Demasiado tiempo!

It has been far too long between my posts. since I last mentioned anything I have been to Barcelona, Rome, and Nice; seen the last supper by Leonardo da Vinci, walked on the roof of the Duomo, started a wonderful hobby in wine tasting and ate wonderful wonderful food everywhere I've been.

Barcelona was fantastic, one of the most eclectic and lively cities I've ever been to even though it was rainyish for some of the days we were there. I met up with Lauren there and was able to spend some great time with Tio Humberto and familia. It is always wonderful to meet new cousins and aunts and just bond with family because they will always be family and it's important for them to know they can always count on you and vice versa. They were great hosts even though my little cousin 5 year old Danielito had to spend 2 days in the hospital with bronchitis. Barcelona has everything! The beach, the historic center, great shops and cafes and markets on the ramblas, more street performers than you could ever imagine, amazing architecture, and of course claim Gaudi and Picasso as their famous sons.


Italy has been wonderful to me and I have made some great friends. The australians seem to be everywhere you turn and they are always up for a good time. I really look forward to visiting all the people I have met in these past few months.

After Lauren finished her program in Spain, where she really learnt a lot she came to Milan to visit before flying back to DC. As most of you know she is already back home enjoying the comforts of home, which notably include CVS, Target, private transportation, starbucks, and hamburgers to name a few. While in Milan we went ot la scala the major theatre in Milan where we saw the Rake's Progress, an opera in english but I barely understood a word without the little subtitle screen in front of our seats haha. We ate as much Italian food as possible much to Lauren's delight and enjoyed a lot of what Milan has to offer.

But our major trip was Rome, an adventure all in itself (and I promise to post more often with stories from the past semester including the accomodations night mare in Rome). But the eternal city enchanted me/us and has become one of my top 3 favorite cities in the world. there is so much to see and take in and enjoy it blew me away. And even though we had 4 days we still didn't glance at everything, incredible! There will be more stories about rome soon including how Lauren was pooped on by a bird, good luck right?

Since it's mother's day. Happy Mother's day to all the wonderful mother's out there, and a double Happy day to my mom who also turns "26" today, so Feliz Cumpleanos Mami!

ciao for now,

Quick update

Hello hello,

Everything has been great lately and unfortunately even though I set my standards low on writing my blog I ahve failed at updating once or twice a week so I will set them higher and when I don;t reach it I wills till be at my original standard, all mind games I know.

Last week, I went to Venice for Carnevale with 400 other colege exchange students which was carzy. Once we arrived the crowds were huge (not that our small group helped in that respect) and it took hours to get from one isaland to the toher because you had to be pushing the whole time. But Venice is beautiful and I'm looking forward to one day returning and really seeing more and of course take an overpriced Gondola ride.

My mom arrived yesterday from India as she is in between trips. She will be staying here until Friday at which point we both head out to Amsterdam/the Hague where she will be at a conference and I will be enjoying the luxuries of the conference attendees (hotels, dinners, etc.). I'm really excited she's here, it will be fun to show her around and she's one of the few people who no matter what the tourist attraction is she finds a way to enjoy it. So off we go!

El primer dia de colegios ; )

Today was the first day of school. It was pretty cool I definitely enjoy the idea of studying abroad and living life in a totally different setting instead of just traveling through as a tourist. Classes pretty easy so far and I really liked my profs who seem passionate about what they're teaching and are willing to get to know you and make sure the class is worth the time. It's funny how I ended up at Bocconi which is considered one of the top business universities in the world without even trying, so I'm excited to take advantage of the opportunity. The way classes are organized are similar to the States except for grading which is based solely on one or two exams, so the pressure is on when exam time rolls in.

For your sake, I'm going to try and keep these a little shorter. But I have to mention that my international economics professor is a Dustin Hoffman look-a-like which was amusing today because it's like watching a movie for an hour and a half (and he luckily is decently funny) , or at least imagining it's a movie while you cover several economic models. Although this picture doesn't do full justice, I'll leave the decision up to you.

Walked around the school area today while looking at hotels for my mom to stay at...and I've decided I can;t wait for spring to hit Milan, it's bound to be beautiful then and should make up for the cloudy skies.

Until next time,
Keep in touch.

Don't pull...push! I think

Well dear friends I am back for take two.

I arrived in Milano on Wednesday, which didn't seem so long ago until I just realized it's Saturday night. It's been a few pretty packed yet relaxing days. Since returning the weather has been great apparently the snow demons decided to flee Milan and the country of Sun is finally Sunny.
I am now an official legal temporary resident of the Republic of Italy, since after a three hour wait in the questura (police department) I was granted my permezzo di soggiorno (permit of stay). It is essentially a nice colorful piece of bureaucratic paper which I paid 90+ euros for but hey they required it. If I were a scrapbooker it would be a nice memento but unfortunately that doesn;t apply and it will just roll with me for a while.

As you can well imagine the food in Italy is quite incredible. After the canals tour I attended on Friday (very cool area with the main canal designed by Milan's main man Leonardo DaVinci), our associate Bocconi tour guide took us to Luini's a Milanese tradition by Il duomo since the 1800's which sells Panzerrotis (think fried fluffy calzones but better). It is definitely not good for any kind of diet but what kind of Italian food is?

It's been great to meet people from all over the World ( Holland, Australia, France, Ireland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Japan and of course several states of the USA) It is a humbling experience to not understand what everyone around you is saying all the time, yet I love to think that God understands every last language and loves every single person. Currently looking forward to connecting strongly to a church here and will be visiting a couple tomorrow I hope so thanks in advance for all your prayers.

A couple of tidbits of information when visiting Italy, if staying at a hotel (or dorm such as mine) those extra sheets they leave on your bed after making said bed are not extra sheets but in fact are considered towels by the Italian maid service...it's pretty amusing to try to dry yourself with a thick bed sheet but I'll definitely keep to my regular towels. Also look at doors closely. I have without exaggeration walked into incorrectly pulled and walked into more doors in the last two weeks than in the last 20 years...I have learnt to look at the locking system and little metal bar but I still never fail in picking the wrong direction but it adds a fun aspect for the store vendors as they see me walk into their glass doors several times.

Have a cell phone in Milan now and I can text you all for the low price of 9euro cents/text..which is acutally not that cheap but it's worth a hello. Let me know if you want it because I can receive calls for free...slightly expensive for you but I'll know who my real friends are...jk.

pc gb

Post #1 Goodbye home Buongiorno Europa

Well here goes post #1. I have been slow to finally get this up and post on it but I have kept a couple of mini blogs of stuff I have written. So far Europe has been incredible...a lot of old old buildings and some incredible poeople. I arrived in Milan on Sunday and slep a lot then walked a lot and met some very cool people in my residence Arcobaleno (from here on in denoted as Arco...it means rainbow btw) it´s very cool because there´s people from all over the world.

I will post my previous blogs below so that you all can hear from the moment I wrote them...but I am currently in a hostel in Madrid, my first hostel expereience and so far I ahve thoroughly enjoyed it. I left Milan on Thursday and will be leaving Madrid on Wednesday. Visiting Lauren has been an incredible blessing and we have had some great moments while exploring the capital of my ancient ¨motherland¨. It´s a beautiful city with some very cool history. We have walked most of the center of the city (several times) and hopefully worked off most of the weight gained from the delicious food.

Classes start on the 16th so once I get back I will have antoher weekend to explore Milan some more. Look for pictures on facebook if interested (links to be posted).

Ipod Post #1 The Flight to Milan:
Blog 1 3:51 Saturday 31

I love flying. There's just something about getting up in the air and looking down. As I leave dc I'm able to recognize all the streets the places I know the streets I drive my home my comfort what you would call your life. I leave it behind exciyed to get to know new streets new sights a new land def not lookimg for a nee life but the adventure continues and thats exciting

I'm currently nearing the coast and the vastness of the sea awaits the only sight is the horizon is that what god sees as he sees our future? The vast sea of potential? Instead of having the plane stop in NYC I want to just fly. How often do we detour going for the sea? Just for a stop because it makes more sense because our plane what we have won't get us to the destination. It's true we won't but isn't that where faith jumps in? Maybe just maybe these next five months will be the beginning of that kind of living just going in my feeble broken little airplane and aiming for the vast ppyential ahead, just have to remember that little plane is powered by the son of god himself. Would you consider believing that of yourself?

Just announced plane might be a little late fir the connection here comes adventure number one just gotta get on that plane.

Update: I made it perfectly on to the plane to Milan with time enough to send a mass text message saying goodbye. The Milan flight was long but pretty comfortable got to the residence after a very cool train and taxi ride. It´s awesome to arrive in a new city to the lyrics of ¨God of this City¨ and know taht it´s true all over the world.

Saved Post #2 The Flight to Madrid: a little more light hearted

So the first European flight adventure began by arriving way too early to the airport thanks to my dad who said I should be there earlier than the two hours I had planned. Everywhere I go I feel like I take every form of transportation available to man luckily boats aren't big in Milan. Note to the European traveller make sure you get in line 50 minutes before the plane leaves because you have to fight tooth and nail for the ovrhead baggage space luckily I followed the creation of the big line fairly quickly.

Ryanair is pretty cool super budget airline and you can tell they're trying to SAVE cash but it's done pretty tastefully no magazines 3 seats on each side safety instruction printed on the plastic seats and you have to buy EVERYTHING i thought they were going to charge me for just asking to see the menu and not buying anything... I do like the advertisements all over the baggage doors although ING must be paying a tonne for them but honestly pretty cool.

One annoying ocurrnce during my flight though. In the midst of my much needed slumber after getting home late last night the pilot chimes in unexpectedly and continues to have a conversation not too bad if it was only once but no he did it at least three times really dude no one can respond you're in the little locked doors.

Anyways it's fun I'll try to be more positive and not complain about the non-reclining seats which i can understand since i only paid 30€ for the flight theough you'd think hearimg from the captain 15 times would be an extra cost...

Also donñt be surprised by the hail to the king/queen music played whent he plane lands on time, quite a surprise but it does receive a lot of applause...but don´t take my word for it. Check it out for yourself on your next budget travels on ryanair.