I've officially been gone for 1 week. 15 to go before I get to see your beautiful faces again! We just got out of our 2nd language class and I must say....this is going to be REALLY difficult. I keep mixing things up with what I know in spanish but I think I'll get it eventually. Tell grandpa that I'm starting to understand how to prounce all the weird Italian words. He'll be proud :) haha I just saw on facebook that its SNOWING! I'm so jealous! I pay a ton of money to run off on a european adventure and it snows in South Carolina. I think its a miracle!!

We got our housing assignments for Rome yesterday. I ended up getting assigned to an apartment about 3 blocks from the Vatican so I'm excited about that. I also get to live with the roommate I am living with now so thats good as well. I dont know the other 2 girls but we were told that our apartment is pretty nice. Aarons only a few blocks from me so thats a plus. Aaron, Chelsea and I have signed up for the trip to Siena tomorrow and then the trip to Pisa on Thursday. I'm really excited to go!! We should get some really good pictures from both the trips. Then we're taking some fun tours on saturday and traveling a few hours away to a small town to watch some a soccer match and have an authentic meal with the members of the town. There are about 20 of us going so it shouldn't be too bad. The next 2 weeks are basically going to be a blur because we're busy every single day. As soon as we get out of class at 1, we're off on some destination. We're really only at the hotel for dinner and to sleep. Then we start the whole day over again :) We're all kind of wondering when we're actually going to catch up on our sleep! We sleep at night but we can barely stay awake during the day. Its like being permanently jet lagged! I hope it gets better soon because one of my professors is already boring enough....I dont need to fall asleep in her class. My grammar professors name is Marco and he actually speaks english fairly well. Catia, my conversation italian teacher, struggles a little more than Marco but they are both very nice and helpful. We've had quite a few incidences in the hotel so I'm hopings things will calm down for the remainder of our time in Florence. No more robberies and Bed bugs. Please. Its a beautiful city but I am surprised to see so much vandalism to the buildings and landmarks! There is graffiti everywhere! Its a shame because the buildings are amazing.

Hopefully I can get my cell phone working tonight so I can talk to everyone. As soon as I get my number, I'll send it out. I can recieve free calls but you have to pay a little to call me here in Italy. Sorry! Anyway, its about time for our academic meeting with the advisors so I'll stop here. I hope everyone has fun in the snow without me! I'm so jealous....haha Take a picture of the Kappa house with snow on it and email it to me!!!! Love you all!

Michelle