PeRugiA- My mEdiEvAL ciTy

Jan. 4, 2008

After months of applications, meetings, packing, saying goodbyes, 9 hours of flying, one last starbucks, lugging lots of [broken] luggage from one gate to another, and wishing the dollar wasn't so weak, we finally made it to

PeRUGIA......

My three roommates and I were driven to our apartment in a very small van with our very own 'tour guide' who didn't speak any english...... driving by the Etruscan Arch, University for Foreigners, Gelaterias.....

Carrying luggage up three flights of stairs, not made for our big luggage, was very interesting! Our apartment is very Italian, with a tiny kitchen, and two very small bathrooms, garden, low ceilings.... My Roommates, Nicole, Erica, and Casey are all really nice! I share a double with NIcolE, and we have had a blast so far. She is from the Virgin Islands and attends Vilanova University. Casey and Eric both attend Elon University in North Carolina.

My apartment is on Corso Garibaldi, which is a main street in Perugia. At one end is the etruscan arch[which we walk under everyday to go to class] and

L'Universita per Stranieri and the other la porta di Sant Angelo [which has a beautiful view from the top!].



Our first week, my roommates and I went to a pizza place nearby where we had a meter of pizza with a free bottle of wine! We've never had such a big... or tasty pizza.
Intensive Italian classes kept us very busy this first week as did getting to know our way around Perugia. We found the Mercato Aperto, which sells purses, clothes, and antiques and has the best view of the city..... Cappucino at Lavazza, tortellone at Cafe Concerto, the best panini at Parma, Free WiFi at Coffee Break, meeting at la fontana maggiore on the steps [le scale], Grocery Shopping at Margerita, Bata Shoe Store, cioccolato caldo and live music at Cafe Morlachi... .and fabulous shopping all along Corso Vanucci......


Week two, classes began. I am taking Roman Empire, Italian, Leonardo DaVinci, and Italian Culture and Society. Classes are held in three different buildings that are scattered around the city center. Giampiero discusses the Roman Empire in broken english, often pausing to say 'Allora Ragazzi' and 'How you say.....' . He is a lot of fun and a good teacher. The first day of Leonardo DaVinci, we were all asked if we had read or seen Dan Brown's DaVinci Code. Afer the majority of the class raised their hands our professor, with a straight face and serious voice, said 'Get Out. You have offended me, my country, and the pope'. : )


Speaking Italian in class and with friends has been fun and we try to only speak Italian together..... Every wednesday "Tandem" takes place in the evening, where we have to chace to talk with Italian students. The first week, we had a nice dinner at Eden with our new Italian friends! This will be a great way to learn Italian...

It has been a lot of fun getting to know other kids in the program!! My favorites so far being Liz, from NYC attends Fordham University.... Hannah, from Denver attends CU..... Shanel, Arcadia University... Damien, Elon University.... Jeff, Penn State....Tanya, Arcadia University.... Olga, Univ. Pittsburg....Chris, Penn State....Dana, Penn State.... etc. : )

Ciao Ciao....