quick little update to the sound of church bells so late at night...

hello everyone =]

just a quick little blurb about my day before i head to sleep:

i woke up this morning after little, if no, sleep. i walked down to the market, got some breakfast and then walked a few blocks to set up my phone account. if you want the number, just email me and i will gladly give it to you =]

after my adventures with the phone company, which was QUITE the ordeal at vodafone, i had some lunch here at the house and took a little nap. then at around 4 i walked next door to the school office for my class schedule and health insureance cards and things of that sort. i ended up staying there for an hour talking to kate (our resident director who is super sweet) which was nice. i then went grocery shopping at the store across the street and you know what i found there?...

...PEANUTBUTTER AND PANCAKE MIX! thats right! i think its the only place in florence that even knows what they are! i was so excited that i got a box and a jar (skippy crunchy!) and im making myself some for breakfast tomorrow!!


when i got home, i made myself dinner and then got washed up and crawled into bed. my phone then rang and i was awoken by the maintenance man Vincent, who i had called earlier regarding my busted dishwasher. he told me that my landlord, Alessandro, was going to stop by at 9 or 915 tonight to post some phone numbers and contact info in the house and set up a few things for me since i arrived a few days earlier than planned. so, naturally, i was not going to stay in my pjs and in bed. so, i had to set an alarm and wake up 2 hours later for the landlord. i got up at 9 promptly, brushed my teeth again, put my har into a pony tail to somewhat look presentable and changed into jeans. i even put shoes on so i wasnt in my bare feet.

well....9 rolls by....915....930...call from Vincent.

'Alessandra?'

'si..'

'Alessandro is a bit late, so he will be there soon, ok?'

'ok grazie, a presto, ciao'

...10:00...by this point im about to fall back into bed...10:30...as im answering emails, the downstairs bell rings. so i get up and buzz the person in...about 5 whole min later, my doorbell rings. i open the door and in steps a man of about 40, tall for an italian. he is wearing painters pants of a deep green color and a shirt that has been worn out long ago. his hair is fire red and about 6 to 8 inches long and curly. it has also not been brushed for a long while...

he says his name is Alessandra, my landlord; after intensive hard breathing and telling me over and over again how he hates those stairs and how everytime he comes here he forgets how horrible they are. i told him that i walk them everyday, and he patted me on the back with a nod of sympathy.

he then took a little walk about the apt and posted some contact numbers and a warning next to all the beds saying that nobody better put their suitcase on the beds because of bedbugs traveling with you...he said i was ok since i have stone floors in my room and my cases are neatly in my closet. (didnt understand the stone floor part though...)

anywho, he then asked me where i am from, and so forth and then looked into my bedroom from the hall and noticed that i didnt have a comforter. (or as he called it 'a great blanket') i said no, but that i had found the blankets and just layered them on top. he said that this was not excusable and that i should have comforters and that he will bring a few by this week for the other girls as well. which was nice. i have 3 pillows on my bed, which is wonderful for my back!

he then left and i returned to bed, where i am now.

its been a long long day and tomorrow will be too.

i am catching the free shuttle to IKEA! its about 20 min away by bus, and im going to get some things. ie: adapters, surge protectors and possibly a lamp. (since my room is very dark at night) the landlord said he will pay me for the lamp if i keep my receipt since he knows that it is dark and hasnt had time to get one himself.

then, i am going to a welcome dinner at 6om right across the street from me, for the new students. there are 5 new students, myself included, for the bachelors program. there is about 20 if that, in the art conservation major. kate says that its a tight knit group and that its amazing fun though. she said that our professor, Lorenzo, is one of italy's most known art restorers. he has worked on mainly everything in florence and rome, therefore we have many trips to and classes in places that he has worked. we have 'back stage passes' so to speak. i am going to take photos if i am allowed, so you all get to see things that nobody else will unless youre with this guy! pretty amazing!

well, i love you all but its time for my bedtime. i need to be on the IKEA shuttle by 11 tomorrow morning. it picks up a few blocks from here, but i need a shower and breakfast =]

ill talk to you all soon, please dont hesitate to call if you can. id LOVE to talk whenever =]

xoxox good night everyone!