Ciao amici! (Hello friends!)
Ho un grande esame domani e non voglio studiare! (I have a big test tomorrow and I don't want to study) Mi piace imparare italiano ma non mi piacciano esami. (I like to learn Italian but I don't like tests). Dopo settimana vada a Parigi e Madrid. Sono eccitata! (next week I am going to Paris and Madrid. I am excited!). Parto per Parigi il sabato mattino a le 6. (I leave for Paris Saturday morning at 6am).

Come state? (How are you)
Sto benissimo. (I am terrific)

I went to Lucca, Pisa, and Viareggio in Tuscany this past weekend. It was sooooo much fun. It was a trip organized by my school so we took a 4 hour bus ride to the north. Lucca was just a cute town with lots of churches and shops. Pisa has the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which I was able to go to the top up. We took lost of pictures, I hope you enjoy them (but I can't post them until next week)! Then I stayed the night at Viareggio which was hosting Carnivale, which is like Mardi Gras. The next day we went to a huge parade and it was so fun. There were lots of floats, music, and people who were dressed up like it was Halloween. Everyone had bags of confetti and people just threw it at eachother. I must have had at least 6 completely random people, including a 9year old girl, threw confetti aimed directly at me as I walked down the street (but in a friendly manner).
We had to leave Viareggio at 5pm , which was sad because we wanted to stay longer and enjoy the parade (I even bought a really cute mask!) . But then our bus got stuck in traffic for an extra 2 hours because an RV had flipped over in the middle of the freeway. We didnt get back to Rome till almost midnight.

Tomorrow is the last day of my 3 week intensive Italian class and I have a final exam (which I should be studying for right now). From this Saturday to next Sunday we have the week off for vacation. My roommates Ariel and Juliette, and I are going to Paris for 4 nights and Madrid for 4 nights. My roommate from last year Kinsley has been in Paris for about 5 months (as a nanny for a French family) and it will be great seeing her and having her guide us around the city. Paris is suppose to be AMAZING. I want to go to all the great museums and see the Mona Lisa (I've heard that it's overratted though, whatever). Then we're off to Madrid. Ariel has a friend studying there so we're going to be staying with her. I'm not exactly sure what there is to do or see in Madrid, but I'm sure it will be great.

Well I've got to go now and study for il mie esame di italiano!

arrivederci! xoxo

ps I dont have time to put up pictures now but I will in a week when I get back from Madrid!!!!