TOTALLY NEW EXPERIENCE.

You will never appreciate going to the store and buying face cleanser until you have to do it in another country. What product is this? How does it work? Will it really get rid of pimples? Sorry, gross, but it is REAL LIFE and you cannot appreciate it until you have to do it somewhere other than you are used to being. No big deal. Well, not REALly. Just one of those things I am getting used to. I absolutely love it here, though. Vicenza has become my new (third) favorite place in Italy. Rome is cool, but it is not on that list anymore. Used to be my third favorite.
Julie, Lindsay, YES I am eating gelato for you. Rachel, YES, I am drinking cappucinos for you. Need to not gain that weight back, people, but eating this is a sacrifice I am willing to make. Still totally exercising. The DVD player in my room is pitiful. (No, I am not complainig about free, just stating a fact.) It is pitiful! that being said, when I use it to listen to work-out music, the music cuts out after 5 songs. At that point, I jog in place and wait *patiently* until it comes back. If I were in America, I would jog around outside, maybe, but Italians don't really do that. They don't have to exercise to be thin. So unfair!
I am having the BEST time here. I went to church last night with all the Ghana members, and I didn't understand a thing, except for when the Ghanese man next to me interpreted for me. Most of them speak Italian really well.
How am I coming on my Italian? Well, I've made it through half the "Italian for Dummies" book, and, well, they speak WAY TOO FAST. This American is having a bit of a hard time figuring out what people are saying, but luckily for me, they are patient. The ones that aren't just smile, stop talking, and walk away. Oh, well, I will be here for 3 months. There is TIME. ^_^
Okay, ciao mi amici e famiglia.

So happy to be HERE!!!!!! I love it in Vicenza. Now, I know you are wondering whatàs happened so far, but i will have an update later. I already typed it out but didnàt have internet access until now. In case youàre wondering about the "typoàs" itàs b-c the keyboard is a little different here. Oh, well. Anyway, things are good. The people at the church are fantastico!!! Iàm so glad that Iàm here. I studied more Italian today. Less people speak English than I thought, but itàs okay, weàre working on it. It will take time, but itàs all good. God is good and will help with the language barrier. These people are amazing!!!! At first, I was sad that I could not stay with Bryan, but I think God placed me here for a reason. There were several barriers on the road to this whole experience, so there must be a reason for me to be here!!!! In the meantime, Bryan and I really love it. He leaves for Piovene Rocchete tomorrow, (pout) but thatàs the reason weàre here.
Okay, more later. Love to all!!!!!

So happy to be HERE!!!!!! I love it in Vicenza. Now, I know youàre wondering whatàs happened so far, but Okay, more later. Love to all!!!!!

Hey everybody!!!!!!

So happy to be HERE!!!!!! I love it in Vicenza. Now, I know youàre wondering whatàs happened so far, but Okay, more later. Love to all!!!!!

Part 2 of previous blog

 
 
 
  

New friends and old

One of my favorite quotes is "What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies..." Aristotle

I dedicate this blog to all my friends. For those of which I don't have pictures, SEND ME ONE!
Love you ALL ^_^

 
 
 
  

I'm the WORST picture developer!

I always take forever to develop them. Here they are, though, some pics of me in my dress, me and Mamaw, and members of my lovely family. Love to all!
Kristi ^_^

PS--WE LEAVE TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have to learn how to say "whee-hoo" in Italian...

I do know how to say, "I'd love it!" It's "Magari!" Italians love to say things concisely and to the point. all in one word, si possibile. Whee-hoo! I did learn a really fun way to say "Good luck." "In bocca al lupo" means literally "a wolf in mouth", but people say it to wish good luck. In response, people say "Crepi il lupo", which means "Hopefully the wolf will die!" Funny, huh? You know, just when I get more into studying and--now that I'm not working--have time to study, I leave my "Italian for Dummies" book in my car. Oh, well.
Anyway, the people are looking forward to seeing me in Vicenza, according to Francesco Fergnani, the preacher. I look forward to meeting him! It'll be FUN. Divertiro!!!! Okay, I know, ENOUGH ITALIAN. sorry, I'm just glad I know a few key phrases.
Nother subject. have not been as dedicated to exercise lately. Have not gained it back but have hit a slump. need to get OUT. huh, fun to type the first letter in the sentence in a lower case letter. driving you crazy Holly? ^_^ anyway, that's beside the point. so, I still have 7 more to drop before I enter the land of total health. I hope I haven't been too personal with this whole weight loss thing. I've been really excited, and who better to share excitement with than family and friends, right?
Stryker, i think suspects that Bryan and I will be leaving him soon. He can tell, and is more needy lately. wants our attention an 'at. 'sall good. We'll be back before he knows it. Honestly, it's a little strange to think about how long we'll be in Italy is as long as we've been in PA. It feels like another lifetime! God's funny. He puts you places you don't think you'll be until you get there, and then He makes you realize that He's been right all along. Why do we continually put up fights with him?
tomorrow's Sloppy Joe Singing, meaning we have church, and then we make sloppy Joe's for lunch. After that, we're going to learn some devotional songs to sing at church. It'll be great fun! I love to sing the newer songs. I do cherish the older ones, yes, but I look forward to sharing these with the church tomorrow. These people are amazing. I never thought I'd enjoy a smaller church as much as I do. Again, ALL GOD.
Okay, this was a long post. Love to all!!!!


Kim, just think about it--this could be Bison or Belle!
also, something messed up--the picture doesn't show on its own, so click on the brown box and it'll show up ^_^

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

Boy did I pick a terrible time to get hooked on a TV show. I don't know if this show will even be on in Italy, and much less, if I will have a TV. One thing I can count on, as far as TV is concerned, is that I will have my pick of Italian soap operas. They're a trip.
Anyway, I've become hooked on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Jonathan, I hope my blog does the show justice.
The writing is FANTASTIC. They are surpassing new levels of emotion--especially for Matthew Perry. I loved him on Friends. He had the best one-liners on primetime TV and still does. I've personally never been a fan of Bradley Whitford, who's the other star of the show. He's always played squirrelly, snivelly characters in movies, and I am glad to see him excel in other roles. Together with Matthew Perry, they make one fantastic duo.
I think this show will make people escape enough to enjoy the show, in that most people watching the show do not write for their own network. Jonathan is the closest of any of us to TV, as he may make it there someday, although my friend Lindsay works for a network as well. Good for those who dream big and fulfill their dreams.
Okay, to those who haven't watched the show yet, let's see if I put enough of an interest in the show into people who read my blog. ^_^