Then the mint flavor dripped on my foot as I walked the block back to my apartment. I forgot about it and noticed a green toe later. Freaked me out at first, but I figured it out. I'm a smart one.
So last time I wrote I had just been to the Parliament. Later that night I decided to go get a membership at a gym. Yes, I know, I only had 2 weeks left but my body really was starting to hate me. The cobblestones are not the best thing to run on everyday. So this gym. Wow.
They advertise air conditioning, and it is true they have a breeze that blows by every 30 minutes (maybe) but the rest of the time it is a sauna. Never knew the back of your hands could produce that much sweat! (too much information? oh well) I was so happy to be on the elliptical! It was just like the ones we have at home, except completely in Italian. It was telling me things and I had no idea what it all meant. We were the only ones in the gym wearing shorts, surprise surprise, I would have passed out if I wore pants like these crazy people do!
After I worked out I came back to the apartment and made pasta, again. While I was doing this I burned my hand on hot metal. It was so painful. The rest of the night I had to hold frozen bags of vegetables to keep the pain to a minimum. I even defrosted 3 pieces of chicken that night (by icing my hand)...I now have two nice scars on the palm of my hand. Nice little reminder of Italy I will have forever.
Friday morning we decided to sleep in. It was amazing. First night where I slept more than 6 hours. I slept 9 hours! I needed it. A few of my roommates and I decided to go check out a pool along the Tiber River because we were so hot. We got there and found out you have to wear a swim cap! Needless to say we decided to go get gelato instead. I watched a few movies throughout the day and then went and worked out at the gym again. I really started to feel
homesick this day and I was missing my Colorado/UTC friends. Friday was not a very exciting day but it was what I needed.
Saturday we were set on going to the beach, but again venturing to a body of water failed.
We all were feeling homesick this day so we decided to watch Top Gun (because I had never seen it). I felt a bit more American after that. Saturday night we had a bachelorette party f
or one of the girls in our group. Melisa is getting married next summer and we decided to throw her a Roman celebration!
We all dressed up and went out. The best part of the night? Ice Bar. You get these giant parkas and gloves and enter a room that is 21 degrees fahrenheit. The walls, chairs and glasses are made out of ice! First time I have been comfortable/cold in more than a month. I am pretty sure we stayed in there longer than anyone else. I want to go back right now.
Sunday I ran my long run in the morning. It was the best run I have had since I have been here. I ran in the park (13 minute uphill to get there) and I explored. I am not one to explore. I like to know where I am at all times. That is definitely something that has changed for me since I have been here. I am not so uptight! Later that day I got gelato again. This time however, I actually talked with the girl that works there. As usual I went to order and she realized it was me and she laughed. She said that I go there everyday (which may or may not be an exaggeration...).
I told her that I live on this street and that it is just so hot out that I need my "cold fix".
We talked about why I was in Rome for the summer as well as other things. It is kind of sad that I am on a first name basis with her. She even knows my order... For dinner that night I got my first kebab! It is lamb along with other things. Pretty much like a burrito. Everyone has
been raving about them so I had to try one. After our kebabs we went to Villa Borghese for the final world cup game.
It was insane! We got there early enough that we could actually be down close to the screen. So many people started coming they had to close it!
There were thousands and thousands!
I am not kidding. After the game we had to catch the metro. We had 15 minutes. We sprinted through the crowds and still had 8 minutes but they closed the metro! We had to figure out how to get home by the bus. It was interesting needless to say.
Monday was not my favorite day. I did the normal; classes and worked out. After that I decided to do my laundry. Apparently my cotton clothes make too much noise for my landlord's liking and I got an earful of rapid italian. Wow, sorry. Luckily we were planning on going to Toy Story 3 that night so I was able to get my mind off of it. We went to the same theater we saw Eclipse in (I don't think I mentioned that I saw that a few weeks back, but it was great). The theater was air conditioned! Alleluia! Toy Story 3 was so good. All the previews were in italian but the movie itself was in english with italian subtitles. We even got popcorn :)
Tuesday I was not feeling very good. During my run in the morning I stopped sweating. Not a good sign when it is 90 degrees at 7am. I did my best to stay hydrated during my classes because I knew I had a long afternoon ahead of me. I decided to join the history class in my program to get a tour of the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and the Colosseum. I did not want to just visit those places, I wanted information given to me about everything! The teacher is awesome and allowed me to join. I just had to pay for my pass, which was totally worth it. The Forum was awesome and the Colosseum was amazing. The entire time I was there I just could not believe I was actually there. On our way out we saw a lot of markings that people scratched into the walls and apparently the Colosseum loves Texas A&M.
Wednesday morning (Happy Birthday Mom!) I had planned on getting up and going to the gym because they told me that they opened at 9am. So I got there at 9:10 and they were not open. I decided to wait another 15 minutes, but no luck. I guess I should be used to this by now. Set times do not exist in Rome. I had to skip working out and head back home because I was going to be late for my class if I waited any longer.
After class a few girls and I went shopping by Piazza del Popolo on Via del Corso. I finally got my Italian soccer jersey! I am so excited! I also got some other things too. Getting this stuff home is going to be an issue... After shopping we went in the Pantheon (picture). The architecture of that place is unbelievable. Everything we construct in the States just seems so boring in comparison! We came back and I then had to go to the gym at around 7:30. At the gym on the television they had a Beyonce concert playing that was from L.A.
It was all in english. It was so comforting. She even sang Destiny's Child songs and I had the biggest smile on my face. Normally I would not have this type of reaction but it was just what I needed that day.
Other Italians in the gym were looking at the television very strangely and I was just praying they would not change the channel. They did not. I was able to enjoy my complete workout listening to english music that reminded me of my childhood and America in general :)
Thursday we took another trip with my Italian Media class. We went to Palatine hill to the Mediaset station. This is a television station controlled by Berlusconi. We got to go on the news set, see all the cameras and controls and even talk to a few journalists.
Before I came to Rome I never expected I would get to see all these amazing things.
I am finding that I learn a lot more from experience rather than in books. There is no comparison.
Tomorrow we are leaving for Tuscany and Florence, so I know I will have a lot to write about next time. I only have 8 days (and so many hours) left in Rome, and then Michelle and I will travel around Europe. I have loved my experience here in Rome, but it is just getting so hot I need a change in climate as well as pace. I would do anything for a quiet evening by a lake or even a night sitting on the couch listening to a thunderstorm. The reports today said that Rome was going to be the hottest city in the world today and tomorrow. We will be in the 100's in Florence as well. I am up to 3 cold showers and roughly 2 gelato stops a day.
Ciao
<3
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