Long day! Today, the same challenge of language barrier arose a few times. I was under the impression that most everyone spoke English. Not true. But, the ones that do are very helpful. Today we left the apartment with little knowledge of how in the world to find our studio across town. We decided to wait for the tram. Then figured out that we needed a ticket. Got a one way ticket for a euro, missed the tram, luckily another one came soon. We piled onto the tram, then a lady Roman Pennsylvanian was next to us and told us that we had to get our ticket stamped. AH! Never would have known. So that was only the beginning to our adventure. We found studio. SOMEHOW. I'm still not sure how we ended up there, but I'm ok with that. We toured that part of the city: Piazza Navona, S. Ivo, S. Agnosio, S. Agnese, Piazza di S. Ignazio, S. Ignazio, Temple to Hadrian, etc. It was very cool. We have seen all these places in tons of pictures with lectures, but it's 10 times better in person. We had a cappucino today before lunch.. the "Roman" trend. The coffee shops are calle BARS. No, no.. don't be fooled, no alcohol in these places.. only coffee. But there is a bar. You order, place your ticket on the bar, get your coffee, drink it there, and go. It's a cultural difference- coffee is not usually a hang out and chat sort of deal. We found lunch at a pizza place close to studio. It was good! and pretty cheap! I found an Italian waiter boyfriend. He kinda reminded me of the cheater in Unfaithful. He was kinda rude.. but I kinda liked it. Whatever. The people here get annoyed when you can't speak Italian. I WISH we knew more now. We're going to be learning it... but in the meantime, we feel like idiots. We met back as a group, toured the other studio nearby, then wandered around the city. We got a small gelatto (ice cream but better) and walked back to the apartment. We hung around here for a while, then everyone met in the adjacent piazza and went out to dinner to celebrate my belated birthday!!!! haha, I've had about 12 birthday parties already, but hey.. I was on a plane beside a Spanish girl who stole my window seat (bitter about that), in front of screaming rat children, eating fake lasagna, and not sleeping on my real birthday, so this was necessary. We have found that the "house wine" is most economic and enjoyable. Sorry mommy.. I'm 22. :) and there's no alcohol age here, so ... cheers! heh heh .. just kidding. I'm not going wild and crazy, mother.. no worries. We took some funny pictures, got cussed at by some immature 12 year old italians, figured out how to pay a total tab with 13 people, and made a friend at the gelatto place. It was a good day. Now it's late and we're about to retire to our small, relatively rigid beds. So far my converters have not blown. Yessss!
Things I miss most:
My kitty cat
My bed
TV
Pandora

And of course I miss all friends and fam!!
Sending my love! Goodnight!