Hey everyone!!

Ya know I really hope some one is reading this because otherwise this feels slightly wierd writing to no one... Anyways I'm not sure where I left off at but I had my first week of classes, which included lessons from my Professor, my geography class. It was interesting and boring, a lot of it was repeat history for me but a little refresher course was helpful. On tuesday and wednesday we also had our first italian lessons. Knowing a little french is not helpful at all, it helps with a few words but italian is much closer related to spanish. It doesn't seem like it will be too difficult to grasp the basics. On thursday as 15 people in our group left for paris, leaving 9 of us here in rome, 5 of us explored about 10 of the churches in Rome near the Campo de Fuiri (spelling?) area, this is where I'm staying!! The churches are absolutely stunning. I have never seen something so ornate and expensively detailed. Everything is made with granite, marble, porcelin, gold, there are an unknown amount of sculptors and paintings, all unique. To be able to see these places that have been used and are still standing from as long ago as 50 BC, think Panthenon- the first christian church in rome, is unbelieveable. They are the most beautiful and peaceful places on this planet.

After this we ate dinner out, like usual, although I did buy bread and jam for lunches and cereal and sometimes fruit for breakfast to save a little bit; unlike america they don't bring you your check to hustle you out the door, your welcome to stay as long as you please, so most dinners end up being 2 hours insteaed of 1, and they never come over and check how your doing or if you like the food, I think they know their food is good. And it is but the portions are so large! But we were told they usually eat smaller portions for breakfast and lunch so they can eat more for dinner, but not a lot go out to eat it's a special treat because all italians can cook, and I'm sure very well. Everywhere we go you see fresh produce and hand made meals. This will be hard to leave since most of the stuff at home is packed with sugar and processed food.

Today, May 30th, another girl and I will be traveling to a smaller town right outside of Rome to see the less touristy areas, and tomorrow we will be traveling for the day to Siena in the Tuscany region. Sunday we will see more churches and the ruins right outside of the Colosseum, which is the oldest building in Rome, comparable to the Panthenon.

There are parts of home I miss but Rome has a way of getting to your heart. It's unlike anything else and I am happy for this opportunity.

I love and miss you all very much!!

P.S. If anyone actually reads this you can leave a comment or ya know message me on facebook, I won't answer right away but I will see it eventually as I usually go on facebook once a day, except for every week after this one as I will be traveling to Cinque Terre/Florence, Bologna/Venice/Verona, Amalfi Coast.