Vengo dagli Stati Uniti.

Italy has been graced with my presence yet again.

Perugia is wonderful. Though, I have only been here for a few days I am already quite confident that this semester is going to be fabulous.

Swiss Air lost my baggage. I JUST received it. My roommates have been very gracious sharing clothes with me. Someone told me that Swiss Air will reimburse me for what money I have spent while waiting for my luggage--I went on a modest shopping trip. I wonder how I could lose more bags?

My apartment is fantastic (save for the allotted 6 hours of VERY WEAK heat per day). There are 5 bedrooms, a common room, kitchen, and 1 ½ bath. I do have a room to myself. The comforter has big bold striped and polka dots—very Katiedid. I think it will look very much like home when I get my things thrown into the muddle. Pictures to come!

Today was my first day of class at L’Universita Stranieri. I will not tell you that it took my friend and I 30 minutes to find the building (which is about 5 minutes from our apartment). Our first class was three hours. THREE HOURS. I am exhausted. Of course I was the very first person called the professor attacked (she did not really attack me, she actually seems very kind). I did not completely devastate myself but lets just say I have quite a bit to learn and the way Italian is taught in American NOT VERY ITALIAN. The class had people from Japan, Korea, France, Pakistan and Turkey (no Italian). Most of the people are their getting real degrees; we are just getting into the cultural part. The core curriculum for my language study includes two Italian language classes, Italian lit, contemporary history, art history classes (modern, contemporary and medieval). Wow. I am pooped just looking at the week ahead.

I think I will learn more than I would ever be capable of in the US. Growth takes pain.

Well, heading off to cook some beans! I have one vegetarian roommate. YAY!

Oh, the very fist person I met when I arrived to JFK, her name is Kate and she goes to William and Mary, The worlds is small.

OH, one more thing. As we were landing in Rome (it was a long landing) I swear to my furry leopard print shoes that I saw the exact place from which the commission I just finished as inspired. I knew the area very well. It was the perfect set up of little farm castle and mountains coming together. Just a fun tidbit.

Ciao!