what to do. I was beside myself. They were beyond kind to me and I don't know how to thank them, still.

So I spent the night in Milan and caught the 6:30 train to Santa Maria Novella. We arrived at 8:39 and I was in class at 9:01. Nothing can describe this weekend - especially the end. Nothing.

I absolutely love London, my friends, and the fact that I now know that there are good people in this world here and there.

Thank you to my friends in London who were so hospitable, Mr. Burns, my parents, and Isabella and Fabio, for making this weekend one of the best in my life.

Now for mid-terms...

A Londra!!

It's off to London with me in approximately seven and a half hours!

Wednesday was an okay day. Had a little jam session which definitely turned things around.

Today was good. Got a lot done. Found out that I got the lead role in the Importance of Being Earnest. My part is Jack. I'm really excited. Lots of work to do though!

I'm staying with Erin this weekend in London. I get to see Hil, Kait, Ari, Erin, Meg, Mick, Rach, Meg...soo many people I can't even list them all. BUT KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU ALL :)

Mid-terms next week. I'm not stressing either which is good.

I'm half way done with abroad almost. Craziness.

Livestrong.

Cheers!

It's finally getting colder!!!

WOOO!

Okay, I know I've been slacking with an update for two days but that's because there's not much to write about.

Sunday was a good day. I woke up, did some homework and then had an awesome lunch with the family. Tori and I are getting really close. I've begun to help her with her English homework at night too. Things are great with them.

After that I headed off to Palazzo Davanzatti for the performance of A Florentine Tragedy. It was awesome. I was an usher for both ushers. Rachel and Schulyer were running tech. It was great to hang out with them.

I stayed at school til late on Sunday night to do homework and talk to people.

Yesterday was an okay day for classes. I had rehearsal which was nice and then headed home for dinner and homework.

Today I've got classes, a meeting with a teacher for a project, and rehearsal again. After dinner I'm going out with Liza, Jacq, and Rach to see Fame. Woop.

The weather is sooooo nice. It's 65 and gorgeously sunny. I woke up with such a big smile on my face because of it.

WOOOOOOO!

I'M GOING TO LONDON ON THURSDAY!!! I get to see everyone and I am SO EXCITED.

Questa e' tutto.

I am not climbing that mountain. I mean it.

So last night I went home and had dinner and then promptly went to bed.

It was an early morning as we headed off for Assisi and Gubbio. It was a lot of walking. We didn't get to really see much in either place. It was raining and we were rushed. Booooooo.

Just got back to school. Going to Edi's with Adam, Aviva, Jacque, and Rosa. Then probably Chip and Chad's for the rest of the night.

Tomorrow is a homework day and going to see the David. Then I'm ushering for A Florentine Tragedy at 4 and 6. Then who knows...

LONDON NEXT WEEKEND.

Otto climbed the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

No - really, he did. I carried him all the way up to the top.

ANYWAY - REWIND. The rest of Wednesday and Thursday were utterly boring. There you have it.

I went out Thursday night to Savonarola and played soccer with Jacque, Laura, Maggie, and a few Italian / Morrocan guys. That's about it.

Today, we went to Pisa and Lucca. They were both relatively boring. I did get quite involved with the discussion with Alick which made it a little bit more interesting. Aviva, Laura, Maddie, and Tori were all there today with me so it wasn't so bad. Good times. We were just all so tired!!

Anyway - pictures will be on Facebook soonish.

Assisi and Gubbio tomorrow.

MISS EVERYONE AT HOME!!!

"Did you need to be saved just then?"

So. Tuesday was the same old routine of boring classes. We had a special theater workshop with a troupe from England. It was awesome. After that there was a guest lecturer from Joel Kaplan, an Oscar Wilde expert. Dinner was a good time as always. We played the game with the letter V. Not too many words with that letter for the game.

I went out last night with Liza, Rachel, Laura, and Kira to Lion's Fountain for the soccer awards thing. We all got medals. It was really cool. There was a guy there that was being essentially hung on by this drunk girl. So after that, Laura went up to the guy and asked him if he needed to have been saved from that. It was quite hysterical. After that we went to this other bar where Tori was and our friend Amanda is a bar tender. It was a really relaxed night and just a good time.

Today my classes went well and I went to Sidi's for lunch with Jacque and Liza. Since then I've been doing some homework, OL stuff, and chilling with Beth.

I have a meeting about First Year stuff with Amy at 4 and then Forum at 440. Tonight I don't have much in store other than recharging my phone with Liza and heading home for dinner and bedtime.

Sono annoisa. Ciao.

They made me an offer I couldn't refuse.

I went to Sicily this weekend. For those of you who don't know the movie The Godfather, the title of this post comes from that movie - modified of course. Google it if you're still confused.

So meeting time on Friday morning was at 4a.m. in front of school. I therefore did not decide to sleep because I wasn't going to wake up. SO I went out. It was a good time.

I made it to school on time and passed out promptly after getting onto the bus. I slept all the way to the Pisa airport and then essentially the entire time we were waiting at the airport. Our RyanAir flight to Trapani was also not a memory of mine seeing as how I was unconscious for that as well. Arrival in Trapani was probably around 9:30 /10 am - I don't remember.

Anyhow, we headed up to the ancient city of Edice which is about 5,000 feet above sea level. Real high. It was pouring rain and we all got beyond soaked. We took refuge in a pastry shop and restaurant where we started out with really amazing cannolis and ricotta pastries before heading to the old Norman castle. After goofing off at the castle and taking tons of pictures, we headed back to the restaurant for lunch. The cous cous that we all got was REALLY good. I started hanging out with Maggie, Alex, Julie, and Laura which was super fun. They're crazy. I hurt my hip while jumping around everywhere in the rain - it was bound to happen eventually.

After that we headed off to Segesta which is an ancient temple and theater site. It was fantastically gorgeous. The theater area was flooded and while I was standing near the edge, Andrea decided to fake push me in. That was fun. I squeaked. Starr said I talked loud enough all the time anyway that I didn't need the acoustics from the theater to help me. Despite all that I still had a blast there.

We started out for Corleone (yes, for you Godfather buffs - Corleone) where our hotel was. The fields and the views were breathtaking. I felt like I was in an Italian trance. I roomed with Laura, Maddie, and Kate. Dinner was fun. We played stupid mind games and accidentally ate anchoives or sardines - we're not quite sure. I passed out as soon as I got to the room.

Saturday morning we were up really early. During breakfast we got a history on the Mafia and a current update from Professor Piombino. We then went to Cinesi to meet the brother of a guy named Peppino Impastoti who resisted the Mafia through public communication. It was intense.

From there we went to Monreale where there is this really, really, really old Cathedral and cloister. There were cool mosaics there. Other than that the CANNOLIS WERE THE BEST IN THE WORLD. I had two. Yepp, I'm a fattie. Whatever.

After that we went to the site of the 1947 Mafia massacre on the farmers of the Albanian village. There were three survivors who recounted their stories. It was really heavy stuff. It was weird to contrast the gorgeous landscapes with that horrible event.

We went to dinner at some really remote restaurant that was really good. Our waiter's name was Roberto. He was our age and really cool. It was great food and great wine. The guys who work on the farming cooperative that we were supposed to farm with offered to take us out for the night in Corleone so we accepted. I just kind of talked to them and practiced my Italian for a while. It's tough to talk to them because the Sicilian dialect is SO MUCH DIFFERENT than standard Italian. I went right to bed when I got back.

We had to be up at 6 to hit the road. We ate breakfast quickly and then went to the grape fields where we were supposed to form. It was gorgeous and the grapes looked so good. From there we headed to Palermo and me, Julie, Maggie, and Alex were singing the entire way probably ticking off everyone on the bus - but that's okay.

We saw a bunch of old churches and building things that really don't have too much significance to talk about. We had a really amazing lunch in Palermo at the second oldest restaurant in Italy called Antica Foccaceria San Francesco. They guy who owned it refused to pay the Mafia's protection fee and was therefore, literally, in mortal danger. He now has 5 Carabinieri - the equivalent of Secret Service - with him at all times to protect his life. The Mafia is still a big, big problem around here. I'll probably post on that later this week.

Our train left at 4pm. We had sleeper cabins. It was a really cool experience to take a train along the Sicilian coast. In order to get the train to the mainland the broke the cars apart and put them on a ferry and rejoined them on the other side. SO COOL. I roomed with Laura and Maddie. We slept and were woken up right as we were pulling into the station at 7am this morning.

Although the professor that I had class with at 9am was on the trip with us, class was not cancelled. So I was at school by 815am and proceeded to go about my daily routine. Classes were fine today. I chilled with Beth for a super long time. My theater workshop went well this evening as well.

Thank you for taking the time to read this obscenely long post!!!

You rock - all of you.

There is no skin on my knees or elbows.

Don't worry, it's not that bad. I am, if you're reading for the first time, the goalie for our school soccer team. The turf we play on is awful and I have henceforth destroyed my elbows and knees from making saves / diving for shots that I missed.

We were supposed to only have one game last and after our first one - a 5-0 loss to the best team in the league - we were informed we had a game at 815 as well. So we got all prepped for our 815 and then were told it was at 840. Heck of a good game which ended in a 4-3. I totally blew the last goal. The tournament was a TON of fun and the soccer team was the first place that I've made some pretty good friends here. We have an only girls tournament next week which I'm really looking forward to.

Classes for the end of the week went well. Liza, Merritt, and I are going to do a group project for Lit Travels and Prof. Nicholson informed me that I will probably be playing one of the more important roles in the Importance of Being Earnest.

I'm crazy excited. I'm heading out right now to meet people at Savonarola and then out to a bar somewhere.

I probably won't go to sleep tonight seeing as though I need to be at school at 4am to catch our bus to Sicily!! I will be gone until Monday night so don't check for an update...(Katie).

I'm super excited - as I said.

Hello to all of you reading this and to those who may be hearing about it.

I miss everyone at home dearly, just so you know!

To my 'Cuse buddies: Have a blast this weekend with Homecoming and wear some orange for me!

Vado!