Hey all!
I officially finished my classes yesterday in Roma and am gearing up for a few days of sightseeing with my family in many "off the beaten pathways" cities, so I will not be able to access my email and/or the internet. I am hopeful that Thursday when I return to Roma, I can send a brief update before heading back to the states! Until then, pray that I have safe travels here and abroad!
All my love,
FF
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Details wanted....
HI all! I hope this finds you well! I have been so damn busy with life here in Roma that I havent really updated lately...
Despite not updated the blog, many of you have noted that you want further details about the professor and/or other hotties that have treated me to a dinner or two. I guess that I havent included all of those fun tidbits for a few reasons:
1. time! I have only limited time to write as the I-cafe is $10/hour and I can only do so much in that amount of time....
2. The stories and lines these guys use are certainly worth hearing in person. This will give me good reason when I see you all to share some of the highlights...
3: WHAT IF THEY EVER READ THIS and found out about one another or the details that I shared? I suppose that is a chance I take when writing a public blog/journal!
So I suppose you will just have to wait to see me in person sometime after the 2 of August for the details of Luigi, Andrea, Manlio, Pierre Luigi, and some of the others whom Ive befriended over my stay here in Italia!
ciao! ciao!
Despite not updated the blog, many of you have noted that you want further details about the professor and/or other hotties that have treated me to a dinner or two. I guess that I havent included all of those fun tidbits for a few reasons:
1. time! I have only limited time to write as the I-cafe is $10/hour and I can only do so much in that amount of time....
2. The stories and lines these guys use are certainly worth hearing in person. This will give me good reason when I see you all to share some of the highlights...
3: WHAT IF THEY EVER READ THIS and found out about one another or the details that I shared? I suppose that is a chance I take when writing a public blog/journal!
So I suppose you will just have to wait to see me in person sometime after the 2 of August for the details of Luigi, Andrea, Manlio, Pierre Luigi, and some of the others whom Ive befriended over my stay here in Italia!
ciao! ciao!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Strana--strange!
I am still perplexed as to why I am getting the myriad of looks when I run the streets each morning, so I figured I would throw it out to all of you....
Do I continue to get looked at because:
a. I have short, blonde hair and blue eyes; a novelty here in this Meditteranean metropolis!
b. I am one of the very few people exercising (I think I have seen a handful of people in the five weeks I have been here!) in this MOLTO CALDO city --80+ at 6:30 a.m.
c. I am wearing workout gear and clothes that cover my boobs and doesnt show my bra and/or its contents?
Do I continue to get looked at because:
a. I have short, blonde hair and blue eyes; a novelty here in this Meditteranean metropolis!
b. I am one of the very few people exercising (I think I have seen a handful of people in the five weeks I have been here!) in this MOLTO CALDO city --80+ at 6:30 a.m.
c. I am wearing workout gear and clothes that cover my boobs and doesnt show my bra and/or its contents?
The World is Flat!
Picture it. Roma, Italia! 5million + people, including natives and tourists of all ages, sizes, ethnicities, and kinds. I am walking down Vittorio Emanuele, a main street in the heart of Roma and low and behold, I run into a friend from Urban Active in Cleveland! Kay and her husband were visiting Roma and we had plans to meet prior to coming to Italy, but never connected. Sure enough, at 4:00, on Wednesday afternoon, we encountered one another on one of the busiest corsos in all of Italy! Such a spotting couldnt have been planned better!
Fast forward one week to a tourist visit to the Collosseo with mia familia and walking across the street to catch the bus, I hear, "Ms. Foltz! Ms. Foltz! It is Margaret Ransohoff!" Go figure! An HB family was traveling on a double decker bus and spotted me among 1000s of people, I have been quite noticeable here with my blonde hair, I have to admit, but what a strange occurrence.
I suppose Friedman was right when he wrote the book, The World is Flat....and believe me it is getting flatter, as I have been able to pay all of my bills, check my on-line bank details, and screen my work emails so that I dont return to thousands of messages! The blessing of technology!
Fast forward one week to a tourist visit to the Collosseo with mia familia and walking across the street to catch the bus, I hear, "Ms. Foltz! Ms. Foltz! It is Margaret Ransohoff!" Go figure! An HB family was traveling on a double decker bus and spotted me among 1000s of people, I have been quite noticeable here with my blonde hair, I have to admit, but what a strange occurrence.
I suppose Friedman was right when he wrote the book, The World is Flat....and believe me it is getting flatter, as I have been able to pay all of my bills, check my on-line bank details, and screen my work emails so that I dont return to thousands of messages! The blessing of technology!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Impressive
besides being impressed by Andreas cooking skills, penne with vodka sauce, I have been impressed by many other things here in Italy. Despite this being one of the dirtiest places Ive lived, the Italians have it right in many ways...I love the foot pedals to turn the water on at the bathroom sink. Also in the bathroom, I love that they have the button to flush on the floor or low to the ground. NO waste matter for anyone to have to touch when you are finished doing your business!
I also marvel at the toned legs of each woman that I see walking on the streets. Despite NEVER putting on a pair of tennis shoes, these women could win calf competitions!
I still cant get over the fact that people do their weekly shopping at the flea market AND places like Dolce and Gabbana! Such a paradox, huh!?
This little 70something nana sits next to me on the bus in the mornings and I look at her with such admiration as she dresses as though she is 25---too cute with her Versace sunglasses and popped polo collar! My role model, as her body looks like a 25 yr. old, too!
I also marvel at the toned legs of each woman that I see walking on the streets. Despite NEVER putting on a pair of tennis shoes, these women could win calf competitions!
I still cant get over the fact that people do their weekly shopping at the flea market AND places like Dolce and Gabbana! Such a paradox, huh!?
This little 70something nana sits next to me on the bus in the mornings and I look at her with such admiration as she dresses as though she is 25---too cute with her Versace sunglasses and popped polo collar! My role model, as her body looks like a 25 yr. old, too!
...only in Italy (PART II)
Each day I continue to marvel at the strange idiosyncrasies of the day.
Here are some of the things that have put a smile on my face this week:
1. BANANA CLIPS!
2. babies sitting in the front seat on their parents laps (sensa car seat OR seatbelt!)
3. Men wearing fuschia speedos and carrying a purse to the beach!
4. YOUNG men wearing silver and/or gold VELCRO sneakers!
5. I purchased a 1/2 dozen eggs this morning at the supermercati and opened them at home to find them complete with feathers on the shell! (USDA approved!?!?!)
6. 17% or 23% discounts! I am serious...the summer sales just began and they are serious about that price!
Here are some of the things that have put a smile on my face this week:
1. BANANA CLIPS!
2. babies sitting in the front seat on their parents laps (sensa car seat OR seatbelt!)
3. Men wearing fuschia speedos and carrying a purse to the beach!
4. YOUNG men wearing silver and/or gold VELCRO sneakers!
5. I purchased a 1/2 dozen eggs this morning at the supermercati and opened them at home to find them complete with feathers on the shell! (USDA approved!?!?!)
6. 17% or 23% discounts! I am serious...the summer sales just began and they are serious about that price!
Monday, July 14, 2008
In class date
So for those of you who are new to the blog, I have admitted my school girl crush on my teacher, Luigi. He is 36, single, never married, and absolutely adorable. Very dissheveled has a personality that could swoon even a lesbian. Anyway, today we were practicing "casual conversation" and he pulled me up to chat in front of the class. I turned 30 shades of red, knowing that I was on the spot and having to look him in the eye to answer questions.
The hypothetical situation was we met at a bar and we were "trying to get to know one another!" Very embarrassing for both of us, but let me just tell you that my blonde hair and blue eyes won him over (he has admitted to not liking America because of a past failed relationship with an American girl---this was revealed in front of the class--honestly, I couldnt tell you if anyone else was in the room because I was too busy drooling over him....!) Interrogation of what is my favorite color? Movie? Band? Music? Artist? Ever married? Kids? Pretty personal...
So guess, what...? This transpired into a real offering for a date after class! I am blown away. I might have to go and splurge on a new Italian outfit for my date with the hot professor! I am in a quandry though, because I have dinner plans with Andrea tonight, so many ITALIAN men, so little time....Another quandry, my Italian language skills are limited to answering the questions that I already did in class, so what on earth will I talk about???? I guess I will have to bust out the dictionary, AGAIN! This is so much damn work!
The hypothetical situation was we met at a bar and we were "trying to get to know one another!" Very embarrassing for both of us, but let me just tell you that my blonde hair and blue eyes won him over (he has admitted to not liking America because of a past failed relationship with an American girl---this was revealed in front of the class--honestly, I couldnt tell you if anyone else was in the room because I was too busy drooling over him....!) Interrogation of what is my favorite color? Movie? Band? Music? Artist? Ever married? Kids? Pretty personal...
So guess, what...? This transpired into a real offering for a date after class! I am blown away. I might have to go and splurge on a new Italian outfit for my date with the hot professor! I am in a quandry though, because I have dinner plans with Andrea tonight, so many ITALIAN men, so little time....Another quandry, my Italian language skills are limited to answering the questions that I already did in class, so what on earth will I talk about???? I guess I will have to bust out the dictionary, AGAIN! This is so much damn work!
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