Husband

Well, I jumped on the marriage bandwagon! I have caught an Italiano husband!! He's perfect and adorable. He has a masters in Economics and Finance and his family owns a vineyard. He gave me a ride to the eye glass shop and the grocery store. We calls me wife and we talk about our children and about their Zanco family inheritance. Below is our first picture of us at the welcome dinner.

While we were in Slovenia and I was on the telephone thing about to jump off we have to check with different groups of people to ensure that the ropes are ready. There was group 1 and 2 and a trained guy named Yaca. While I was climbing everyone was yelling about thinking about meeting Roberto's mom instead of the fact that I was climbing a telephone pole just to jump off. So I got up there and yelled group one ready.... group two ready.... Zanco (instead of Yaca) ready.... everyone laughed so hard even all of our instructors. It took me three times to yell Yaca right. Below is a pic of us at the spritz festival. We were laughing so hard taking this pic. Its our wedding picture. :)

Well if you made it this far I bet you're pretty freaked out. LOL. This is just an ongoing joke here. I off-handedly said one night that I would marry him ( as soon as we got him some wider leg pants). Well, someone mentioned it in front of him and you know I don't get embarassed or back down easily so it fosrt of morphed from there. Don't worry dad, there is no Italian men in my life besides just as classmates and friends. All the other stuff is true though. I think its pretty funny! haha. Ok, that's seriously all for tonight.... I need to STUDY!

oh BTW, I got my parents and family's birthday cards yesterday... thanks for the American $20, is that a cruel joke? Your cars were sweet and hysterical THANK YOU.

LaChelle, I got your card tonight and it made me cry. I love you!! It totally made my day better.

Postcards will be out soon, cross your fingers that you're in my first round people!

Since Slovenia

Hey everybody! I was planning or writing earlier but I've been busy. Our first actual class starts Saturday... and its taught by the director of the entire program here. No pressure right? Lol. Dad - lol means laugh at loud, learn something new everyday! I'm just sitting here reflecting on the last few days listening to my Garth Brooks. Its been a whirlwind for sure.

We went to Slovenia in the middle of the mountains across from a Nazi concentration camp to do a high ropes course. We were 24 feet off the ground!! At one time we had to climb up something the equivalent of a telephone pole and then stand on top of it turn about 180 degrees and then jump off. Granted, we were connected to safety ropes but your mind makes you think your life is in danger! Thw whole trip was an eye opening experience. Just being near a concentration camp was intense, but then being in cramped quarters with everyone was tough.

We got to walk around the camp and see the ruins. It totally gave me the chills, but I was happy I got to see it. To the left is a memorial stone as you walk into the camp.

I love being around people, but I need my alone time. By the end I could totally tell I was annoyed and frustrated with just being around people. I reassessed my situation and changed my behavior in the end and ended up having a great time. That's what we're learning right now... emtional regulation. If you know me at all, you know how important this skill will be for me.

I learned a lot about my leadership style and some things I can improve on. I'm actively working on myself while trying to find a balance of who I am and who I want to be. Tomorrow I have my first coaching session - I'm nervous but excited. They don't give you advice but help you decipher your own thoughts and feelings.

Anyway, so the night we got back from Slovenia I discovered that housekeeping had gone through and locked the doors... my keys were in my room and there was a spritz (local type of drinnk) festival going on. The girls all banded together and got me dressed and helped me out because my wallet was in my room as well. I ended up having a great night and most of the Italians stayed for a drink or two too!! Below are Stefano and Fabio. They are such nice guys!

Since then I've just been studying and hanging out. Oh I stepped on my glasses while packing for Slovenia.... I took them to an eye glass shop and poof fixed for free. Thank you Roberto for the ride! Anyway, I'm off to study. Keep the commenting up, I really love to read them. :)

Birthday Celebrations!

Hey guys this one will be short I promise! Last night was my 23rd bday. I am the baby of the grpup and somehow convinced everyone to come out and celebrate with me! The theme was white trash bash then a transformation to eurotrash. It was epic! I don't really know how to dress to euro trash, but try explaining white trash to people not from the south! It was so funny!! Anyway, the plan was to hit the disco, but turns out that it is only "popping" on Wednesdays during the summer. We ended up at another bar that was so cool. I will have to steal someones pics and put them up.

I woke up at 11:30 but I will go back to sleep during our 5 hour bus ride to SLOVENIA! We are doing a ropes course there tomorrow. They say the entire country is beautiful. I will be bringing my camera with lots of batteries!

I got my annual poem from my dad and cried. I then read it to all the girls who were upset I wasn't crying again. haha! I got MAIL from my Granny!!! Finally someone sent me something that got here!... hint hint people! Oh two of my friends here got me a pair of earrings that are darling! I was so excited!! They also got my nutella and some pastries. YUM! Nutella is like a spreadable chocolate. It will knock your socks off! Thank you Amanda and Elisa!! Awesome friends!

Everyone was so great last night. I am so glad I get to live with these people and share in everything with them. My birthday was an absolute blast and I could not have asked for more.

LIFE in more ways than one

Here's a quick post before I go to bed. We have been busy lately and its only going to get worse. I haven't decided if that's good or bad though. Lol. Our actual classes don't start for like another two weeks. Next week on the 24th (day after my birthday!!) we go to Slovenia (its a country!) for a high ropes course. It should be lots of fun!

Speaking of my birthday, it turnsa out we have a free night in morening that fits perfectly in with going to the disco (club) again. This time we'll reserve a taxi in advance. For those of you that don't know the last we went we just thought we could call the cab that got us there.... well they turn their phones off at 1 and the disco doesn't even open til midnight!! Anyway - we couldn't get one and ended up walking over 40 minutes at like 4 or 5 in the morning. It was so funny! We all made it home safe with only a couple of blisters to show.

So, I told you about going to the LIFE course. We just got back last nigiht. It was a very intensive 2.5 days. The trainers never smiled and were almost hateful. It was geared to really pull within yourself to complete the "tests" we were given. I cried a lot, but I always do that. I even broke a board a karate style! Watch out Chuck Norris! My barriers to success (so far) are that I always try to please everyone and that I have this enormous amount of uncertainty. I should change while I'm here though.

The night we got back everyone was exhuasted. They only allow a certain amount of sleep to keep you in a stressed state. Anyway, we got back and went out for some drinks. A few of us decided to go soome place a get actual food. We found Due Mori - might be misspelled. It was so beautiful. I'm taking my parents there when they come. You can sit on the balcony and just one of the most incredible views. And the waitress reminded me of an older Lucille Ball! Then we decided to come back home, but we had some energy we needed to use.... solution? dance break!! We danced around for like an hour. It was so much fun!! We were all on tables and window sills (only ones wit balconeys) and anywhere else.

Today everyone took it easy. I napped and watched people cook lunch. I made a sandwich with salami, gouda, tomato and a croissant. Everything tastes better here. The meats and cheeses have so much more flavor! Tonight I had one the most soul warming nights since I've been here. We climbed to the top of the Rocca - its the castle/guard post on up the hill from us - and had a picnic. We had prosciutto (thin ham) and cheese (asiago and another kind that was out of this world) and wine and prosecco (sparkling Italian wine). My friend Curtis even played some jazz on his mp3 player. The whole night could not have been better.

I miss everyone, but I'm doing great, Its getting a lot easier being here. I love you guys!!

PS Dad - your test comment worked. Keep them coming. Love you!

Italy - in the Beginning

Sorry I don't have much time. I just wanted to say that I'm having a wonderful time. This is going to be a great expreience. Everyone keeps joking that it feels like summer camp though. We live in dorms and our classes are downstairs. Our building is beautiful with awesome views. My room looks out toward our courtyard. Pics to come soon.

So I am definately the youngest one here. There are people in their 30's even, but mostly upper 20's. I feel like I have a lot to prove, but everyone has been really nice and supportive so far. Not too many cracks about my age! My birthday is the first one so I keep telling everyone that we have to set the scene for the the birthdays to come. LOL.

I really only get homesick at night when I can't sleep. That's when everything bothers me, but besides that I think I'm adjusting well. Can't wait for visitors though!!

Our classes don't start for like another two weeks. Today we are headed to the undergraduate campus for this program called Life. It is supposed to be superintensive and really break down all your walls. I anticipate crying. lol. Please be thinking about me. I am really excited about it though.

Our building is up on a hill and by the time I get home my legs will be solid!! I huff anf puff everyday. Anyway - I have to go. Ciao!! Love you all!!