Porta Portese n' more

So on Sunday I went to the largest outdoor market in Rome, Porta Portese. And it was huge! We walked around for two hours...weaving through crowds and hundreds of tents with enthusiastic vendors! It was a lot to take in but I did make some good purchases! Christmas presents for the lil' bro and sis :) I also bought a spoon! Ha- this was my only attempt at bartering and I thought I had succeeded....I commented to Sarah on how well it went. Then after I had walked I heard..."Signorita!! Signorita!! NO!" and the woman vendor running towards me! She wanted €2 instead of €1! You see...I thought I had lowered the price to €1 and I so gave her a €1 coin, which she assumed was a €2 coin. But it wasn't till I was gone that she realized I 'gipped' her...Oops! But other than that one instance of poor communication it was a great morning! Later on Sunday I went to Pamphili Park to walk around and have some God time. It was such a relaxing afternoon. I even took a nap on a bench- I felt so Italian!

This weeks classes were pretty normal. I really enjoy my on-site classes...I feel so spoiled to be able to learn about Trajan's column and Forum while standing right in front of it :) Oh and I had my first test today...it was for Itineraries of Contem. Architecture. Our teacher actually forgot we had a test today so she gave us a 30 minute break to go get coffee while she made it halfway through our 3 hour long class! That was pretty funny! But compared to the History of Architecture classes at Philly U this test was "like a spelling test" (Chris). We just had to list the name of the building and architect!

Oh my and tonight Lindsay made the most amazing dinner...I can only attempt to describe it! There was a piece of toast topped with apricot jelly, fontina (cheese), grilled chicken breast, and proscuitto atop a bed of 'Lindsay's couscous'. Her couscous included an ecletic mix of apricots, sun-dried tomatoes, pistachios, scallions, BACON!!, pears, 'special onions', and sage. It was like a party in my mouth!

Well I am actually skipping my class tommorrow (shocker!) to go to Venice early! My train leaves at 6:50 in the morning and its a high speed train so it will only take 4 hours! I will be traveling by myself and everyone else is going to join my on Friday morning. I went to make a reservation for my train before dinner and I was nervous because of my poor italian so I had my dictionary and I was practicing what to say in my head. Well I started off by saying (in Italian) "I'm sorry but I don't speak Italian.." and the guy at the window says: "That's ok I speak English!" Of course! I am staying in a 'cheap' hotel, single room in Venice tommorrow night and it's only a four minute walk from St. Marks Square :) So it was a lil' splurge but I guess it will just be a birthday present to myself! But when everyone else comes on Friday we are staying in the same hostel which will be off of the island. So it will be really nice to stay on the island for one night!

I don't really have any set plans except that on Friday we are going to an international architecture exhibit that only takes place every two years! I would also like to go to the glass museum and wander around the streets and canals!! On Saturday we are going to Florence which means I will be celebrating my birthday there! So I'm sure that it will be a fun weekend!

So I was thinking today...I have been here for a month now! I am amazed at how much I have learned and been exposed to...and yet how much more there is to see and do! Also just in little ways that I have changed, either in adapting to the culture or just new routines and habits. One way I have changed is just how quiet I am here! For one, I don't know that language so that prevents me from talking. And I guess I am just soaking in everything around me too. Another thing that is hard for me to get used to is 'no eye contact'...So it may be hard for you to believe a 'quiet Kristin'...but it's true!

Well I must go and pack my sweet new backpack with everything that I will need for this weekend...and this time I am taking a towel :)

Moroccan Muses

Well my hands have finally recovered from this weeks ealier dissertation on Naples! I couldn't believe how much I actually wrote when I was finished with it! But do know that I have to keep a journal for study abroad documentation when I return to Philly U next semester, so the journal is as much for my use and it is for your pleasure ;)

I just finished another week of classes, pretty typical, except this week I didn't have any class on Wednesday since my professor was out of the country! So I had a very concise week and I got to sleep in yesterday! But I still was productive...I did 2 loads of laundry and it didn't even rain!!! Plus I got some letters sent out and I got to talk to Lisa :)

Also yesterday I made dinner (switched days with Lindsay). So I had all of my shopping to do for that. I attempted to make Moroccan lentil soup. I was very unsure though of how it would work since I couldn't find any of the right spices in the grocery stores...I couldn't even find cumin! So I still decided to try it and to just go crazy and add in my own spices :) Which is how I like to cook anyway. So besides adding what I had (the beans, chickpeas, lentils and some veggies) I added a lot of salt, pepper, chilli pepper and an exorbitant amount of cinnamon! I was very surprised when it turned out great! It smelled really sweet due to all the cinnamon but it had quite a kick to it from the chili pepper. It most likely tasted totally different than the original recipe, but my roomates both got seconds so I was happy! I also made a cucumber, tomato, red onion, and mint salad...a perfect compliment to the spicy soup. So it was a successful Moroccan meal and there was still plenty left over so I had some again for lunch today.

The other Moroccan part of my otherwise Italian day was at the produce market. It is the one I always go to, so I have written about it before. Well there are two arabic guys around my age who work there and they always play music. Yesterday was such a strange flashback because I swear that they were playing the same soundtrack as the Moroccan restaurant in Philly. For those of you have been there before I am sure that you can imagine what type of song it was. Plus, I am pretty sure it was one that the bellydancer danced to as well. It was just so weird to hear that at an Italian market but it was well suited music for my 'Moroccan dinner' produce shopping!

As for this weekend I don't have any set plans. Tonight though, we are having some people over for a dinner party, game night and movie! Leah and Lindsay are making chicken and eggplant parm and a salad. Some other girls are bringind the desert...so it should be a fun night! On Sunday I am going to try to go to one of the biggest market's in the city called Porta Portese. Which happens to be right in Trastevere so it is quite close. It is my goal to get all of my Christmas shopping done before my parents come in November so that they can take everything back with them! Does anyone have a wish list?

Hmmm...Speaking of wish lists...my birthday is in 9 days! I would like contact solution, degree deodorant (shower fresh), mint loose tea and 'Jelly Belly' jelly beans ;)