It has been crazy. Literally my work load ate me, spit me back up, cut me up in little pieces, set me on fire, then threw my ashes in a swamp to be eaten by an alligator. SO I am going to sum up the last couple of days instead of doing individual posts...
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Saturday:
Spent all day with Lucia, one of our interpreters. She's the best. We are practically bff's now. I'm also so proud she asked her crush to get a drink. Since them, I've seen those two everywhere together - so proud!
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Today was the Corpus Christi festival. Filmed a lot, had gelato, and got some decent footage.
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Monday:
Monday funday. Kinda. There is this bartender who looks like Zac Effron, but in a punk Russian way. He works at Haily and I's favorite caffe. I don't know if it is our favorite because he works there, the location is great, or that we love the little snacks they gave us when we order a beere, but whatever the reason, I have spent a good chunk of money at this place. We had been trying to talk to him for a couple days because we are there all the time and really just want to interact with the locals, but it is super hard because he doesn't speak a lick of english and we don't speak a lick of Italian. But it is super fun to try to converse with him. The other night, I headed in with Alli, Hailey, and others. This kid literally has no expression on his face. So Alli asked him, "tu triste?" (pronounced: tu tris-tay and means "you sad?") and he said no and looked really aghast. So alli asked him, "tu arrabbiato" (which means "you angry?") and he shook his head no again. He just has that kinda face. Since then, you can tell he tries to be more expressive now when he sees us. He also likes us because every time we order a drink with strawberries, I swear he puts in more each time. I've even gotten a mint leave on one. I pay a lot of money here so I better get perks.
But anyways, we had a long morning of working and stressing out. I love my topic and I enjoyed every moment of Cagli, but I wish this event happened earlier in the month. I literally had no time to edit, write, and put everything together without blowing up from stress. So by 3pm, I couldn't stay in the classroom. Alli, Hailey, Victoria, and I went to our favorite caffe and I started working on my story there. I worked on it maybe for an hour and just gave up. After a while, you just have to stop and relax. I had my translation book on me so we asked the bartender what he was doing Tuesday night. We somehow were able to communicate and the game plan was to meet in the piazza at 6 or 7pm for the soccer game.
After that, we just chilled outside the caffe at a table for literally four hours. I had a blast. Professors passed us multiple times while we were just drinking and eating. Graduation celebrations were also happening; we witnessed at least 8. One Italian girl came over to our table and made us sing an Italian celebration some (or something, I have no idea what it was), but none of us knew the words so I tried lip singing, while standing there awkwardly.
While we were sitting, a big group of graduation guys came down to us. They started saying stuff in Italian that we couldn't understand, but it was clear that they wanted us to kiss this kid. We were trying to joke it off and saying no, but they were so persistent. One of the guys came up to me, introduced himself, and pretty much pulled me in for me to kiss him on the cheek. I was taken aback for a second, but I complied so the group would leave. He had no interest in talking to the others and after I said my first name, he asked for my last name. I said, "why?" and he said, "so that I can find you on Facebook!" And then he said he had a girlfriend. The dating culture makes zero sense to me. It honestly sounds like cheating is a huge thing here. Anyways, he swears he will find me and walks away to stand by the fountain with his friends. After a while I look over and he makes a heart out of his hands. At this point, this was a little overwhelming, so I jokingly flick him off. Oh buddy. I don't know if he was heartbroken or what, but he avoided me like the plague. And now I see him everywhere in Urbino.
Our other friends (Marco, Abby, Abby's Marco, Natasha) came over at one point and joined the party. I love them, I had a blast just chilling and enjoying one of the last days here.
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Tuesday:
Ughhhhhhhh. I was ripped a new one from Bobbio. He went over my article and tore it up. At least that's the way I felt. This guy has one at least one pulitzer prize, so he is a genius, but it's hard when you are on such a tight deadline to hear criticism. I rewrote it and then he critiqued it again. This time it was better and I hope my final text piece is good.
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Wednesday:
I set my alarm for 6am, but I was so tired that I didn't hear it and I slept in until 9am. I took a shower and got to class at 9:45. I worked on my video until about 1:30. That entire time I didn't eat, so I was starving when Hailey, Alli, Victoria, and I went down the killer hill and ate at Noi and Voi - a tasty pizza shop. Delicious. We headed to a short ceremony with the newly elected mayor. An artist came in and made everyone prints of the city of Urbino (it was so much cooler than how I just described it-I can't remember what it is called, but I'll let you know when I do).
Some Italians I have met found me on Facebook and keep talking to me. Ask me sometime to show you these messages, it's hilarious because there is still a language barrier even if they know how to speak english. Joking is not universal. For example, I told one guy, "you suck" you know, like you are the worst, I din't even think that would translate any differently, but then he said, "you are nasty." Oh boy, the guys here are already creepy and short enough, I just don't know how to react to something like this.
I am really pumped for tonight though! All of the Americans are going to go out to celebrate-it is the last wednesday we are here so we have to live it up while we can!
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