Ciao Italy!

What. The. Hell.
Where did the last nine weeks go, and how did they go by so quickly?
I'm currently laying in my Rome hostel after a long day of travel. YOU CAN NEVER TRUST AN ITALIAN TRAIN...but more on this later.

I have learned so much in the past nine weeks--most importantly, the importance (what) of keeping a daily journal. THANK YOU KATHY. Change and awareness can most definitely occur in a short amount of time.  I have learned that people you barely know can treat you with the most kindness THERE IS HOPE WORLD...whether it's a night shirt when you have lost all of your clothing (Thank you Meg :) ) or a pair of sandals when you haven't got a pair (Thank you Mary,) or a tube of toothpaste when you have run out (Thank you Lisa :D ) orrrr a place to stay and good company (Melanie, and Zack) or a free haircut...gosh there are so many thanks to be given.

I learned that I do in fact have the ability to be a good teacher--I just need to stop doubting myself, and realize that this is one big process. I can't know everything, and some days...just...suck. (Most of this realization came from Sophie. Because well, she is awesome--and helped me destroy most of my negativity)

I have also learned that even in Italy you can have shit days, despite the typical "LIKEomGzzzz you are in Italy, stop complaining!!!" This is bullshit. Things can suck anywhere, BUT it is important to remember that the cure can be as simple as a sunset, or a mountain. You can choose to change your outlook.

I've learned to enjoy taking my time--something I don't think happens very often in America. No wonder everyone is getting fat. Whether peeling a peach with a knife (and failing about 30 times,) or handwashing all my clothing, or simply breathing in my surrounds...like I said earlier...you don't have to go to Chine to see the sky...

I have also realized that I am so ready for LA. My host mom confirmed this as well. It's funny to look back at one of my first posts of the summer where I am clearly LOOSING MY MIND about the future. I was considering going to Thailand. What? Me? No. There is still time to see the world, and I have seen more than I ever thought I'd be able to. It's time to finally, and seriously pursue what I know I love. This comedy bullshit ;) with my best friend. I'm thinking of it like an Italian train, if you miss it (and you will,) figure out your next move, and get to where you need to be. 

So, tomorrow I head to Copenhagen for a few days, then a very random, and hopefully awesome Hippie Adventure with 15 people I don't know, that may or may not kidnap me and make me live with elves in the Norwegian mountains. I'm ready for life, and actually very excited about this trip. I decided to say HELL YES to the opportunity, because when else will I be able to camp on the tallest peak in Norway? Hmm? HMM? Call me crazy, and I am--but this is so happening. 

I would like to do a short summer recap, followed by some Italian tips:

Things I am thankful for:

My first gelato of the summer, with my new friend Meg :)

Sicily 

Meg

Cheese. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD CHEESE.

Sophie. I owe you so much, you don't even know. The laughs, the realness--I love you. 

That one time I learned an Italian dance. 

* Everyone I worked with during the first week of camp

* Singing "Hit me baby one more time," for a ton of Italian's. What?

* The insanely loud toilet. I still miss it

* A really long and awkward attempt at ordering a white russian

* GLUTEN FREE PIZZA

* MELENZANE mmm.....

* Free gelato, and sweets, and almond milk

* Cheap fruit. Cheap Cheese. Cheap coffee. 

* Tequilla boom boom 

* The girls from sardinia

* Lion King dating show, Pirate show, Peterpan show

* Salerno shopping sales

* The kid that wrote me a love letter

* Food in Sicily. GRANITAS IN SICILY, really, ANYTHING in Sicily

* Sabaudia--the sea, the hills, the mojito parties

* My host dads brother that tried to hook me up with the chef "He is an artist--of the chicken"

* SO MUCH MORE

And Now for some tips, based on my travels these past couple of weeks:

 1. Please learn the basics. Don't be caught saying "Dove Banjo" see below

 

                                                      

2. You will stick out as an American, so PLEASE DO NOT MAKE IT WORSE by wearing your 

red/white/blue walmart eagle shirt. Or your "I HEART ROME," sweatshirt, IN ROME.

3. Coffee is fantastic, and so is Gelato--but for the love of god, if you are in a touristy area, GET IT TO GO.

4. Italian's currently have a very strange addiction to tacky neon clothing. 

5. If you are in a place that serves fresh almond milk ORDER IT PRONTO

6. There is NO NEED to worry about your body image while at the beach. Seriously. You will see a whole lot more than you have ever wanted to see. 

7. Don't confuse pazzo and cazzo. One is crazy. One is dick. I'll let you figure it out. 

8. Please don't complain about the lack of Chinese restaurants. AND PLEASE DO NOT GO TO McDONLANDS! YOU ARE IN ITALY. EAT ITALIAN FOOD. 

9. Be careful...15 yearolds will mistakenly look like 20something yearolds. 

10. When people say they are "engaged" it doesn't mean he put a ring on it. "I'm single in the summer," is a commonly followed phrase. 

11. Your train will be late. 

12. If you order a mixed drink, I advise packing a container of juice in your bag. The drinks here are way too strong and pretty gross in result.....stick with vino. 

12. Learn to take your time :) Enjoy every moment--it will help you at some point in your life. 

And now...I'm going to enjoy my final gelato. And probably eat a block of cheese. 

Ciao!

Fresh

Hey There. 

I decided to start a new blog, since my old one was still convinced I was in Italy, and was a royal pain in my ass. I also want to work on my writing. I have been in a funk for a while and have developed a fear of writing. I think it's because I have convinced myself that most..scratch that ALL... of my ideas are idiotic. My friends will argue otherwise, but what do they know! They are friends!

Did I mention how much I love The Smiths (And how scatterbrained I am)? There is something about Morrissey that makes me laugh, and puts me at ease. PLUS his super fabulously gay dance in this video always gets me. 

I can actually do a pretty good impression of him (it's one of my talents aside from mouth trumpet, and sounding like a black reverend,) and I won't lie--sometimes I get messed up and mimic this dance. Don't judge me. I know you do weird shit when you are alone at home too. 
Sometimes I like to pretend I'm a 26 year-old high gay man rocking an over sized flower-patterned shirt. Shut up. 

I passed all my classes this semester which is pretty sweet. I didn't think I was in the danger zone, but I was beyond stressed. I actually don't know how the hell it's May right now. I was involved in three productions, each following each other and the last being my comedy show. Anyone that writes comedy knows it's hell--until it's showtime. There is the fear of the material not being funny. There is a point where people new to sketch comedy secretly want to quit, because it is unlike any other theater experience and process. There is the fear that your brilliant writing partner is going to quit and/or commit stress suicide. There is the fear that one day you won't be kidding about jumping in your pool and not resurfacing *Note 1: I'm not an emo chick. Don't report me. Anyway, there are a lot of fears and every semester I think "There is no way I can do this again," but the show always goes surprisingly well. I have had a lot of great feedback and really loved my cast this time--so yes I will do it again and I will do it big. How will we top dirty nuns and dirty catholic kids that sing? No idea. 

It's really nice to have a break. My roommate and cat are gone for the summer, and my second roommate is never home so I have the place to myself for a while. I am catching up on reading and ordering books on everything I am bad at like...organization, "loving yourself," and "Working your way up in a business." LET'S SEE HOW THIS GOES. I also purchased Steve Martin's book Born Standing Up, and a book about a nun that left the convent called Out of the Habit. I've told myself that I won't add any other books until I finish these....or else my living room will be covered in quarter read books. 

The most exciting part of my summer is on it's way. I will be flying into Copenhagen at the end of the month, chilling there for a few days, then I'm off to Italy to work with kids again for eight weeks, then I return to Copenhagen to Wwoof with a friend for three weeks. I am beyond excited. I have contacted a ton of people through couchsurfing.com, so hopefully I find someone cool to stay with for a few days. I really love the concept--as long as I don't stay with some creeper that tries to feed me tons of Danish Hash Treats. I'm not sure why I picked Copenhagen--it was much cheaper to fly into than Italy, but something about it is calling to me. I feel like great things are going to happen this summer, and I can't wait to meet more people from all over the world. If I could...I'd pack up and leave right now and probably not return. 

So this blog will be used to document my travels, random shit and ideas. I hope you enjoy. If not, well then, poshel na khuy!