Happiness

So it appears that I am finished with my second week of classes... oh wait. No I'm not. Instead of having a gloriously free Friday for sleeping in and sightseeing, I will be stuck in class again, pretending that it is Monday class day. I find this distressing on many levels. I don't care whether you're in South Bend or Sheboygan or Rome, anytime that someone tells you to pretend that a Friday is a Monday is cause for mourning and much gnashing of teeth.

Now that I've got that rant out of my system, on to a list of things that make me happy to be in Rome:

1. The fact that my philosophy professor seems just as wonderfully bewildered by what we are studying as the rest of us. I'm pretty sure that this might pose a problem in the long run, but for now it's strangely comforting.
2. The fact that it takes us 15 minutes to decide where to go for gelato because every gelateria is amazing. We almost just made a grand tour tonight, but we'll save that for another day.


3. Speaking of stores, the 'saldi' may be my new favorite Italian word. In Italy, all the stores have huge sales (we're talking upwards of 60% off here) at the end of the season so they can clear out their stock and make room for the new spring clothes. Best thing ever? I think yes.
4. The fact that Italian men, in general, leave me alone. I was told that because I was blonde, I would be heckled mercilessly. But so far it's been fairly quiet, and it's fantastic. I'm far too awkard of an individual to deal with that. Now if only the umbrella people would pay me the same courtesy...
5. Walking out the front door of my hotel at 7:45 in the morning, and realizing that I'm still in Rome. Still gets me every time.
6. These lollipops:


7. Having my Yahoo home page stuck in Italian. At first, it bothered me because I wanted to be able to more easily stalk all the illegal shenanigans that go down in Sheboygan. But now I love it. Italian news is fantastic, and it's not just about how President Obama went bowling or got a haircut (OMG stop the presses!!) or how Brangelina are about to adopt their umpteenth child (seriously, those people collect children the way some people collect coins). For example, the other day I read an article about how one of Italy's representatives (I think) showed up to the cabinet meeting (or whatnot) drunk. They also posted a video of it. Glorious. You just don't get that kind of quality news coverage stateside.
8. Seeing Italian men check themselves out in store windows. I've seen American guys try to do this discreetly, but it's not nearly as amusing as seeing a full-grown man fixing his hair in front of a store for upwards of 30 seconds.
9. One word: cannoli.
10. My Christian Moral Theology Professor, who is quite possibly the most fascinating person I have ever met. His name is Mark Attard, and he even shows up on the Google image search. Amazing! He is a member of the Carmelite order (for you Lutheran people out there, a Catholic religious order), and it appears that he is kind of a big deal. I've also heard that he knows the Pope. As in, he was chummy with him. Before he was even Pope. It's just all so Catholic, and I love it. He knew all of our names even before class started, and when someone sneezes in class, he will stop whatever he is doing, look you in the eye, and say "God bless you" in a way that is so sincere that it's basically like having God Himself saying it. I try to sneeze as much as possible.
11. The fact that I finally have a hair straightener. I've been having to go the "natural" way for the past week and a half, and saying that I looked like a poodle with a bad perm is a fairly accurate description. Laura and I are very excited about our "ceramic slab for hair," as the translation on the box so poetically described it.


12. The Trevi Fountain at night. It's easily one of the most beautiful things I've seen here. Apparently people stage these epic wedding proposals there all the time, including illegal ones in the fountain itself. Nothing says "I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you" like a trip to an Italian prison. Also, the Trevi is conveniently next to one of the most amazing gelaterias in Rome. Score.