Here

So I'm here in Siena. Finally.

My apartment is huge and..well...European. My Italian is improving, granted at the speed of a chiocciola (a snail and also the name of one of the contrade). I live 5 minutes from il Campo, the heart of Siena and a bustling hub of small Tuscan city life. I'm in awe of the pace here. It's slow yet fast, decadent yet practical. I'm in love with every building I see and every corner I turn on to. I know. I'm in trouble.

I desperately wait for the day when my two Italian roommates move in. Hopefully by then I will be able to speak in conversation. I can understand almost everything everyone says to me...just when it comes to responding....not so much. I only hope that they don't hate americans and especially hate 20 year old american girls who can't speak italian and like to cook, so that they will like me and help improve my Italian. I'm considering doing an exchange of sorts, where my program sets you up with an italian student studying english, and we get together and help each other with our respective studies.

Today I leave for the seaside with some friends of mine from my program as well as Tom (he's coming down from Firenze for the weekend). Fingers crossed it's not a nudie beach!

I'll write more late (I have much to say, still) and post pictures soon!

Ciao a tutti!! Ci vediamo presto!