The Problem with Stupid People...

I have decided what the problem with stupid people is. They must outwardly show their stupidity.  If they were stupid, yet only in their heads, the world would actually be a better place. However, the case is not so. They are without a doubt, the problem of the planet.

Let me break in down for you. They say things like, "Peanut butter will make you fat," while you are eating peanut butter. Or maybe they continually ask your advice on something you obviously have no clue about, (and apparently they don't either.) "My doctor says my cat is fat and can only eat twice a day. But he is hungry. What should I do?" I am sorry, I am saving the world at the moment and cannot deal with this issue (?)

Now before you think I spend on my time thinking of stupid people, let me make things clear, my time is way to valuable for this. I came to this realization while walking home from work. After a long day, in heels, I walked the 40 minute walk home (that actually takes and hour in heels). When I was almost to my street an idiot rolled down their window and flung an egg at me. I was shocked, in pain, and disgustingly covered in egg. I, at first, did not know what had happened. I assumed the wine bottle gift a student gave me broke in my arms. It was painful, so I thought I was bleeding. As I looked down to see the wine bottle still intact, I noticed the disgusting yoke I was covered in. (Note: I was vegan before moving to Italy.)

Some nice ladies passed and called the police. They then said in Italian how stupid this was. Then it hit me. Yes, these were stupid people.

I came home to wonderful roommates, and met Arianna's mother for the first time covered in egg.  Everyone assured me egg-throwing is not an Italian pastime, just something stupid people do.

So for my conclusion, I have learned there are stupid people in every country on every continent.

The Spiritual Side of Tea, Tofu, and Togas

When coming to Italy, I never dreamed I would land myself in Tibet. Yet, I somehow managed to do so. Ok, so not exactly Tibet, but a Tibet ran Buddhist monastery.  Having hipsters for friends, and being a bit of one myself, we decided to roadtrip it to southern Tuscany to see the world renowned monastery.

We knew we arrived when we saw hundreds of prayer flags hanging from the trees.  These colorful pieces of fabric decked out with words of a prayer does not exactly feel Italian.

We explored the area, finding tombs of monks in togas, a prayer wheel (which we were sure to spin), a temple, a tea garden, prayer rocks, many images of Buddha, and shoes left outside.

It was a neat experience that I have to admit felt less holy and more peaceful. I don't think I will make Buddhism my religion, but I will practice some of the wonderful routines such as yoga, nonviolence towards animals, the drinking of tea, and the eating of tofu. Yum. Om.

Entrance

Tomb

I want one for my room.

At the prayer wheel.

Buddha

A lucky ladybug landed on me. Is it a sign...?

Friends

Arianna's photography.

Inside the temple.

Lunch at the beach.

Si. Sea.

Breaking News!!!!

Guess who just booked her flight home for Christmas!!! This girl. So all my WV people, clear your calendars from Dec 20-Jan 5, and insert me.

I am now like a child and cannot wait for Christmas to get here. Share in my spirit:

 

See you soon!

Si, capito!

Learning a foreign language is no easy task.  However, in my five months here, although I am far from knowing anything, really, I have discovered a few ways to help me understand.

1. Speak to children.  They tend to speak slower and have less vocabulary, so it is easier to understand them.

2. Read children's books. I am on 4 year old books now. I understand about 80% of what I read. Hey, I am better than a three year old.

3. Drink. I have found I think I understand more with a bit of wine. This may or may not be true.

4. Nod and laugh when others in the conversation do so. They will assume you understand. If they are speaking about you, they will assume you have a good sense of humor. Either way you win.

5. Squint your eyes. Just as this helps you see abstract art with better understanding, learning a foreign language is easier when you squint. (Special note: if you also tilt your head, as a dog does, you understand almost everything.)

So, for all my friends back in the states still in university, if you take a foreign language, follow my tips. You are sure fire to be overconfident in your abilities.

La Mia Famiglia

I really have a great family. Good for laughs, support, and advice. I am thankful my family was able to visit. Having such special people in my life is really a gift from God. My brother I can always count on to understand me, (during my not so blonde moments,) my mother and I share more than a birthday, my father and I are alike to the core. Ti Amo.

I decided to make a video to complete the tale of their European vacation. I will see them again in a few months, so until we meet again, just remember I will love you long after you're Gone.

Special note: This was my daddy's first taste of Italian espresso, our illegal feeding of the pigeons of Venice, and one of the many tunnels we found along the way. Enjoy.

 

http://youtu.be/qIOQM189gYE

National Lampoon (Binder) European Vacation

We must return to the roots. Either the cause of the problem, or the hero in the perfection. My father is German, and so we went.

I have to admit, Germany is not on the top of my list for places to visit in Europe. Well, it wasn't, but that has changed.

We hopped in a car and made our five and half hour trip to Innsbruck, Austria. Roadtrips for my daddy and I are exciting. For my mom and brother it is just five and a half hours of trip on the road. I begin jumping up in down the day before the trip when I was told we would leave at four. Yes, my kind of trip! I was slightly disappointed when we didn't actually leave until six.

The entire way up to the great Alps I was thrilled. Then I actually saw them, and I was stunned. If I can make this understandable to anyone who has not been there, think Sound of Music meets Polar Express meets Cinderella meets Honey I Shrunk the Kids.

 

 

These small portions on the world, make you feel so small. Like something is bigger and better and will last longer. Closer to God in the Alps is a feeling I am sure many people have experienced when their breath is taken away here.

 

We finally reached Innsbruck, and as much as they complained about the roads in Italy, they complained more in Austria. Kind of made me proud of my Italy. We ate, then felt full. I think Italian food is more my style.



 

Being in the city of Innsbruck is what I think of when I think Europe. It encourages me to stay for longer than a year. I love the cafes on every street, the attention paid to details on buildings, the nature well protected and beauty that is unmistakably Europeans.

I even bought a few classics of Germany in German, to add to my collection of classic literature in it's original language. Being here made me want to study language, and live in different cultures within five hours of one another.

After the long trip, my mom and brother were exhausted. They decided to relax at the hotel, while my dad and I took the town. And we did. It was interesting to see how similar my dad and I are, not to mention how similar my mom and brother are.

 

We then hoped back in the car to make our way to my peak, Neuschwanstein castle. Now please note the whole way up here I was singing Cinderella aloud, which may or may not have got on my family's nerves. For you to really get the spirit of our trip you must listen.

 



 

Although my dad did prefer his German yodel music. I am not what we would call a fan.

I am really happy my family got to experience this. Even more happy I was able to see them after four months away.

 

I am shocked at how much I loved Germany. It really felt like I belong in Europe. I am extremely happy to have come here this year.  I don't know what is in my future, but for my present I live in Europe. This is what I want in my life.

 

 

But, let's get one thing straight, I belong to Italy now. Although I appreciate the common amenities Germany offers that is similar to that of America. And in particular my German ruled home with my parents, I really belong to Italy. I was happy to cross back into the border and hear Italian music on the radio. The little Italian I do know is much more than the no German I don't.  I was thrilled when the GPS started to say, "enter round-about.  Italy feels like home.

The Beautiful Romance

My parents and brother have arrived. First stop--Venice.  We traveled across the great Italian land.  We drove in an American sized car on Italian sized roads. Yes, daddy, if you ask the car rental for the biggest car they have, they will laugh at you.

After checking into an apartment owned by gypsies, that didn't have heat, we made our way to a magical land. In pouring rain we spend hours exploring the roads made of water, buildings made of marble, and masks made of gold.  Venice has become my favorite city of Italy.

If you have ever read the darkness of Poe, you realize the mystery required for any good romance.  If you have every read Oscar Wilde you realize the dangerous infatuation one may have with beauty.  And if you have ever been to Venice, you understand completely why this is a necessary emotion.

I have heard terrible things about Venice smelling, being crazy expensive and not worth it. Things are, in my opinion that is the closet thing to fact I know...untrue. Venice is spectacular. Go in the rain, and see the gondoliers working to get the water out of the boat for those high paying customers. Listening to the symphony of music played inside Piazza San Marco. Illegally feed the birds, and get landed on by hundreds.

Although I thought my family being here would make me miss home and long to be back in West Virginia, it has actually had the opposite effect.  As they experience culture shock, the food, the shops, the traffic, the schedule, I fit into Italy quite nicely. Maybe I am meant to be European. Maybe this is supposed to be my home. Maybe even longer than a year.

Parents walking in the rain

Masks of Carnaval

Red Umbrella, green lagoon

Ahhh...the streets of emerald

Venice is lovely

Classic

Feed the birds

Then watch out...they may land on your head

Dad's face

Yes, I saw this. I am in love now

It's an Italian Romance.

So, I have a Confession...

I am going to admit what no one does. Usually because they are too good to do so. Since I know I am not, here goes:
      I am slightly, (ok, completely) obsessed with what people think of me. To an extreme that leads to low self esteem, crash dieting, and changing my major at uni a whopping 8 times.

Ok, now let me explain. I am a bit paranoid. I often think people speak poorly of me, just loud enough for me to hear. No, I don't want you to start singing *You're so vain...* I even have a bit of a phobia that my friends, don't really like my character. So like any decent human being, I change myself to fit exactly to their specifications. I have a strong fear that people won't like me.

Now before I get all woe is me, to the point. I have realized, while living away from the people that love me, (but I think maybe not,) I have a ton of support from pretty fantastic people.

I have been here just over 4 months. I have had two visitors. I will get three more in about 36hours. I have a friend who has already scheduled a flight to visit next year. I get emails and facebook likes often. I have over 3000 views of this blog. I genuinely think these people may like me. I am gaining a bit of much needed confidence just because people want to see me. (If anyone says it is because people want to see Italy and use me as an excuse, I will cut you out of my life all together.)

I am sure to the readers who do not know me well, my recent posts have been a bit of a drag. Learning about who I am is not quite as interesting as hearing about where I go, so I promise, my next post will be about an adventure. I am going on one this weekend. To Venice. So....stay tuned.