When in Rome... DON'T Get Sick!!

There are so many things I could write about this morning as I sit in my 3-star hotel room in the middle of Campo de Fiori in Rome...

Here's the most important update: This is day #8 of having the stomach flu ruin my Roman experience. I've been stuck in bed in my un-air conditioned apartment, suffering alone and feeling like absolute death. I've had a fever, hot and cold chills and sweats, massive body aches, massive headaches, dizzy spells, weakness, exhaustion, nausea, etc. etc.

To make a long story short... I checked into the hospital yesterday to get treated. I couldn't stay hydrated and knew that it was time for serious medical attention. I got IVs stuck into my arms and tested for multiple diseases. Turns out it was definitely the stomach flu, but with severe inflammation in my intestines and abdominal murmurs... due to stress...

ERGO: Rome is ending early. I convinced Moomsical and Faji to let me come home so that they can pamper my sick little body from the comfort of our red-leather couch in our air-conditioned living room. America, I'm coming home!

Am I Too Old To Be Homesick!?

Things I miss about the United States:

1) Air Conditioning
2) My Suped-up Oatmeal Breakfast
3) Gas-guzzling SUVs
4) Mom
5) Dad
6) Whole Foods
7) Brian
8) Customer Service
9) The English Language
10) Clothes Dryers
11) Paved Streets
12) Wireless Internet Access

It's A European Dance Party!

I finally went to a legitimate European party last night...

Because my roommates and I only get internet access from our bathroom, we frequently sit in the window with laptops and gaze down into the piazza that surrounds our apartment. (We also like to check-out what the neighbors are up to :)

Yesterday, one of our neighbors shouted across the alley to Courtney and invited all of us to his little get-together that evening. We were PSYCHED! We bought 2 bottles of wine and headed over there around 11 pm. We were greeted with hundreds of kisses by drunk Italians who spoke mediocre English.

Candles were lit in the open windows, cigarette smoke filled the air and techno music blasted from someone's ipod. Gross Italian men tried to dance with us and sported outfits that define the term "Euro-trash." Some of the dudes were dressed in clothes that made them look like outlaws from the wild west. Some, oddly, wore outfits that resembled the Jonas Brothers. It was a very eclectic group of individuals.

The most charming people at the party were the European ladies. We met one girl from northern England who is an aspiring actress and gives tours at the Vatican. Another party-goer was a girl from the Netherlands who is here on vacation with her close friend. Her English was superb and she was so much fun to talk to!

I learned last night that Europeans hold their booze MUCH better than Americans. Maybe it's the fact that Americans chug their drinks from SOLO cups, while Europeans sip their beverages from Dixie Cups. Yeah, that's definitely it...

Today is June 6th, and I'll be heading home in less than 3 weeks... (I'll land in the states at 7:30 pm on June 27th)... Time to make the most of Rome. CIAO!

Mamma Mia... (Italia, Italia)

I haven't posted anything in 11 days. That's entirely UNACCEPTABLE! (Except for the fact that I'm in Italy and have better things to do then sit at the computer all day... that's right, be jealous!) Allow me to highlight as much as I can about what has happened in the past 11 days in the beautiful Italia...

1) I visited Tuscany last Sunday! A double-decker charter bus took me and some other JCUers to the charming little towns of Pienza and Montepulciano. Two days before arriving in Montepulciano, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart had been there filming scenes for "New Moon!" I got to see where the movie was filmed and took tons of pictures of the set. I can't wait to see the movie in November!

We also had a wine tasting in Montepulciano and a 5-course dinner at a cute little Tuscan restaurant. I'll say this much... dessert wine should not be taken as shots... and red wine spritzers are a horrible idea!

2) Courtney, (practically my wife over here), and I took a 3-day trip to Florence together earlier this week. We stayed in a fabulous hostel right in the middle of the city. I dragged her around to the Duomo, it's Baptistry, the Uffizi Gallery, the Palazzo Pitti, the Guardino di Boboli, San Marco Church, San Lorenzo Church, Santa Maria Novella Church, the Academia with the David statue, Ponte Vecchio and Orsan Michelle Church. What a lovely trip!

3) My "class" over here, digital photography, is an absolute joke. For 4 hours on Tuesday and Thursday morning, I listen to a Mr. Bean look-alike try to speak English while dragging the class around Rome, taking pictures of absolutely nothing. (At least I don't have any midterms or finals, but honestly... the class is a complete waste of time). The first class consisted of me teaching everyone how to blog since the incompetent teacher had no idea how to do it... Yet he requires all of the students to do it weekly... MORON!

4) I'm honestly kind of scared to "go out" at night here and party in the Italian bars and clubs. It took me over a year to feel comfortable partying in DC, and I'm only over here for 6 weeks! Italian men have about twice as much testosterone as American men. If I hear one more "Ciao Bella," I might have to cry haha. My roommate Frenchie actually found herself an Italian lover who takes her around on his vespa and invited her over the other night to meet his parents and eat his mother's duck. He showed up outside our window last night with an empty keg... shouting her name... I just laughed :)

That's all for now friends. I have to go meet Mr. Bean outside the Colosseum. He's teaching us how to take "sneaky" pictures today without people knowing we're snapping. Hopefully, he'll use the word "changement" again... CIAO!

Pasta, Piazza, Prego, Gladys!

For the first 2 days of my Roman experience there were 4 girls, (including myself), living in my palace. At 12:04 AM on day 3, miss Shaleen joined the crew... and then there were 5. Roomie #6 is supposed to grace us with her presence sometime today...

The crazy characters that reside in this luxurious Roman castle are myself, Frenchie, Courtney, Shaleen, Phili and Tyler, (who hasn't arrived yet). Also staying with us is Gladys, a self-portrait of some guido that we found behind Frenchie's dresser. (And Aliki... the somewhat-alcoholic housing coordinator who frequently stops by and overstays her welcome).

Now... ROMA! What an exciting place: Three hobos permanantly station themselves outside our building, Italians yell until 4 pm in our Piazza and lettuce is referred to as "rocket" on American restaurant menus. (I'm totally serious... "rocket"... Not lechuga, letice or letuss, but ROCKET!) It's hot as hell outside, everyone tries to rip you off and there are no screens on the windows... (ENTER bugs!) Customer service is an unknown concept here. Waitresses glare at you, waiters stare at you and sneaky old women try to steal your purchased groceries.

On the other hand... tips aren't necessary when dining out, all prices are set at even dollar amounts and alcohol is wicked cheap. Every building, alley and artwork is absolutely gorgeous and cute sundresses are highly encouraged :)

When in Rome!

Ciao Bella... (Roma, Roma, Roma!)

Bonjourno! (Is that how you spell it?)... I'm here, amores! I'm here in Rome! (Please check out the videos posted on my facebook wall for an interesting portrayal of my Italian adventures)...

I'm living in an apartment in Travestevre, (again- is that how you spell it?)... It's not really an apartment, it's more of a palace! The place is HUGE with marble floors, high ceilings and Henri Matisse paintings on the walls.

The food is absolutely splendid. I ate some gnocchi the first night... Mouthgasm! I was also feeling the olives at "Friends Bar," a great cafe next to our palace that serves an American-style breakfast and delicious happy hour treats :) ... I was also pleased with my ham/mushroom/olive/artichoke pizza that I had for lunch today. Bon appetit!

Today I saw the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, Piazza Fiori and other beautiful places. The buildings are all so charming. The city's ancient architecture and deep-rooted history provide for some very enchanting scenery. I will keep you all updated as I enjoy my first European experience. Ciao, Ciao!

Happy Hangover! (Dude's Graduation)

It's about 2:00 am... I went to bed at 10:30 but woke up because of a stupid decision to eat a pack of M&M's at 10:00, (Side Note: chocolate has caffeine).

I have successfully made it through the brother's graduation weekend! (Minus the drive home later this morning)... For the past 3 days I have embraced the gifts of the wine gods to calm my mind and tune-out any unwanted family events/conversations. I was able to celebrate the accomplishments of my honors-everything "magna sum laude" sibling and was generous enough to lend him the spotlight for the weekend.

On Friday morning, Moomsical & Faji (Mom & Dad) sat me down for a serious conversation... "Now Hilsey, you know that this is ANDREW's weekend, right!? We know you like to be the center of attention, but try to let HIM shine for the next few days. Don't be a little brat and steal his thunder... Or we're cutting you off financially. Thanks, sweetheart!"

I can not lie... It was a challenge... But I think I behaved well and gracefully hid in the shadows during Andrew's "spotlight moments"... BUT: Now that the festivities are over, I can move back into the spotlight... the place I feel most comfortable :)