team cookie

outside of the vatican in rome

Balla e canta

Written 26.01.2006

This week is the high point of me shamefully learning the art of skipping class. Next week is when our real class begins—I will be attending all of those.

Tuesday night—Amazing dinner with the Hard Rock kids. Loop again for a “Pearl Jam” concert. Fun, kind of random, but very fun. At the end Lindsay got onto the stage and played a Pink Floyd Song on guitar.

Last night, despite our fatigue, we decided (I demanded) to accomplish a few of our grab bag goals.

Contraputno

This bar is quite renowned for its outdoor festivities during the warm season (it got to -10 C last night). We trekked down a slightly dim alleyway and wandered to where a sign had the words “Contraputno” on it. As we turned into the bend we saw a very large, very dark porch with tables, a bar, etc. Not at all discouraged we pranced up the stairs to the porch, pressed our cold little hands on the icy glass, our breath creating little circles of frost—we waited for a sign of life. Contraputno was most definitely closed. I could not stop laughing. Got a picture.

L’Elfos

Alright, one strike but perseverance and tenacity were strong in our cold, cold, and OH SO FRIGIDLY COLD blood last night. We went to a few Piazza’s we know hoping to find this pub which happened to be the first vegetarian restaurant in Perugia. We asked some guys in the street, they pointed us in the right direction. Another dark ally (don’t worry, I travel in groups of three or more), we walked. Finally we came across a little door way with some odd looking people standing in it. I asked them if it was our destination, of course it was. We went in and later figured out the odd looking people we the band which was performing that night. Fun place, very neighborhoody. One girl was there to sing and all of her friends were they to support her and they were SO excited about it. Warmed my little heart. Good place to attempt to find a Veggie Burger. They are supposedly known for playing classic rock.

Tonight we have the Australian children coming for dinner and then a Mozart Choral concert. We may go to Loop, may try a new bar. Tomorrow night is the big dessert night. OH!!!! Today I met a girl NAMED KATE from BLOOMINGTON! She went to high school with Jada and hangs out at Soma! I can’t wait to talk to her more! She leads some Christian organization here in Perugia, my friends goes. Before their Bible studies they have English/Italian conversation hour. I am going to go tomorrow.

Tango was to early yesterday so I will try for next week. That was disappointing but I will go on, tangoing in my soul.

This weekend is just me Swati and Bettylou Who. Twill be quiet but we shall miss the rest.

Ciao Ciao.

Written 28 gennaio 2006

I had some technical difficulties so I was not able to post the last blog as promptly as I had hoped. The technical difficulties were due to my little thumb drive having a little switch pushed to the wrong side. I was convinced that the woman at the Internet café had taken over my computer.

The Australian kids were precious—so gracious, so appreciative. They worshipped Bettylou. When Swati and I left for the Mozart they all took pictures with us. Cute.

Mozart was wonderful. We only stayed for half but I felt very at home being surrounded by classical music. The vocalists were very active; practically performed the work as an opera despite the fact the concert was in a lecture hall. Granted, the lecture halls in Perugia are extremely elaborate in décor compared to the ones at IU.

So, I have tried a few new bars but they were not grab bags. Swati and I have a lot of work to do this weekend.

Café Milano

Seems very posh but it is not intimidating—like it was okay that I hadn’t showered or gotten out of my school clothes. At Café Milano one can order any kind o drink and it comes with a complimentary munchie. Our friends (part of the hard rock group) had arrived quite a bit earlier and had cocktails and wine. They were also served little munchies with random things from avocado to tuna to broccoli on them. Swati and I went for a very nice (though a bit to syrupy for me) dolce vino. With our beverages we were served nutella crepes. Oh, life is wonderful.

The next day I happened to return to Café Milano for the conversation group. I met another person from Bloomington there. WEIRD but wonderful! How crazy. The conversation group was fun. There were people from all over. We played a game sort of like Taboo (in both English and Italian). Everyone was very nice.

So yesterday morning I was wandering around the house taking my time getting ready. Now, you all know I have a singing problem. I just sing a lot--like a lot, a lot. When a person is living in Italy there are many wonderful places to just sing. For some reason Weber’s Pie Jesu (spelling?) has been in my head so I have been singing that. I ended up starring out of one of our window into our little courtyard singing Pie Jesu. Hmm, our courtyard in one for many. Pretty much all of the apartments in our building surround our little courtyard—I forgot that this means many people can look into it and into the other windows of the apartment. So, basically, one of our neighbors got a nice little late morning concert yesterday. My roommates will NOT let me live it down.

Cookie party was fabulous. It was very slightly reminiscent of my High School graduation party accept it was a potluck. Craig and Jeremiah came over around 7 to join Swats, BL and I in the begining of the very tedious process of backing cookies in Italy. Conversions, chopping chocolate bars, melting butter, not slicing fingers, extracting vanilla extract from the tiny sample perfume like vile—it was intense. We did it and they were FABULOUS. Tons of people came, lots of mingling, lots of amazing dessert (one of my friends, Marlie, from Vermont (family you understand why this is interesting) whom I may be joining a Perugian choir with (why not share my singing with ALL of Perguia and not just my neighbors) made brownies from scratch). We had some amazing crème puffy things, jelly thingies, just overall a very sweet smorgusboard.


Midnight, went to loop for a little while then we briefly visited Celebrate because Marlie was working, I do not like that place. Left and ventured to the most recent new club in the life of Kate Korroch,

Domus

We had to go through a little room with black padded doors. We got to dance. I enjoyed myself quite a bit and met a few interesting people but I will not be frequenting this club save for those “I NEED to dance” days. I have those often so who knows. Yup, so, nice but not the kind of ambiance by which I like to constantly surround myself.

We then had tea with Marion, Jasmin and Gosia (the later two, Erasmus students, are leaving Tuesday!).

Oh, so these “we’s” are just me and Bettylou, Swati was getting up very early to go to Sienna for the day. When BL and I got home we were joined by Swati in the kitchen. We got a very good laugh out of hat. Swats saw us to bed and left for the day.

Tonight we will hopefully be trying some grab bag bars. I am going to throw some pasta together for all of those who went to Sienna. Should be a good day. What day isn’t good that begins after 1?

Boun Weekend!