hi!
So it's Wednesday here, and we've really started getting into the interesting stuff in classes. Monday was pretty much orientation-y things, we got a long lecture about the history of San Gemini, which is very interesting. After that we took a trip to the nearby Roman Ruins of Carsulae, which were amazing and very beautiful. I should have pictures up on facebook soon. Then, yesterday we had intro's to classes in the morning, and then in the afternoon we have a short break, called 'siesta' and then we resume with a workshop at about 3:30. Yesterday we just moved stuff to the place, and got everything organized. Today in class we started really getting into chemistry and minerals, ores, and everything that makes up pigments. After that is a Theory class, which, however interesting-far too close to lunch to really pay much attention. Haha...whenever I hear the word theory I just instantly zone out, it's kinda unfortunate. We're mostly on our own for food, so for lunch we went to this pizza-by-the-slice place called Happy Pizza, it's really cheap, and really good, and big pieces. From there we walked to the pool and laid out in the sun. It's always so beautiful here, I'm getting very spoiled...and tan. After that we went back to our apartment and napped. At our workshop today, we split into two groups (there are only 13 students, so it's easily dividable (is that a word- divide-able? meh.)One group started putting together canvases and panels for oil painting and fresco, and my group started to build panels for something called sgraffito, which is where there is a layer of black plaster underneath the white plaster and you scrape the white off in a design so the black shows through.
We started on a bare styrofoam board, and really scratched it up to our base layer would stick. We mixed sand and some Calcium Hydroxide putty together to make a base layer, and put it on our boards. The rest of the time we just worked on designs and things. For dinner we bought some tortellini.
Now, we're all in our classroom planning a big trip to Pompeii this weekend. We'll be stopping in Naples the first night, and then heading to Pompeii/Herculaneum on Saturday morning, and when we're done there, we'll be going to the Amalfi coast for a little sunbathing. Sunday morning will be more of the same and then heading back to San Gemini in the afternoon.
Postcards might not be coming for a while, Italian post takes a long time apparently. I will try to send some from Pompeii, but stamps are also pretty expensive. eek!
Last night everyone drank quite a bit of wine- it was a pretty fun night...oh boy.
Love to all!
Seeer
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Sunday, July 5, 2009
OMG. awesome
Hi all!!
So here it is, from the beginning.
I met Mandi while waiting for my flight in Chicago, and we flew to Detroit. With maybe ten minutes to spare, we met Jessica and all flew to Rome. I watched the movies Sunshine Cleaning, New in Town, and a little bit of 17 Again. I had a teensy bottle of white wine with my gourmet (ack, it was awful) meal. I tried to sleep, wasn't very successful, but I got coffee in the morning, so, hurray. We got off the plane, got our visas stamped, and actually quite quickly found our bags. We finally trudged our way to the ticket booth and got an express train into Rome's main station and then caught a train to Terni. Apparently we had gotten on the wrong type of train, because when the lady came by to validate our tickets, we had to pay extra.
So when we got to Terni, we met another girl who was actually on the same train as we were, her name is Crystal. We all called one of the professors and he came to pick all of us up. Terni is in a valley, and San Gemini is on a hill, so we got to wind through all the hairpin turns in a tiny little truck. Whatever, it was a blast.
We arrived in San Gemini and brought all our stuff up a steep set of stairs, and got into our rooms. there are three different apartments for the students, and I haven't seen the other two. Ours has four rooms, two singles and two doubles. I'm rooming with Jessica. We have an awesome little bathroom, it has a bidet...which is interesting. Our kitchen is tiny!! Especially for four girls, but, so far we've made eggs with basil, which were actually pretty good.
So yesterday, we got a tiny tour of the town, and one of our professors (the same one who picked us up from the train station) bought us all gelato. I had pineapple, and it blew my mind, so good. Then we had a little time to relax, and unpack, then we went out to dinner with the people who were already there. There are two research assistants from UW-Milwaukee here, too. They love Wisconsin, which makes me instantly love them. HA! At dinner, those of us who had arrived that day were pretty wiped, and so we left a little early while the others went out to the only other bar in town for more drinks. Today, we had planned on visiting the local pool, but nobody was really awake until about noon. So we made scrambled eggs for breakfast/lunch, and then at 3:30 we had orientation and met all the others who had arrived since last night. There are 13 of us in all. Just after we got to our 'classroom' (it's this old old building with...well, i will just show pics eventually) it started thunderstorming like nobody's business, and the ceiling leaked, and the lightning took out the power, so that kinda put the kibosh on the internet. After orientation, we went for another tour of the town (which most of us have already seen at this point, after grocery shopping--which is definitely an experience when none of us speak ANY Italian--) and then we went to see another of the apartments (way nicer than ours, but still....) then we opened a bottle of wine (It was sparkling white wine, from Umbria , a riesling, and pretty dry. I wish I could remember the name, but I can't, and the only place we get wireless outside of the classroom is literally on the steps outside the classroom. so that's where I am ) Then we went to the closest bar to all of us, Bar Centrale, for another beer. After that the 'program' took us out to eat, at a villa outside of San Gemini. We had several courses, started with antipasti, where we got kind of a sampler of appetizers, and then got spaghetti with meatballs, then chicken with a salad, and then a sort of chocolate cake with chocolate mousse and lemony sauce on top. All of it was so amazing. At the end to top everything off we all took a shot of grappa! Hahah, it was...interesting, and very very alcoholic. We all rode back, and now there are several other people on the stairs outside our classroom on the internet.
Class tomorrow starts at 9, and we're getting an overview of the history of San Gemini, and in the afternoon traveling to the archaeological site of Carsulae, which are Roman ruins. I'm SO pumped.
Love to you all-
and I miss you like crazy, my fellow rangers.
Love Siri
So here it is, from the beginning.
I met Mandi while waiting for my flight in Chicago, and we flew to Detroit. With maybe ten minutes to spare, we met Jessica and all flew to Rome. I watched the movies Sunshine Cleaning, New in Town, and a little bit of 17 Again. I had a teensy bottle of white wine with my gourmet (ack, it was awful) meal. I tried to sleep, wasn't very successful, but I got coffee in the morning, so, hurray. We got off the plane, got our visas stamped, and actually quite quickly found our bags. We finally trudged our way to the ticket booth and got an express train into Rome's main station and then caught a train to Terni. Apparently we had gotten on the wrong type of train, because when the lady came by to validate our tickets, we had to pay extra.
So when we got to Terni, we met another girl who was actually on the same train as we were, her name is Crystal. We all called one of the professors and he came to pick all of us up. Terni is in a valley, and San Gemini is on a hill, so we got to wind through all the hairpin turns in a tiny little truck. Whatever, it was a blast.
We arrived in San Gemini and brought all our stuff up a steep set of stairs, and got into our rooms. there are three different apartments for the students, and I haven't seen the other two. Ours has four rooms, two singles and two doubles. I'm rooming with Jessica. We have an awesome little bathroom, it has a bidet...which is interesting. Our kitchen is tiny!! Especially for four girls, but, so far we've made eggs with basil, which were actually pretty good.
So yesterday, we got a tiny tour of the town, and one of our professors (the same one who picked us up from the train station) bought us all gelato. I had pineapple, and it blew my mind, so good. Then we had a little time to relax, and unpack, then we went out to dinner with the people who were already there. There are two research assistants from UW-Milwaukee here, too. They love Wisconsin, which makes me instantly love them. HA! At dinner, those of us who had arrived that day were pretty wiped, and so we left a little early while the others went out to the only other bar in town for more drinks. Today, we had planned on visiting the local pool, but nobody was really awake until about noon. So we made scrambled eggs for breakfast/lunch, and then at 3:30 we had orientation and met all the others who had arrived since last night. There are 13 of us in all. Just after we got to our 'classroom' (it's this old old building with...well, i will just show pics eventually) it started thunderstorming like nobody's business, and the ceiling leaked, and the lightning took out the power, so that kinda put the kibosh on the internet. After orientation, we went for another tour of the town (which most of us have already seen at this point, after grocery shopping--which is definitely an experience when none of us speak ANY Italian--) and then we went to see another of the apartments (way nicer than ours, but still....) then we opened a bottle of wine (It was sparkling white wine, from Umbria , a riesling, and pretty dry. I wish I could remember the name, but I can't, and the only place we get wireless outside of the classroom is literally on the steps outside the classroom. so that's where I am ) Then we went to the closest bar to all of us, Bar Centrale, for another beer. After that the 'program' took us out to eat, at a villa outside of San Gemini. We had several courses, started with antipasti, where we got kind of a sampler of appetizers, and then got spaghetti with meatballs, then chicken with a salad, and then a sort of chocolate cake with chocolate mousse and lemony sauce on top. All of it was so amazing. At the end to top everything off we all took a shot of grappa! Hahah, it was...interesting, and very very alcoholic. We all rode back, and now there are several other people on the stairs outside our classroom on the internet.
Class tomorrow starts at 9, and we're getting an overview of the history of San Gemini, and in the afternoon traveling to the archaeological site of Carsulae, which are Roman ruins. I'm SO pumped.
Love to you all-
and I miss you like crazy, my fellow rangers.
Love Siri
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Uh
So another post to update y'all-
I bought a new laptop. It's a Toshiba laptop, and absolutely full of buttons and shiny bits. Everything one could want in a laptop bought quickly and (for the most part) inexpensively. The amount I paid is a LOT LOT LOT to me, but the deed is done. Now, Graham, Kjerstin's roommate is looking at my old laptop, trying to do ...well, anything with it. He think's he making progress, which in turn is making my head spin. Because if he fixes it, I will be out several weeks pay at Stella Blues, and have two laptops. AGH. Who knows. I don't. Leaving Madison tomorrow at around ten AM. My flight to Detroit leaves at 4:05, and the flight from there to Rome leaves at 7:45. Tired. Goodnight. A big day ahead, that hopefully will go smoothly.
Love Siri.
I bought a new laptop. It's a Toshiba laptop, and absolutely full of buttons and shiny bits. Everything one could want in a laptop bought quickly and (for the most part) inexpensively. The amount I paid is a LOT LOT LOT to me, but the deed is done. Now, Graham, Kjerstin's roommate is looking at my old laptop, trying to do ...well, anything with it. He think's he making progress, which in turn is making my head spin. Because if he fixes it, I will be out several weeks pay at Stella Blues, and have two laptops. AGH. Who knows. I don't. Leaving Madison tomorrow at around ten AM. My flight to Detroit leaves at 4:05, and the flight from there to Rome leaves at 7:45. Tired. Goodnight. A big day ahead, that hopefully will go smoothly.
Love Siri.
Uff da
SO-
Update. I'm parked in 15 minute parking, which is unfortunate, because I've been here FAR longer than that already. My laptop is basically dead in the water, it stopped being able to do ANYTHING. This isn't the best news. Otherwise, I'm all packed, in the library making a last post before I leave, most likely. Also, I'm STILL waffling between the rolling suitcase and the backpacking bag. AGH. Also, freaking out about car making to Madison, then to Chicago. Freaking out about making connecting flight. There isn't really anything I'm not freaking out about. Also, the most expensive textbook I ordered hasn't come, so I can't even use that for classes. cool. AND... I will just stop myself there. But hey, I'm going to Italy!
love seeer
p.s. kirsten- any food in the fridge that's mine, either eat it or throw it out. Also, wash molly's bowl every couple times you feed her, otherwise she won't drink the water out of it. i miss you.
Update. I'm parked in 15 minute parking, which is unfortunate, because I've been here FAR longer than that already. My laptop is basically dead in the water, it stopped being able to do ANYTHING. This isn't the best news. Otherwise, I'm all packed, in the library making a last post before I leave, most likely. Also, I'm STILL waffling between the rolling suitcase and the backpacking bag. AGH. Also, freaking out about car making to Madison, then to Chicago. Freaking out about making connecting flight. There isn't really anything I'm not freaking out about. Also, the most expensive textbook I ordered hasn't come, so I can't even use that for classes. cool. AND... I will just stop myself there. But hey, I'm going to Italy!
love seeer
p.s. kirsten- any food in the fridge that's mine, either eat it or throw it out. Also, wash molly's bowl every couple times you feed her, otherwise she won't drink the water out of it. i miss you.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
One Week
The title to this post reminds of the Barenaked Ladies song of the same name. I used to know all the lyrics, and thought I was hot shit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Week_(song)
So, I have come to realize that I am leaving for Italy in only 8 days. I am currently at disbelief and denial stage. I guess it never really weaseled its way into my brain tubes that I am actually going. And apparently I thought at some stage it would all fall through, and I've just been waiting for it to happen, but it hasn't, and I'm amazed.
With lots of books from the library and several loose ends to tie up here in Eau Claire, I don't have that much else to do, besides pack. I have some supplies to buy, like work things, gloves, safety goggles (always flattering) and power converters, etc... Although it's not my first trip abroad, people seem to think they should tell me everything I already know. I have learned lots of things that will be useful to me, and-it's not their fault, I have expressed some (some??!!ha!) panic at the thought of not being able to speak Italian. I will hopefully be able to understand quite a bit, judging by its similarity to French, English, and my background in Art History terminology etc... which is frought with Italian.
I'm already missing Eau Claire a bit, especially my roommates. It will be sad missing out on the majority of what has already been a stellar summer.
Uff da- I will stop there, Debbie Downer. yeesh.
This is a short post, because...let's refresh your memory here-I'm not in Italy yet.
Siri Dearie
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Week_(song)
So, I have come to realize that I am leaving for Italy in only 8 days. I am currently at disbelief and denial stage. I guess it never really weaseled its way into my brain tubes that I am actually going. And apparently I thought at some stage it would all fall through, and I've just been waiting for it to happen, but it hasn't, and I'm amazed.
With lots of books from the library and several loose ends to tie up here in Eau Claire, I don't have that much else to do, besides pack. I have some supplies to buy, like work things, gloves, safety goggles (always flattering) and power converters, etc... Although it's not my first trip abroad, people seem to think they should tell me everything I already know. I have learned lots of things that will be useful to me, and-it's not their fault, I have expressed some (some??!!ha!) panic at the thought of not being able to speak Italian. I will hopefully be able to understand quite a bit, judging by its similarity to French, English, and my background in Art History terminology etc... which is frought with Italian.
I'm already missing Eau Claire a bit, especially my roommates. It will be sad missing out on the majority of what has already been a stellar summer.
Uff da- I will stop there, Debbie Downer. yeesh.
This is a short post, because...let's refresh your memory here-I'm not in Italy yet.
Siri Dearie
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
17 days and counting...
This is going to be a short post because the battery on my laptop is dying, and I'm far too lazy to get up and get my charger.
So, 17 days until I leave for Italy!! I've been reading my textbooks Hermione Granger-style, and they're really cool. Two of them are about creating powders from minerals, mixing them and applying them to plaster, etc... I'm excited.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermione_granger
Now I'm going to name-drop a little bit- for those of you who are music fiends, you'll know who I'm talking about. One of Eau Claire's local celebrities, Justin Vernon, is the lead singer of the band Bon Iver.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bon_Iver
Anyway, late last night he and the band came in to Stella Blues, and my boss, Linda who has known him since he was little thought that the other waitress there would collapse into fits of hysteria if she took the table. (Obviously impressed by his celebrity or whatever...) Little did she know I'm a big fan, and the other waitress (Katelind*) probably has no idea who he is. HA! Anyway, they were all nice, and he's a good tipper. yay!
ALSO, tonight, I'm co-hosting a beer tasting at a friends house, and I'm pretty excited. There will be around 20 different beers, and I'm making appetizers and such.
I guess that's it for now- It's overcast here but still very warm, around 80.
Siri
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siri
** Katelind is actually a good friend, and we found out that we are also distantly related. Mom's cousin Sue is also Katelind's mom's cousin. Small world, eh?
So, 17 days until I leave for Italy!! I've been reading my textbooks Hermione Granger-style, and they're really cool. Two of them are about creating powders from minerals, mixing them and applying them to plaster, etc... I'm excited.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermione_granger
Now I'm going to name-drop a little bit- for those of you who are music fiends, you'll know who I'm talking about. One of Eau Claire's local celebrities, Justin Vernon, is the lead singer of the band Bon Iver.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bon_Iver
Anyway, late last night he and the band came in to Stella Blues, and my boss, Linda who has known him since he was little thought that the other waitress there would collapse into fits of hysteria if she took the table. (Obviously impressed by his celebrity or whatever...) Little did she know I'm a big fan, and the other waitress (Katelind*) probably has no idea who he is. HA! Anyway, they were all nice, and he's a good tipper. yay!
ALSO, tonight, I'm co-hosting a beer tasting at a friends house, and I'm pretty excited. There will be around 20 different beers, and I'm making appetizers and such.
I guess that's it for now- It's overcast here but still very warm, around 80.
Siri
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siri
** Katelind is actually a good friend, and we found out that we are also distantly related. Mom's cousin Sue is also Katelind's mom's cousin. Small world, eh?
Sunday, June 7, 2009
due (Two)
I realized that my writing may come across as a touch ambivalent to some of you who don't know me so well.
That being said, I can't get through my Rick Steves' Audio tour of Italy fast enough. Really! I'm that excited! I'm not entirely sure how my head hasn't yet exploded into a fiery ball of useless celebrity trivia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Steves
...And to address another quite pertinent question, why should you read my blog? I'm not ACTUALLY going to leave for Italy for another 3 1/2 weeks.
I have no witty, sarcastic answer for that, actually. If you're already reading this, then keep on keepin' on, do your thang, etc... It's because of my pointless, shoddily put-together stories and storylines and driveling commentary that you are coming back for more, isn't it? I knew it. Then keep reading, there is more pointless rambling coming your way.
I was thinking the other day (mainly out loud, and to my mother) that since graduate school will be so expensive and take forever, etc...I should just give up any sort of career path and get a travel show.(Sidenote: Since I'm just so amazing at life in general, I know that it will be very easy to just, you know...GET your own TV show. These things happen. Whatever.) I could go around and look specifically at museums and art/architecture/operas/plays/eat delicious food I don't have to pay for...that kind of thing. However-and this poses a bit of a problem- I greatly enjoy watching foodie travel shows; especially Anthony Bourdain : No Reservations, where he basically drinks, finds a random person from a town, has more drinks, dines, even more drinks with them, swears a lot, and makes fun of other people. The problem isn't that I enjoy watching it, it's that drinking copious amounts of alcohol, swearing like a sailor, and fine art don't necessarily always go together.
Necessarily. I could figure something out, right?
Anyway, would you watch my show? Any thoughts? I'd like to hear them-let me know what you think in the comments box.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Bourdain
It's still crappy outside here-
Siri
That being said, I can't get through my Rick Steves' Audio tour of Italy fast enough. Really! I'm that excited! I'm not entirely sure how my head hasn't yet exploded into a fiery ball of useless celebrity trivia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Steves
...And to address another quite pertinent question, why should you read my blog? I'm not ACTUALLY going to leave for Italy for another 3 1/2 weeks.
I have no witty, sarcastic answer for that, actually. If you're already reading this, then keep on keepin' on, do your thang, etc... It's because of my pointless, shoddily put-together stories and storylines and driveling commentary that you are coming back for more, isn't it? I knew it. Then keep reading, there is more pointless rambling coming your way.
I was thinking the other day (mainly out loud, and to my mother) that since graduate school will be so expensive and take forever, etc...I should just give up any sort of career path and get a travel show.(Sidenote: Since I'm just so amazing at life in general, I know that it will be very easy to just, you know...GET your own TV show. These things happen. Whatever.) I could go around and look specifically at museums and art/architecture/operas/plays/eat delicious food I don't have to pay for...that kind of thing. However-and this poses a bit of a problem- I greatly enjoy watching foodie travel shows; especially Anthony Bourdain : No Reservations, where he basically drinks, finds a random person from a town, has more drinks, dines, even more drinks with them, swears a lot, and makes fun of other people. The problem isn't that I enjoy watching it, it's that drinking copious amounts of alcohol, swearing like a sailor, and fine art don't necessarily always go together.
Necessarily. I could figure something out, right?
Anyway, would you watch my show? Any thoughts? I'd like to hear them-let me know what you think in the comments box.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Bourdain
It's still crappy outside here-
Siri
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