Hello Italy, I am here to learn you.: La Dolce Vita

WAAH WAAH WAAH!

That's what my cell phone sounds like as the auto-snooze goes off for the third time. Great. Late, as usual. As my body drags itself out of bed before my brain has fully regained consciousness, the perfunctory motions of the "wake-up routine" never get easier, even though I practice them everyday. I stumble out of my room (which is the biggest i've ever lived in - even in America - ironic isn't it. See my first post for a picture) and find breakfast laid out on the table, as it always is.

"But I don't have time!" My mind screams to me.

I try to articulate my thoughts, and I try to tell Stella that they'll take a whopping 5% off my grade if i'm late to class more than 10 minutes twice in a term, but she just wont listen! Or is it that she just doesn't understand?

"I'm sure that it is OK." Stella says with a slight Italian accent, as she tries to reassure me that taking a little extra time to enjoy breakfast before school, rather than gulping some coffee down and taking a piece of toast to go, would be perfectly condoned by the school's administration.

I think to myself - yes, many of the schools faculty and staff are Italian. Yes, they understand and fully participate in the "dolce vita" way of life, but NO, they won't make exceptions! And somehow, Stella, as knowledgeable and cultured as she is, can't seem to comprehend that while Italy loves la dolce vita, we Americans can't live without deadlines, ultimatums, and efficiency.

I guess I should just stay home more, drink less, and get more sleep at night. NOT! HAHA - La Dolce Vita (eap style) includes late nights out and fraternizing with locals at contrada parties in addition to the long lunches and afternoon naps.

This weekend we went to the Opera, Florence, and San Gimignano. Sorry no pics of the opera, but we saw Madame Butterfly at the same lake where Giacomo Puccini was inspired and wrote the opera.

Me and my too-short haircut at the Rialto Bridge in Venice