The Update On My World Abroad

Can you believe it, mid October already!
Like watercolors, the days blend into each other, each one lacking a defined beginning and end. There is a remarkable distinction in the balance and rhythm of life between here and home; life back home rarely deviates past the hands on a clock. With meetings, schedules, appointments and deadlines being the order of the day we lose the ability to appreciate nature, companionship, art, music and even time alone, curled up in a blanket with a hot cup of tea and a good book. Here in Italy, time holds no meaning, people on there way to visit a friend or relative for lunch, or to catch a train into Venice for the day will just stop in the middle of the street to converse for hours with a neighbor even a stranger; dropping their plans without a second thought. It is during these times that I have met some very interesting and wonderful people. One of these characters would be the cheese man, whom I see and talk to every Sunday morning at market. I walk down the hill into the bustling portion of the square where all different kinds of foods are being sold, and the minute I turn the corner of the church, the cheese man shouts out across the square while waving a giant circle of cheese at me “Ciao Wilmington USA, Si you buy my cheese today”! hehehehe this man is the funniest, and always puts a smile on my face. Another market body of mine is an elderly man who sells olives at the far end of the square and he, being much the same does not allow me to pass by without saying hello, and hearing about the olives of the day; and of course weighing out my usual purchase of Kalamata olives. Needless to say Sunday mornings are my favorite day of the week. There have been two other charming people I have met along the way, these happened to be in Rapallo, during my first travel week. The one man, believe it or not was yet another food seller. (Wink-wink) He was making a Panini that I had ordered and kept insisting I should put ham on it, (which consequently I do not eat, along with any other kinds of meat aside from chicken and some fish) he was very persistent though he soon found out I was as well. He talked about Delaware with me, explaining his daughter lives there and that he would soon be flying out for a visit, he also informed me about how horrible the economy was in the states and how Bush was the “shittest excuse of a man he had ever seen” hahahaha, he was by far the most comical of all Panini makers. The last and most affectionate of all was a lovely shop keeper who sold the prettiest and classiest clothes I had ever seen. When I stepped inside her shop located on an ally that according to maps does not exist, she greeted me with a warm embrace and a motherly smile; by the time I left she and I were practically best friends. Kissing me goodbye I walked out with my new cloths in hand purchased at less then half price. She was such a lovely women, and was very happy to meet an American who was not rude and loud, and that genuinely cared in learning about another culture.
Speaking of travel week, Cinque Terre was fabulous. I hiked up three incredible mountains each containing dirt paths with ancient disintegrating rock, or root steps and one with 300 steps that I ended up going down twice and up once, due to a mild brain confusion I encountered. I traveled by fairy to an Abbey located on one of the islands around Rapallo, explored an aquarium containing the friendliest dolphins, and strolled along the ocean right outside my hotel window. By the time I got home late Friday evening my body was quite happy to off the bumpy train and in a soft warm bed. However with the never ending craziness of schoolwork, the mornings come all to fast. But keeping busy with studying and events is proving to be the best fun I have had in a long, long time.
Last Sunday at market I experienced as the Bangles put it in their song Manic Monday “kissing Valentino by a crystal blue Italian stream” only this Valentino happened to be in the form of the most amazingest pair of shoes ever (wink-wink). And you can bet that this coming weekend which happens to be a travel weekend I’ll be walk through Florence in high fashions with my Valentino heels (smiles). Speaking of high fashion, my apparel has drastically changed. I now wear classy designer clothes, and am rarely seen in anything but. Well that’s about it for the update, I’m currently exploring spring break ideas…any ideas?