I apologize for the dilatory nature of this post and for its incohesiveness (in advance)…

The past couple of weeks have been filled with lots of ups and downs in many respects: I’ve started and almost finished a second painting, nearly completed two portrait drawings and ready to begin the next, developed several rolls of film and made some working prints (which goes to say that they are adequate but not great), completed my first art history paper (yes, I actually have to write papers here, too) and taken my first art history TEST (and you thought that art majors didn’t have to study…ha!). I have also acquired an annoying habit of speaking in parentheses…

But that only covers the academics — unbeknownst to many I do have a slight ability to maintain a social life… when necessary. I’ve been to the “discoteca” — ironically named Route 66 –approximately three times (danced only twice b/c I find techno music pretty distasteful); walked through several open-air markets; climbed this wretched mountain umpteen-million times (it’s really a blessing in disguise with all the pasta they serve us…notice the passive there, its not *my* fault I was taught to eat what I’m served ); been to a wine museum and a medieval paper-making press; visited the rather cosmopolitan city of Perugia on a quest (aka wild goose chase) to find a camera repair store; watched several episodes of Golden Girls (love it!); and cried over the movie In Her Shoes (it was my first time watching it… I miss my sisters ). All that being said, it is the small things here that continue to remind me of home and keep me counting down in the back of my head the days until my return.

I’ve caught the unfortunate illness that is making rounds through this drafty dormitory…which is also a funny story because for some reason or another the showers here have absolutely NO hot water, no matter how long you let it run or how hard you push the lever to the left, it simply refuses to produce heat. Thus, there is not a single hot shower to be had. Why is this funny? It’s more of an ironic cynicism… you just have to laugh at 50 students with dirty hair shuffling around in blankets and whatever other warmth they can get their hands on. We’re hoping that one of these days they will notice our blue lips and greasy hair and have some mercy. Consequently, it’s not surprising that the good old stuffynose-cough-fever-feeling-like-crapness has made its conquest, but we are well into the second week and as such it should be dying off fairly soon.

On a brighter note, the weather here has been absolutely gorgeous, so here’s a little picture for you to enjoy. 🙂

*EDIT*
5 Things I wish I had brought with me:
1. My Ugs (those fuzzy sheepskin boots…they would be perfect for this hot/cold weather)
2. Ramen Noodle Soup! In every flavour!
3. Another pair of flip-flops… the ones I have broke
4. A tube of Naples Yellow oil paint… it’s hard to paint a portrait w/out it
5. A blanket to shuffle around in

Well it is a gloomy, rainy day here in Cortona, Italy and I’m wishing that there were a fireplace somewhere in this large dormitory…but alas, I have found none. The very worst part? Even the showers are cold!! But I’m not trying to complain, just to catalogue the experience. 🙂 I fixed a hot red beans and rice for lunch and enjoyed it with the lovely Brooks Wilder (doesn’t that sound like a celebrity name?) and despite the weather I think my day is going pretty well so far….

SO, for all of you not blessed with the gift of Facebook, here are some photos to catch you up!

Me, Betsy, and Andrea enjoying dinner at Tonino’s

Brooks and me all dressed up for GeorgiaAnn’s 21st birthday!

Our little group… Betsy, Brooks, me, Andrea, Jordan and GeorgiaAnn

Jordan, me, GeorgiaAnn, Mauro and Andrea in costume for Nate’s Hawaiian Luau Birthday party!

I just had the best lunch ever.

While this normally wouldn’t be anything to comment on, the Italian diet that we’ve been placed on here in Cortona is so starch-laden and carb-heavy that after even one week (and it’s been two) I was craving something green and leafy….I probably would have eaten an entire head of lettuce or stem of broccoli if you’d given it to me. But today, I finally got up the nerve to confront the mean produce lady… — This requires background: Over here, it’s considered completely inappropriate to pick up or touch your own produce when you’re shopping, especially since most fresh fruits and veggies are sold separately from little stands rather than at a larger supermercado (grocery store). That being said, when you have the desire to buy produce, you must find a suitable stand, try to flag down one of the “attendants” (usually a grumpy older man/woman who doesn’t like Americans) and then stumble over your crummy Italian in an effort to buy one gosh-darn banana. This can be rather difficult and intimidating. Especially with this particular woman — dubbed “mean produce lady” — it is not uncommon for one to stand there for 15 or 20 minutes while she attends to every other customer in the street…stopping strangers to see if they want to buy anything and offering carrots to the mangy cats that roam the streets (Cortona is truly a City of Cats…more on that later)….BEFORE noticing the poor, meager art student yearning for a single tomato. Fortunately for me, today was different. By the sheer grace of God, I was able to catch mean produce lady at a time when there were no other possible customers and not only did I manage to buy one tomato, but two! AND a peach! This was truly thrilling.

Not only that, but I really hit the jackpot in the foreign cheese lottery — the supermarket (or what passes as one…it’s certainly no Walmart) offers a large variety of cheeses and other white, pink or brown triangle shaped things and most of them have strange names that I’ve never heard of. I bought something last time that said it was asiago, but it certainly didn’t taste like the asiago I know. And heaven forbid they start importing cheddar….. Anyway, today I got something that was possibly the best cheese I’ve had to date. I don’t remember the name and I don’t want to run all the way downstairs to grab it out of the fridge just for the name, but it did start with an “F” and it was perfect on my tomato-cheese-on-a-roll sandwhich. AND, as if things couldn’t get any better, one of the gals in the program decided to fix homemade soup and was generous enough to offer it to any passerby who happened to be nutritionally malnourished (which at this point, we all are…you can only take so much pasta) and that was some wonderful soup.

I know that there are probably at least one or two people who will appreciate this post (Karen and my mother) but for all the rest of you, I just want to make it clear that I am not saying that Italian food isn’t great. All I’m saying is that the only person making sure I get my greens ‘n’ veggies is myself and up until this point I’m not sure I was fully cognizent (sp?) of the detrimental impact of eating solely coffee, pasta and/or meat products with the occasional fruit and yogurt thrown in there. After a while, the idea of eating becomes rather unappealing. THAT being said…thank God for fresh vegetables and, despite her taciturn nature, for the mean produce lady and her thriving garden. 🙂

Well, I think the stress of travel and constant occupation has finally begun to take it’s toll and I’ve caught the ubiquitous cold that has been making rounds through the dormitory. Our fieldtrip to Perugia and Chiusi yesterday was more relaxing, though, and we spent most of the time strolling through the streets and stopping through shops (still on a quest for the perfect pair of boots). Although Perugia is famous for its chocolate, the “Willy-Wonka-esque” factory was closed yesterday so we were unable to sample the best of the best; however, we did take full advantage of the many pastry stores within the city. I’m currently in the process up uploading more photos from yesterday so check HERE under the Perugia / Chiusi album for recent pictures.

Tomorrow begins my first REAL day of classes since I only have them on Monday and Thursday (an unplanned, amazing twist of fate) and I am very ready to indulge completely in the world of art. 🙂

There are not enough words (at least not in the English language…maybe there are in Italian) to describe how beautiful this place is. The sights, sounds, smells…. everything feels so much more natural and wholesome. The way of life here is something preserved from a different time.

Just last night, after our four course dinner, we walked around this little village of Cortona to take in the evening sights. Apparently, everyone else had the same idea! This sort of “evening stroll” is a completely normal community activity in this area of the world. The entire Cortonese population seemed to be out — walking through the steep, winding streets; eating gelato on the steps of the piazza; drinking coffee or beer or whatever at the local bars and cafes; talking closely with a loved one or watching children dance with their teddy bears (yes, we actually saw this one). It is like something out of a movie, except that it is completely real in a way that makes you never want to leave.

There is nothing better than being absorbed in something you love — and yet the one thing that improves upon any experience is to be surrounded by those whom you love. I wish you could ALL be here to experience this with me. One day when I’m rich (haha) we will take a big vacation here!

Photos from Italy are now up and running!
Click HERE or click the PHOTOS button up above.