Siracusa...alla spiaggia

Siracusa, and more specifically, Ortigia is the most beautiful place in the world. It is so peaceful and wonderful and full of such life and culture! The island has been inhabited by so many various societies and peoples over the centuries that the diverse cultures have meshed together to make an incredible island. The island of Ortigia is so tiny that you can get from one side to another so quickly. You never walk more than 10 steps without being to see the water. There are swimming holes and sand beaches everywhere. The food is also unbelievable...whether we're eating pasta or pizza or salad or seafood, its so great! And we definitely spend all of our free time on the beach, the water is the most blue I've ever seen and its as far as the eye can see.

We went on a boat tour of the island the other day, which was wonderful! We went to a private cove, where we could swim right off the boat. Then the coast guard came, and that party got broken up! We joked it was the first time we broke the law in Italy and got away with it. Unfortunately, I did get burnt, for the first time here. The sun is so amazing, it seriously isn't as powerful as it is in Pittsburgh. I'm loving it!!

Classes started today and they are amazing. Its so nice to finally be back into the class mode, and it definitely forces me to use my Italian more, which is obviously the whole reason I'm here! :)I went to the market and was able to talk to all the vendors only in Italian and even my listening skills are getting better already! I don't believe that this place has the potential to get old!

Sadly, Lorraine had to go back to the States today, as she was really sick and just wasn't feeling any better here. It was so upsetting, especially since she is the whole reason I chose this trip over any others! But hopefully, she'll feel better soon!

Roma

Good news...I successfully met up with my group in Rome, and we had two incredible days exploring the culture and history of such a beautiful city. I love the whole group so much, there are such wonderful people going through the same adventure as me, but in a completely different way. There are 12 of us in total, and we instantly became best friends. We are all Pitt students, anywhere from just finishing freshman year to graduating upon returning from the program.

In Rome, we saw such beautiful architecture, like la Fontana di Trevi (Trevi Fountain) and la Piazza Navona, where we were able to sit around and drink some wine at night. And obviously saw il Colosseo!! We all took so many pictures (some can be viewed here!) and it was so wonderful. We even found a Steelers bar, complete with banners from universities all around Pittsburgh! We also got the opportunity to go to Vatican city, which was so brillantly decorated and beautiful. I never want to come home!

We're are safely in Siracusa, Sicilia now, and classes still don't start until Monday. Its amazing to have so much free time to eat a lot and play at the beach. More updates to come! :)

Packing Procrastination Panic

So, I leave for Rome tomorrow. And my suitcase? Not packed. It is purely impossible to fit enough stuff for seven weeks into one medium sized suitcase. IMPOSSIBLE! And of course, instead of packing, I'm on here, wasting my time! :)

Let me explain what I'm packing for. Tomorrow, at 7AM, I will be leaving Pittsburgh, getting on a bus, and going to New York City, from where I will go to JFK International Airport and get on a plane which will fly me to Madrid and then finally into Rome, where I will be spending two days on my own before meeting up with the Pitt in Italy group. Once I am united with my fellow Pitt students, we will spend a few days in Rome touring the city, and then head on to Siracusa, Sicily to study for five weeks. During this time, I will be taking three classes equaling seven credits: Literary Italian 1, Conversation (both of which could count as the final class needed to complete the Italian Language minor) and Culture of Siracusa-a one credit travel class!

Once these wonderful courses are finished, I will be meeting two of my best friends, Anna Schneider and Toni Bui, in Rome for a whirlwind trip through Europe during which we will hit Athens, Greece; Berlin, Germany; Barcelona, Spain; and Dublin, Ireland! This is definitely going to be the best summer ever.

While I'm in Siracusa, here is my address (Google Map it, you'll be jealous! :])
Via della Giudecca 77
96100 Siracusa SR Italia

Now, if only I could be packed...

A presto (in Italia!)!!
-Calen <3

Cancun, Mexico

"My life is like a stroll upon the beach; as near to the edge as I can go" --Henry David Thoreau

Cancun, Mexico: May 16-20, 2010

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