sorry this is sooo long and booooring, i promise from now on i will try to make them more interestin
September 23, 2005
Just in case you guys don’t read any more further, I watned to say that I miss all my friends sooo much. I have to name some very special people, …NIKA, RIKA, INNA, SYLVIA, MARYBETH, and I didn’t forget you CHAZ either, and I think that’s probably it from those that read this…..i miss everyone else too, but I feel like those would also be the people who most likely read this.
Wow guys, sorry about that last entry, it was intense. It took me about 4 hrs to write because I had to comfort my roommate. In fact, it turned out well, we really bonded I think. We shared some intimate details about ourselves, and we got to know each other better. Im really happy with both my roommates, even though, as you guys know its inevitable, there are some things that bother me. But people in general bother me, and living with 2 people is really hard for me, but I like them, really, and those things that bother me do not overcome my good feelings, and its not a big deal, I can learn to live with some of the stuff. Like ana never cleans the cutting board after herself, or the stove. But I don’t mind cleaning It every time I see it dirty, just because I like her. And its not a big deal. Stephanie never takes her hair out of the shower, and she only sheds in the shower, I cant be mad because as you all know I shed EVERYWHERE SO MUCH…lol, but at least I try to clean after myself. I know they think im weird, rightfully so, but Its ok, its me, I am weird, and I think they find me amusing…lol….once you get to know me you get to know how weird I am.
I just wanted to say something else before I end this entry….i love my bed. Inna and rika and masha will know why and what im talking about. They had the Russian style blankets in italy, well maybe its European style….but the blanket goes INSIDE the sheets, just like at home.
By the way, im not making beet salad for my dinner, I think its too much of a culture shock for everyone, instead im gonna try to make salmon, if I cant, then I will just buy smoked salmon….they will like that.
Ok, so yestery, or the day before yesterday, I cant remember, I truly felt like home. Other than the super comfy sheets….when I was washing my face at night, I was thinking about home and stuff, and I wasn’t really thinking about what I was doing, I reached for the soap in front of me! Stop!!!! I use the face cream, dove, here to wash my face….not the soap. I stopped myself before I used it, but it made me feel like that was the moment I felt like home. Why you ask? Well, simply because I used soap at home, I got so comfortable that I returned to my routine at home, because I felt like I was at home….make sense to you guys?
September 26, 2005
Ok, so first thing I have to say, not only does italy not have index cards, but they don’t have sour cream either. That is just super awful for a Russian person. Although, I know there is a Russian community with Russian restaurants, so I plan to check it out eventually, maybe there is a grocery store there with sour cream. Anyway, im improvising, and using something else that looks like sour cream for my chicken stew tomorrow. I changed the menu a little bit, so I hop dan and Elizabeth don’t have a problem with mushrooms or something….anyway, enough of that, I cant get josh out of my head. I don’t know what to do, he is this boy that I met through spencer, his roommate actually, Friday night I spent at full up with him, and his entire duke crew, it was a lot of fun, but I was kind of interested in him before then to, my feelings for him just multiplied exponentially for him after that night. I don’t know what to do, I don’t think he likes me, I hate my life when it comes to boys. Anyways, today I made my eggplant caviar, it’s a little bit too salty, but I think its still good. Hopefully.
I read MB livejournal today, I love the way she writes.
I love inna because she sends me e-mails, the only one that truly cares, or is she?
Ok, not much more to say other than its 12 and im going to bed….oooh, im doing so well with hw, im getting everything done and having lots of fun in the middle either doing it or going out. Sienna was amazing, but I had a tummy ache so it could have been better.
Ana is thinking of writing a guide book from a students perspective geared specially for student going abroad to Florence, who know, she might actually go through with it. Im not sure if shes in the kitchen starting to type up the book or writing a journal entry…lol.
CIAO!
September 27, 2005 12:27 am
Hey guys, so I had my dinner party tonight, everyone left just before 11, it was a lot of fun. Some food went to waste, but I couldn’t store it all because of my tiny fridge, but altogether I would say it was a success. I think they really liked the food. And honestly, I couldn’t find sour cream so I had to improvise…yay, go me!..lol, I found some plain yogurt and I mixed it with some sauce that kind looked like sour cream, but in actuality it did not taste like it at all, but it came out good, I made way too much of it ofcourse, but I think the thing the people liked least was the potato salad, but I know Elizabeth ate it all, and I think spencer liked it too, but im sure everyone liked the chicken, and I think everyone liked the eggplant. I had to finish off the salmon because I couldn’t store it and it was the most expensive thing on the table, about 50 euros per kilogram! Across the street, they sell it at about 100 euros per kilo, its insane…just because its imported probably, just like their berries are super expensive here as well. Its totally craziness, but once I can do it, and say I had a dinner party in italy, next time it will be Italian food, that’s cheap, and I have the recipe in the book that I bought, so I have like 20 euros to spend for the rest of the week, it shouldn’t be too difficult, I hope, unless I go away this weekend, in which, terrible! Oh my, I told spencer that I liked josh, and as I imagined he cant really do anything to help me, only said that yea, hes a ladys man, but not a player. He did suggest though that we all go out to dinner or something, which im of course not opposed to, I want to go tomorrow night! Asap! Lol, my tummy hurts…I ate too much, but it was good, im so proud of myself. Spencer brough pastries and I bought a cake, and Elizabeth and dan brought some wine, it was perfect! Im so happy. Ok, good night!
September 29, 2005
Hey,
Ok so last night was a lot of fun, me and ana went to this cool bar to get a drink and then we went to full up. It was a lot of fun, just dancing and stuff, being with people and meeting new people. I think im just gonna be friends with josh, even though I tell people im not interested anymore, well only my roommate and spencer because only they know of my crush, but when in reality I still like him, but I would rather be friends than nothing at all. We got to talk a little bit last night, that was good. Anyways today was a really hectic day. I had decided im not going to Octoberfest, but things get really screwed up, and meanwhile spencer was always saying that he didn’t mind sharing his room with me, so I went to the bus station to see if there were any train tickets available, and there was one for tomorrow during the day for 60 euros each way, that is way better than a flight, then I called the hotel to see if they would put an extra bed in a single, and they said yes, they were going through the process of doing it when my phone card ran out of money. Anyways, spencer got upset that I called the hotel and I felt really bad, so he would rather be in a room alone. I feel terrible not because im not going to October fest, but because I got ahead of myself and everything trying to make it work. It wasn’t meant to be, and I feel terrible incringing on his own privacy and right and everything. I just feel horrible, and I don’t know what he must think of me. He promised that were cool and that hes not mad or anything, but I cant help to think that a thought in his mind that im a freak and too pushy is in there. I really was pushy, and I feel terrible, I didn’t even realize how pushy I was being, I probably pushed him into agreeing to let me share a room with him in the first place and he probably didn’t want to do it then, I was just too pushy, and I feel terrible. I don’t know what to do. I feel so lonely here, I have none of my close friends, I feel like crying now. Its just so hard for me to be out of my comfort zone, I don’t know whats wrong with me. I just feel so lonely, I have no boy friend, I have no friends. I mean I have friends, but they have other friends than me, and I don’t have other friends than them. I mean they go out all the time, they never have problems finding people to talk to or chill with or go out with, and I always do. I mean I only go out with my roommate, what do I do if she cant go? Well I cant go then either because that would mean that im all alone. I have no one to travel with, and I don’t know anything anymore. That’s it, im not planning to go to spend fall break with spencer either, I don’t want this to happen again, I will go to Prague, and to London, maybe spain if I find someone to go with. I don’t know though. I will wait one more week before booking my flights….i also don’t know if im going to like living in Florence for the rest of my time here, I cant handle it!
I don’t even have much homework or anything…im just bored and lonely.
Maybe I will see if nikki wants to go out with me this weekend, anas friend.
October 1, 2005 12:13 am (well its really the 2nd, but its sat night)
Ok, so im home, my bus ticket expired today, I have to get a new one, and I had a rough weekend. Last night I got really drunk, way more than I thought I would get. I think my tolerance has gone a lot down since I don’t drink as much anymore, not to say that I used to drink a lot, but I just almost never drink anymore, atleast not a lot, usually no more than one drink or like 2 shots a night, which is nothing! Last night I had like 3 drinks and a shot, and I drank them fast, whereas I usually drink really slowly. I had vodka tonics, and those have a lot of alcohol in them (especially in italy where they make drinks a lot stronger here) but you also cant taste the alcohol at all. Its becoming one of my favorite drinks….oh man that’s dangerous. So we went to JJs last night, it was fun, we met some people, these two guys. They went with us to full up afterwards, but one of the guys just wanders off while waiting in line. We asked his friend if he was going to follow him, I mean this kid was out of it, plus they don’t live here, he doesn’t know where he is or where hes going, its insane…we couldn’t believe this kid was willing to leave his friend wandering out just to get into a club with some girls he didn’t know. They were getting annoying and we were glad to get rid of him. The funniest thing about the story is that today I was walking around with Elizabeth exploring our town, when I saw them! Haha, and ana was also walking with her parents around Florence, and she also saw them! That’s how small this city is guys, im telling you, you can get around everywhere within 20 minutes walking from the center. Its really funny, its sooo small, but seems big when you first get here. Its like NYC, but NYC is a lot bigger, but its actually really small and I find that the chances are big to run into somebody you know in another neighborhood or something. Anyways, to go on, I think im going to be going to aris a lot. I really liked it when I went out Thursday night with alex, did I tell you about that? Oh, ok so I went out Wednesday night to full up, and I met this kid alex there, he was nice bought me a drink, he promotes for some clubs here, but hes from ny, and he goes to some strange school that I cant think of the name. thursday night he calls me and invited me to go out with him and his friends. I didn’t really have a great time, we went to dolce zucchero, which isn’t bad, but I didn’t like the club that much. Full up was closed so that whole crowd was probably there, but there were more annoying girls in this one…anyway, we went to aris diner! It was amazing, ari is sooooo cute, hes only 23 and owns the place! Hes from Chicago, but lives in Florence right now. Hes so adorable, and hes nice. My roommate thinks he gay, but I don’t think so, hes too cute and pays too much attention to the girls that constantly surround him. Anyways, I think im going to be obsessed with that place because I crave burgers so much and its affordable there, its truly like an American diner, but not a ny one because ny ones are really expensive. Anyways, to tell you about Friday night, so me and ana wen to JJs, met those guys, went to full up, lost those guys (thank god) and we had an awesome time at full up. Im now friends with the bouncers and promoters of that club, they are soo sweet, I basically met them through this entire weekend, I spent too much time in that club, and I saw them Thursday night when I went to dolce zucchero as well, now Christian calls me up and stuff, and I can get free drinks and free enterance, and a free stamp to get into the VIP room, its awesome, I love those guys.
Today, there was a political manifestation in the street. There were like 300 polizia and caribinieri outside blocking street, there were protestors, and so many people outside who were wondering whats going on, not to mention to stupid tourists stopping and taking pictures with all the police men, anyways it turns out that a right wing politician was in a building, and they blocked it off because hes not well liked in Florence and they were afraid that people might get violent if they opened up the street. Nothing even was going on, and I don’t understand any huge protesting since the government is currently not right winged, even though the elections are coming in less than a year, its exciting to see all this political stuff while learning about it. Anyways, im going to stop babbling, and I tried to shorten this since it was covering three days, but I tried, I was just so tired or drunk and sick to write this weekend. Oh, and I still like josh, but im actually over him at the same time. Ii don’t know if that makes sense but it does to me. Im not even trying to get with him, but I still think that hes a cool and nice and cute guy, that I wouldn’t be opposed to being with, but im not thinking of him as more than a friend or someone that I will try to hard to be with even as a friend, he has to want it too. Ok, shut up Elena, lol. Ciao!
October 4, Wednesday 12:51 am
Ok, so this past weekend was really fun, what did I do? Oh yes, after a moment of pondering, I remembered that I didn’t do much. So, you know what I did wed and Thursday and Friday night, thank god because I don’t. hehe. Anyways, to make the joke less cheesy, lets go on. Sat night I did nothing as you know, and the rest was pretty boring, last night was interesting though. I didn’t go out, but I got a text from alex, the kid I met Wednesday night at full up, im not sure if I told you about him, but hes a nice guy, anyway he asked me if I wanted to go out that night. I was kind of in the neighborhood so I said I would stop by to chat since he was at the door, but I told him I couldn’t stay, and I wasn’t even going inside the club. Anyways, I ended up talking for like an hour to alex, Christian, and vito. They are such cool people, I mean I really like Christian and vito, awesome guys. I hope Christian doesn’t like me more than a friend, although I have a feeling he does. Im not full of myself, just perceptive. Anyway, I hope it doesn’t get awkward if he does, I like being friends with him. I convinced him to go salsa dancing with me on Saturday night. Hopefully, it will be fun…yay.
Anyway, he went to walk me home and on our way he got a phone call from a friend origionally from Portugal who is visiting Florence but used to study here, he is staying with some people that are also studying here right now, and are portugese as well. Anyways, to get back to the point, this person turns out to be in the apartment right above our heads, but neither one of them knew the proximity between each other before they heard their voices outside…does that make sense to you? It does to me so who cares….it was quite funny and ironic. It goes to show how small Florence really is, just to give you an idea. I mean what are the chances of that happening in ny? Its probably very slim here too, it was just too much of a coincidence. So we went upstairs and had a drink, this girl turned out to be really nice, and we exchanged numbers, I hope she remembers me because she was really drunk and we agreed that I would call her tomorrow evening to go out to dinner with her and her friends. Anyways, that was my night last night.
There is something else I want to tell you all, today was my first teaching day. Im not sure if I told you, but I volunteered to teach at an Italian school students english. It turns out that I got a high school with 18 year old. Thankfully though, they were all girls, so I wasn’t as intimidated as I would have been with boys there. I hope you understand because im not explaining any more of that. Anyways, they just asked me a bunch of cute questions, other than if I had siblings, pets, and what kids in America do, they also asked stuff like if I have a boyfriend, what I think of Italian boys, etc…it was very cute, im glad its all girls. I have to come up with lesson plans and stuff, it might be very fun. I suggested for next week that I bring in music to listen to and later talk about in class with the girls. I liked them, and I like this volunteer thing.
Also, happy new year to you all. Last night I went to services, as well as this morning after teaching. It was nice, but I wish that the women wouldn’t talk so much. But I got to meet the rabbis wife, she was very nice, and I saw a bunch of kids from my program, which was funny, but I don’t know any of them, just recognize them, so I didn’t talk to anyone. But its ok, I came to pray, which didn’t really happen because of all the talking, but I still had a good time. The synagogue here is absolutely georgeous, its not my first time in it, but im still stunned.
Arrivederci, cell’ho molto sonno….
~Elena
October 6, 2005 5:20 pm
Gosh, what do I not have to tell you all. Im writing this during the day so that I know I have time and im not rushing to go to sleep. This morning was difficult, I went to sleep around 3 last night, which wasn’t bad comparitivly (to the other Wednesday nights) but still pretty bad. on the bright side, I think the more tired I am, the better I draw, but only in the morning not at night. I think I did my best drawing this morning, its so nice, I think. And I thought it was going to turn out so badly.
So last night, I went out with those portugese people I told you about. It was a lot of fun, I met this guy named tiago, and three Lithuanian girls (who speak Russian!) so we all spoke in english, Russian, Lithuanian, and portugese, in addition to the Italian that we all know. It was so much fun! Hes also really cute, and so are those girls - but in a different way, lol - anyways, its hard to tell if he likes me, I mean its too early to tell either way, but hes really cool and I hope we continue to hang out…as friends or whatever…lol. Hes cute, smart, nice, and a really good boy. Anyways, it was interesting and fun to talk to people other than from my school for a change. Alex is starting to annoy me. All he cares about is what people think of him, and he takes his “job” too seriously. I mean all he does is promote some clubs and the diner, he cares way too much though, when he meets somebody he automatically says where he works and promotes the place. You have to wait until people are interested in even talking with you or asking you atleast one question like his name or something. Hes too eager to make friends and stuff and I bet he thought this would make him cool. Anyways, ill keep talking to him because hes nice, but I don’t think I want to be friends with him, hes not my type of person. Those Lithuanian girls on the other hand, are so cute, and so much fun. They are really nice, and I think we get along really well. They are good girls, and they speak Russian, and I think they are more like me than any other girls ive met here in Florence. And I like Spanish and portugese men way more than Italian. Im starting to really dislike Italian men, I mean when you get here its overwhelming because you imagine them all to be so beautiful, then you realize that there is a huge age gap, all the young ones are weird and the old ones are too old, they all have bad teeth, bad hair, and bad manners. They suck…lol, but its still fun and funny to watch them. Anyways, I think that’s all for today, I don’t think ill go out tonight sicne I have to meet Elizabeth and dan tomorrow morning at 745!!!! To go to asissi…terrible, its an ungodly hour to wake up, 7 that is. Oh, and last night we all went to full up, that place sucks now, I don’t know what it is but its not getting as crowded as it usually gets, and wed nights are sopposed to be their biggest nights, I don’t know what happened. Ok, im gonna go admire my drawing and then go take a nap…ciao!
Monday, October 10, 2005 10:39 pm
Im sorry its been a while since Ive written, but ive been extremely tired and busy with those Lithuanians and portugese people. I have so muich to tell im excited. I will give you the short versions first. Thursday night I went out with the Lithuanian girls I think we went to just a bar, I don’t really remember now, but I spent Thursday night, Friday night and Saturday night with those Lithuanian girls, out of those days we spent Thursday night and Friday night with the portugese. They are so much fun, we went to dolce zucchero, and jj’s, anyway, im at a point where I realize that you don’t care where we went, we went out…lol, anyways, the important stuff is that im finally getting some rest, I think I fell behind in my school work this past week, but now im catching up, I don’t think I will go out this week at all, and if I do I have to make sure im up to date with stuff. Midterms are next week so I have to concentrate now. Anyways, the Lithuanians are in rome now so it wont be hard to not hang out with them, as for the portugese, oh let me tell you about tiago. So my wish came true, he asked me out for coffee. Well, that’s part of my wish, the rest is yet to come ;) hehe, anwyays we had coffee last night, and it was great. We talked for a really long time. Hes a really shy guy, and I like him for that, not to mention how incredibly intelligent and beautiful he is. I have nothing else to say, except a few words about him. He studies law, and he wants to be a judge, which means he will be studying for a very very long time to come. He is 22 yrs old, hes beautiful, he is from Portugal, but he has some heritage dating back to italy. He is my ideal man in every way shape and form right now, I hope he likes me. I mean he asked me out, so im assuming so, but you never know. What if he doesn’t call me again, although I think we had a great time together, and what if hes playing games, like if he has a girl friend or something. Anyways, I will continue to do what I was always doing, just liking him and not making it too obvious. I think it worked out that he asked me for coffee because I thought in my head that I liked him but I wasn’t going to try to date him or anything, just spend time with him and have fun, in a group as a friend or alone…I was content with either relationship. Anwyays, I hope he calls me, I think im starting to really like him, and we have spent so much time together in such a short period of time that I think im getting to know him really well. Oh and another thing, he doesn’t smoke, doesn’t do drugs, and rarely drinks….perfect!
Friday October 14, 2005 435 pm
Hey guys its me again. So I missed school yesterday because I was fasting for yom kippur, and the day went fine, It was easier than I remember last year being. Anyways, I had the best evening. I was sopposed to go to dinner with tiago but he said he couldn’t go last minute because his Italian class was going to go on for another 2 hours, ok, fine, I went to eat sushi with spencer instead. We had such a blast, we came home and got ana and went to slowly…expensive, chic, and styled out…..but I totally forgot that I promised those Lithuanian girls to go out with them. Anwyays, we decided that since I was already late in meeting them, its already 1115, I suggested we hang out with the portugese. I called monica and we went upstairs. Long story short, I had the best night since I came to italy, one of my dreams came true, and to give you a hint of what it was, it concerned tiago. Now I have to go write my boring paper for topics class. Did I tell you what my other dream is? Just in case it comes true, I don’t ever want to have to mention it again, but its to atleast kiss ostashevky, but mostly I want to screw him. Ciao!
Sunday October 16, 2005
Ok, so today I went to perugia to the chocolate festival. I thought it would be more fun, with cool games and lots of free sample chocolate. Well, if there were then I didn’t see it. The only free chocolate that I saw was when they had this tent with a huge block of chocolate, and this guy drilling off pieces…it was so disgusting, people were pushing and shoving for this free chocolate, they were vicious…its insane all for these disgusting unsanitary pieces of free chocolate. It brought out the worst in these feisty Italians. Anyways, Im getting sick so emmediatly when I got home I went to the 24 hour drugstore to get some medicine. Im going to bed at around 819, and hopefully will be sleeping by 9. you don’t understand, I went to bed last night at 10, but I probably only slept for 4 hours, maybe less. I must have fallen asleep at around 5 and I had to wake up at 630 to go to this stupid festival….if I get really sick, this was completely not worth it. Anyways, I met this really cool girl on the trip, shes a PA, peer adviser, but shes my age…awesome girl, and she salsa dances!!!!! I found someone to go with, that I think will actually go. Ok, another weird thing that happened, I saw one of the portugese boys there, he came up to me while I was waiting for the bus to get into town. He was with another girl and boy, I know all of them. I bumped into tiago in the street yesterday and he told me he was thinking of going, but that he would call me when he knew…he never called, but its ok, im over him sort of…..i realized last night that im way over obsessive bout him, and that I should take it as it is….its not a relationship, and I don’t want it to be, I don’t want to get attached…I will hang out with him when he wants…kiss him when I get my chances….but also, I just think my life will be a lot easier if I don’t obsess…I like him a lot, but I will deal with him calmy and coolly, I will just let him call the shots…he knows I like him, so he will have to make the moves from now on. I don’t want to do it anymore and I don’t want to seem like I want a relationship…plus I want to meet other boys and have a lot of fun, with or without him. Ok, another person I saw in perugia…well I bumped into her on the train, is this girl sake, I don’t know if I told you about her, but shes this cute Japanese girl who studies in italy, and I met her in the dance studio…shes a student there as well….she says that she wants to go salsa dancing, but shes never able to make it….i will ask her next week, but atleast I think jasmine might go with me whether she can or cant, and I will ask chanell as well….this girl from school….i know she was interested in going with me when I go….ok, that’s all for now..im going to try to go to sleep now….i haven’t finished my paper and midterms are next week, I haven’t started studying for ANY of them….im screwed, but I think I will work out my studying schedule tomorrow when I find out when exactly is everything….good night!!!!
Just in case you guys don’t read any more further, I watned to say that I miss all my friends sooo much. I have to name some very special people, …NIKA, RIKA, INNA, SYLVIA, MARYBETH, and I didn’t forget you CHAZ either, and I think that’s probably it from those that read this…..i miss everyone else too, but I feel like those would also be the people who most likely read this.
Wow guys, sorry about that last entry, it was intense. It took me about 4 hrs to write because I had to comfort my roommate. In fact, it turned out well, we really bonded I think. We shared some intimate details about ourselves, and we got to know each other better. Im really happy with both my roommates, even though, as you guys know its inevitable, there are some things that bother me. But people in general bother me, and living with 2 people is really hard for me, but I like them, really, and those things that bother me do not overcome my good feelings, and its not a big deal, I can learn to live with some of the stuff. Like ana never cleans the cutting board after herself, or the stove. But I don’t mind cleaning It every time I see it dirty, just because I like her. And its not a big deal. Stephanie never takes her hair out of the shower, and she only sheds in the shower, I cant be mad because as you all know I shed EVERYWHERE SO MUCH…lol, but at least I try to clean after myself. I know they think im weird, rightfully so, but Its ok, its me, I am weird, and I think they find me amusing…lol….once you get to know me you get to know how weird I am.
I just wanted to say something else before I end this entry….i love my bed. Inna and rika and masha will know why and what im talking about. They had the Russian style blankets in italy, well maybe its European style….but the blanket goes INSIDE the sheets, just like at home.
By the way, im not making beet salad for my dinner, I think its too much of a culture shock for everyone, instead im gonna try to make salmon, if I cant, then I will just buy smoked salmon….they will like that.
Ok, so yestery, or the day before yesterday, I cant remember, I truly felt like home. Other than the super comfy sheets….when I was washing my face at night, I was thinking about home and stuff, and I wasn’t really thinking about what I was doing, I reached for the soap in front of me! Stop!!!! I use the face cream, dove, here to wash my face….not the soap. I stopped myself before I used it, but it made me feel like that was the moment I felt like home. Why you ask? Well, simply because I used soap at home, I got so comfortable that I returned to my routine at home, because I felt like I was at home….make sense to you guys?
September 26, 2005
Ok, so first thing I have to say, not only does italy not have index cards, but they don’t have sour cream either. That is just super awful for a Russian person. Although, I know there is a Russian community with Russian restaurants, so I plan to check it out eventually, maybe there is a grocery store there with sour cream. Anyway, im improvising, and using something else that looks like sour cream for my chicken stew tomorrow. I changed the menu a little bit, so I hop dan and Elizabeth don’t have a problem with mushrooms or something….anyway, enough of that, I cant get josh out of my head. I don’t know what to do, he is this boy that I met through spencer, his roommate actually, Friday night I spent at full up with him, and his entire duke crew, it was a lot of fun, but I was kind of interested in him before then to, my feelings for him just multiplied exponentially for him after that night. I don’t know what to do, I don’t think he likes me, I hate my life when it comes to boys. Anyways, today I made my eggplant caviar, it’s a little bit too salty, but I think its still good. Hopefully.
I read MB livejournal today, I love the way she writes.
I love inna because she sends me e-mails, the only one that truly cares, or is she?
Ok, not much more to say other than its 12 and im going to bed….oooh, im doing so well with hw, im getting everything done and having lots of fun in the middle either doing it or going out. Sienna was amazing, but I had a tummy ache so it could have been better.
Ana is thinking of writing a guide book from a students perspective geared specially for student going abroad to Florence, who know, she might actually go through with it. Im not sure if shes in the kitchen starting to type up the book or writing a journal entry…lol.
CIAO!
September 27, 2005 12:27 am
Hey guys, so I had my dinner party tonight, everyone left just before 11, it was a lot of fun. Some food went to waste, but I couldn’t store it all because of my tiny fridge, but altogether I would say it was a success. I think they really liked the food. And honestly, I couldn’t find sour cream so I had to improvise…yay, go me!..lol, I found some plain yogurt and I mixed it with some sauce that kind looked like sour cream, but in actuality it did not taste like it at all, but it came out good, I made way too much of it ofcourse, but I think the thing the people liked least was the potato salad, but I know Elizabeth ate it all, and I think spencer liked it too, but im sure everyone liked the chicken, and I think everyone liked the eggplant. I had to finish off the salmon because I couldn’t store it and it was the most expensive thing on the table, about 50 euros per kilogram! Across the street, they sell it at about 100 euros per kilo, its insane…just because its imported probably, just like their berries are super expensive here as well. Its totally craziness, but once I can do it, and say I had a dinner party in italy, next time it will be Italian food, that’s cheap, and I have the recipe in the book that I bought, so I have like 20 euros to spend for the rest of the week, it shouldn’t be too difficult, I hope, unless I go away this weekend, in which, terrible! Oh my, I told spencer that I liked josh, and as I imagined he cant really do anything to help me, only said that yea, hes a ladys man, but not a player. He did suggest though that we all go out to dinner or something, which im of course not opposed to, I want to go tomorrow night! Asap! Lol, my tummy hurts…I ate too much, but it was good, im so proud of myself. Spencer brough pastries and I bought a cake, and Elizabeth and dan brought some wine, it was perfect! Im so happy. Ok, good night!
September 29, 2005
Hey,
Ok so last night was a lot of fun, me and ana went to this cool bar to get a drink and then we went to full up. It was a lot of fun, just dancing and stuff, being with people and meeting new people. I think im just gonna be friends with josh, even though I tell people im not interested anymore, well only my roommate and spencer because only they know of my crush, but when in reality I still like him, but I would rather be friends than nothing at all. We got to talk a little bit last night, that was good. Anyways today was a really hectic day. I had decided im not going to Octoberfest, but things get really screwed up, and meanwhile spencer was always saying that he didn’t mind sharing his room with me, so I went to the bus station to see if there were any train tickets available, and there was one for tomorrow during the day for 60 euros each way, that is way better than a flight, then I called the hotel to see if they would put an extra bed in a single, and they said yes, they were going through the process of doing it when my phone card ran out of money. Anyways, spencer got upset that I called the hotel and I felt really bad, so he would rather be in a room alone. I feel terrible not because im not going to October fest, but because I got ahead of myself and everything trying to make it work. It wasn’t meant to be, and I feel terrible incringing on his own privacy and right and everything. I just feel horrible, and I don’t know what he must think of me. He promised that were cool and that hes not mad or anything, but I cant help to think that a thought in his mind that im a freak and too pushy is in there. I really was pushy, and I feel terrible, I didn’t even realize how pushy I was being, I probably pushed him into agreeing to let me share a room with him in the first place and he probably didn’t want to do it then, I was just too pushy, and I feel terrible. I don’t know what to do. I feel so lonely here, I have none of my close friends, I feel like crying now. Its just so hard for me to be out of my comfort zone, I don’t know whats wrong with me. I just feel so lonely, I have no boy friend, I have no friends. I mean I have friends, but they have other friends than me, and I don’t have other friends than them. I mean they go out all the time, they never have problems finding people to talk to or chill with or go out with, and I always do. I mean I only go out with my roommate, what do I do if she cant go? Well I cant go then either because that would mean that im all alone. I have no one to travel with, and I don’t know anything anymore. That’s it, im not planning to go to spend fall break with spencer either, I don’t want this to happen again, I will go to Prague, and to London, maybe spain if I find someone to go with. I don’t know though. I will wait one more week before booking my flights….i also don’t know if im going to like living in Florence for the rest of my time here, I cant handle it!
I don’t even have much homework or anything…im just bored and lonely.
Maybe I will see if nikki wants to go out with me this weekend, anas friend.
October 1, 2005 12:13 am (well its really the 2nd, but its sat night)
Ok, so im home, my bus ticket expired today, I have to get a new one, and I had a rough weekend. Last night I got really drunk, way more than I thought I would get. I think my tolerance has gone a lot down since I don’t drink as much anymore, not to say that I used to drink a lot, but I just almost never drink anymore, atleast not a lot, usually no more than one drink or like 2 shots a night, which is nothing! Last night I had like 3 drinks and a shot, and I drank them fast, whereas I usually drink really slowly. I had vodka tonics, and those have a lot of alcohol in them (especially in italy where they make drinks a lot stronger here) but you also cant taste the alcohol at all. Its becoming one of my favorite drinks….oh man that’s dangerous. So we went to JJs last night, it was fun, we met some people, these two guys. They went with us to full up afterwards, but one of the guys just wanders off while waiting in line. We asked his friend if he was going to follow him, I mean this kid was out of it, plus they don’t live here, he doesn’t know where he is or where hes going, its insane…we couldn’t believe this kid was willing to leave his friend wandering out just to get into a club with some girls he didn’t know. They were getting annoying and we were glad to get rid of him. The funniest thing about the story is that today I was walking around with Elizabeth exploring our town, when I saw them! Haha, and ana was also walking with her parents around Florence, and she also saw them! That’s how small this city is guys, im telling you, you can get around everywhere within 20 minutes walking from the center. Its really funny, its sooo small, but seems big when you first get here. Its like NYC, but NYC is a lot bigger, but its actually really small and I find that the chances are big to run into somebody you know in another neighborhood or something. Anyways, to go on, I think im going to be going to aris a lot. I really liked it when I went out Thursday night with alex, did I tell you about that? Oh, ok so I went out Wednesday night to full up, and I met this kid alex there, he was nice bought me a drink, he promotes for some clubs here, but hes from ny, and he goes to some strange school that I cant think of the name. thursday night he calls me and invited me to go out with him and his friends. I didn’t really have a great time, we went to dolce zucchero, which isn’t bad, but I didn’t like the club that much. Full up was closed so that whole crowd was probably there, but there were more annoying girls in this one…anyway, we went to aris diner! It was amazing, ari is sooooo cute, hes only 23 and owns the place! Hes from Chicago, but lives in Florence right now. Hes so adorable, and hes nice. My roommate thinks he gay, but I don’t think so, hes too cute and pays too much attention to the girls that constantly surround him. Anyways, I think im going to be obsessed with that place because I crave burgers so much and its affordable there, its truly like an American diner, but not a ny one because ny ones are really expensive. Anyways, to tell you about Friday night, so me and ana wen to JJs, met those guys, went to full up, lost those guys (thank god) and we had an awesome time at full up. Im now friends with the bouncers and promoters of that club, they are soo sweet, I basically met them through this entire weekend, I spent too much time in that club, and I saw them Thursday night when I went to dolce zucchero as well, now Christian calls me up and stuff, and I can get free drinks and free enterance, and a free stamp to get into the VIP room, its awesome, I love those guys.
Today, there was a political manifestation in the street. There were like 300 polizia and caribinieri outside blocking street, there were protestors, and so many people outside who were wondering whats going on, not to mention to stupid tourists stopping and taking pictures with all the police men, anyways it turns out that a right wing politician was in a building, and they blocked it off because hes not well liked in Florence and they were afraid that people might get violent if they opened up the street. Nothing even was going on, and I don’t understand any huge protesting since the government is currently not right winged, even though the elections are coming in less than a year, its exciting to see all this political stuff while learning about it. Anyways, im going to stop babbling, and I tried to shorten this since it was covering three days, but I tried, I was just so tired or drunk and sick to write this weekend. Oh, and I still like josh, but im actually over him at the same time. Ii don’t know if that makes sense but it does to me. Im not even trying to get with him, but I still think that hes a cool and nice and cute guy, that I wouldn’t be opposed to being with, but im not thinking of him as more than a friend or someone that I will try to hard to be with even as a friend, he has to want it too. Ok, shut up Elena, lol. Ciao!
October 4, Wednesday 12:51 am
Ok, so this past weekend was really fun, what did I do? Oh yes, after a moment of pondering, I remembered that I didn’t do much. So, you know what I did wed and Thursday and Friday night, thank god because I don’t. hehe. Anyways, to make the joke less cheesy, lets go on. Sat night I did nothing as you know, and the rest was pretty boring, last night was interesting though. I didn’t go out, but I got a text from alex, the kid I met Wednesday night at full up, im not sure if I told you about him, but hes a nice guy, anyway he asked me if I wanted to go out that night. I was kind of in the neighborhood so I said I would stop by to chat since he was at the door, but I told him I couldn’t stay, and I wasn’t even going inside the club. Anyways, I ended up talking for like an hour to alex, Christian, and vito. They are such cool people, I mean I really like Christian and vito, awesome guys. I hope Christian doesn’t like me more than a friend, although I have a feeling he does. Im not full of myself, just perceptive. Anyway, I hope it doesn’t get awkward if he does, I like being friends with him. I convinced him to go salsa dancing with me on Saturday night. Hopefully, it will be fun…yay.
Anyway, he went to walk me home and on our way he got a phone call from a friend origionally from Portugal who is visiting Florence but used to study here, he is staying with some people that are also studying here right now, and are portugese as well. Anyways, to get back to the point, this person turns out to be in the apartment right above our heads, but neither one of them knew the proximity between each other before they heard their voices outside…does that make sense to you? It does to me so who cares….it was quite funny and ironic. It goes to show how small Florence really is, just to give you an idea. I mean what are the chances of that happening in ny? Its probably very slim here too, it was just too much of a coincidence. So we went upstairs and had a drink, this girl turned out to be really nice, and we exchanged numbers, I hope she remembers me because she was really drunk and we agreed that I would call her tomorrow evening to go out to dinner with her and her friends. Anyways, that was my night last night.
There is something else I want to tell you all, today was my first teaching day. Im not sure if I told you, but I volunteered to teach at an Italian school students english. It turns out that I got a high school with 18 year old. Thankfully though, they were all girls, so I wasn’t as intimidated as I would have been with boys there. I hope you understand because im not explaining any more of that. Anyways, they just asked me a bunch of cute questions, other than if I had siblings, pets, and what kids in America do, they also asked stuff like if I have a boyfriend, what I think of Italian boys, etc…it was very cute, im glad its all girls. I have to come up with lesson plans and stuff, it might be very fun. I suggested for next week that I bring in music to listen to and later talk about in class with the girls. I liked them, and I like this volunteer thing.
Also, happy new year to you all. Last night I went to services, as well as this morning after teaching. It was nice, but I wish that the women wouldn’t talk so much. But I got to meet the rabbis wife, she was very nice, and I saw a bunch of kids from my program, which was funny, but I don’t know any of them, just recognize them, so I didn’t talk to anyone. But its ok, I came to pray, which didn’t really happen because of all the talking, but I still had a good time. The synagogue here is absolutely georgeous, its not my first time in it, but im still stunned.
Arrivederci, cell’ho molto sonno….
~Elena
October 6, 2005 5:20 pm
Gosh, what do I not have to tell you all. Im writing this during the day so that I know I have time and im not rushing to go to sleep. This morning was difficult, I went to sleep around 3 last night, which wasn’t bad comparitivly (to the other Wednesday nights) but still pretty bad. on the bright side, I think the more tired I am, the better I draw, but only in the morning not at night. I think I did my best drawing this morning, its so nice, I think. And I thought it was going to turn out so badly.
So last night, I went out with those portugese people I told you about. It was a lot of fun, I met this guy named tiago, and three Lithuanian girls (who speak Russian!) so we all spoke in english, Russian, Lithuanian, and portugese, in addition to the Italian that we all know. It was so much fun! Hes also really cute, and so are those girls - but in a different way, lol - anyways, its hard to tell if he likes me, I mean its too early to tell either way, but hes really cool and I hope we continue to hang out…as friends or whatever…lol. Hes cute, smart, nice, and a really good boy. Anyways, it was interesting and fun to talk to people other than from my school for a change. Alex is starting to annoy me. All he cares about is what people think of him, and he takes his “job” too seriously. I mean all he does is promote some clubs and the diner, he cares way too much though, when he meets somebody he automatically says where he works and promotes the place. You have to wait until people are interested in even talking with you or asking you atleast one question like his name or something. Hes too eager to make friends and stuff and I bet he thought this would make him cool. Anyways, ill keep talking to him because hes nice, but I don’t think I want to be friends with him, hes not my type of person. Those Lithuanian girls on the other hand, are so cute, and so much fun. They are really nice, and I think we get along really well. They are good girls, and they speak Russian, and I think they are more like me than any other girls ive met here in Florence. And I like Spanish and portugese men way more than Italian. Im starting to really dislike Italian men, I mean when you get here its overwhelming because you imagine them all to be so beautiful, then you realize that there is a huge age gap, all the young ones are weird and the old ones are too old, they all have bad teeth, bad hair, and bad manners. They suck…lol, but its still fun and funny to watch them. Anyways, I think that’s all for today, I don’t think ill go out tonight sicne I have to meet Elizabeth and dan tomorrow morning at 745!!!! To go to asissi…terrible, its an ungodly hour to wake up, 7 that is. Oh, and last night we all went to full up, that place sucks now, I don’t know what it is but its not getting as crowded as it usually gets, and wed nights are sopposed to be their biggest nights, I don’t know what happened. Ok, im gonna go admire my drawing and then go take a nap…ciao!
Monday, October 10, 2005 10:39 pm
Im sorry its been a while since Ive written, but ive been extremely tired and busy with those Lithuanians and portugese people. I have so muich to tell im excited. I will give you the short versions first. Thursday night I went out with the Lithuanian girls I think we went to just a bar, I don’t really remember now, but I spent Thursday night, Friday night and Saturday night with those Lithuanian girls, out of those days we spent Thursday night and Friday night with the portugese. They are so much fun, we went to dolce zucchero, and jj’s, anyway, im at a point where I realize that you don’t care where we went, we went out…lol, anyways, the important stuff is that im finally getting some rest, I think I fell behind in my school work this past week, but now im catching up, I don’t think I will go out this week at all, and if I do I have to make sure im up to date with stuff. Midterms are next week so I have to concentrate now. Anyways, the Lithuanians are in rome now so it wont be hard to not hang out with them, as for the portugese, oh let me tell you about tiago. So my wish came true, he asked me out for coffee. Well, that’s part of my wish, the rest is yet to come ;) hehe, anwyays we had coffee last night, and it was great. We talked for a really long time. Hes a really shy guy, and I like him for that, not to mention how incredibly intelligent and beautiful he is. I have nothing else to say, except a few words about him. He studies law, and he wants to be a judge, which means he will be studying for a very very long time to come. He is 22 yrs old, hes beautiful, he is from Portugal, but he has some heritage dating back to italy. He is my ideal man in every way shape and form right now, I hope he likes me. I mean he asked me out, so im assuming so, but you never know. What if he doesn’t call me again, although I think we had a great time together, and what if hes playing games, like if he has a girl friend or something. Anyways, I will continue to do what I was always doing, just liking him and not making it too obvious. I think it worked out that he asked me for coffee because I thought in my head that I liked him but I wasn’t going to try to date him or anything, just spend time with him and have fun, in a group as a friend or alone…I was content with either relationship. Anwyays, I hope he calls me, I think im starting to really like him, and we have spent so much time together in such a short period of time that I think im getting to know him really well. Oh and another thing, he doesn’t smoke, doesn’t do drugs, and rarely drinks….perfect!
Friday October 14, 2005 435 pm
Hey guys its me again. So I missed school yesterday because I was fasting for yom kippur, and the day went fine, It was easier than I remember last year being. Anyways, I had the best evening. I was sopposed to go to dinner with tiago but he said he couldn’t go last minute because his Italian class was going to go on for another 2 hours, ok, fine, I went to eat sushi with spencer instead. We had such a blast, we came home and got ana and went to slowly…expensive, chic, and styled out…..but I totally forgot that I promised those Lithuanian girls to go out with them. Anwyays, we decided that since I was already late in meeting them, its already 1115, I suggested we hang out with the portugese. I called monica and we went upstairs. Long story short, I had the best night since I came to italy, one of my dreams came true, and to give you a hint of what it was, it concerned tiago. Now I have to go write my boring paper for topics class. Did I tell you what my other dream is? Just in case it comes true, I don’t ever want to have to mention it again, but its to atleast kiss ostashevky, but mostly I want to screw him. Ciao!
Sunday October 16, 2005
Ok, so today I went to perugia to the chocolate festival. I thought it would be more fun, with cool games and lots of free sample chocolate. Well, if there were then I didn’t see it. The only free chocolate that I saw was when they had this tent with a huge block of chocolate, and this guy drilling off pieces…it was so disgusting, people were pushing and shoving for this free chocolate, they were vicious…its insane all for these disgusting unsanitary pieces of free chocolate. It brought out the worst in these feisty Italians. Anyways, Im getting sick so emmediatly when I got home I went to the 24 hour drugstore to get some medicine. Im going to bed at around 819, and hopefully will be sleeping by 9. you don’t understand, I went to bed last night at 10, but I probably only slept for 4 hours, maybe less. I must have fallen asleep at around 5 and I had to wake up at 630 to go to this stupid festival….if I get really sick, this was completely not worth it. Anyways, I met this really cool girl on the trip, shes a PA, peer adviser, but shes my age…awesome girl, and she salsa dances!!!!! I found someone to go with, that I think will actually go. Ok, another weird thing that happened, I saw one of the portugese boys there, he came up to me while I was waiting for the bus to get into town. He was with another girl and boy, I know all of them. I bumped into tiago in the street yesterday and he told me he was thinking of going, but that he would call me when he knew…he never called, but its ok, im over him sort of…..i realized last night that im way over obsessive bout him, and that I should take it as it is….its not a relationship, and I don’t want it to be, I don’t want to get attached…I will hang out with him when he wants…kiss him when I get my chances….but also, I just think my life will be a lot easier if I don’t obsess…I like him a lot, but I will deal with him calmy and coolly, I will just let him call the shots…he knows I like him, so he will have to make the moves from now on. I don’t want to do it anymore and I don’t want to seem like I want a relationship…plus I want to meet other boys and have a lot of fun, with or without him. Ok, another person I saw in perugia…well I bumped into her on the train, is this girl sake, I don’t know if I told you about her, but shes this cute Japanese girl who studies in italy, and I met her in the dance studio…shes a student there as well….she says that she wants to go salsa dancing, but shes never able to make it….i will ask her next week, but atleast I think jasmine might go with me whether she can or cant, and I will ask chanell as well….this girl from school….i know she was interested in going with me when I go….ok, that’s all for now..im going to try to go to sleep now….i haven’t finished my paper and midterms are next week, I haven’t started studying for ANY of them….im screwed, but I think I will work out my studying schedule tomorrow when I find out when exactly is everything….good night!!!!