Simi warming up my travel pack for me.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Pompeii + the Amalfi Coast
After my first night in Rome, it's off to Pompeii for one night and then to Amalfi for the next three before I head to Cosenza.
Pompeii:
9/16 - 9/17
http://www.villadeimisteri.it/index.html
Amalfi:
9/17-9/20
http://www.lepalmeamalfi.com/holiday_house_hotel.html
One note about getting to the Amalfi hotel: The walk is three hundred steps.
Pompeii:
9/16 - 9/17
http://www.villadeimisteri.it/index.html
Amalfi:
9/17-9/20
http://www.lepalmeamalfi.com/holiday_house_hotel.html
One note about getting to the Amalfi hotel: The walk is three hundred steps.
Language Room
Had my first Italian lesson yesterday with a tutor. It's going to be a long battle for me to get this language down. I haven't attempted to study anything since college - I had completely forgotten what homework was until she handed over a bunch of papers for me to complete by Saturday.
Something I learned that I thought was interesting. In Italian, similar to English, a word can sound almost exactly like another word, but have a totally different meaning. Like "sette". "Sette" is seven in Italian. But what about "sete"? The only difference in the pronunciation is how hard you hit the "t" in the word. Hard t = seven. Soft t = thirst. Hopefully there are no major insults matched with common words or else I'm sure to accidentally say it.
Another thing I learned is not to say "ciao" until someone says it to you. It is a very informal greeting and most always you should use "buongiorno" instead, just to be safe. I'm sure the list of cultural no-no's will go on as I continue with these lessons - 8 total in all.
Something I learned that I thought was interesting. In Italian, similar to English, a word can sound almost exactly like another word, but have a totally different meaning. Like "sette". "Sette" is seven in Italian. But what about "sete"? The only difference in the pronunciation is how hard you hit the "t" in the word. Hard t = seven. Soft t = thirst. Hopefully there are no major insults matched with common words or else I'm sure to accidentally say it.
Another thing I learned is not to say "ciao" until someone says it to you. It is a very informal greeting and most always you should use "buongiorno" instead, just to be safe. I'm sure the list of cultural no-no's will go on as I continue with these lessons - 8 total in all.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Three Rounds and a Sound
Just realized it is three weeks to the day – almost the hour – until I will be walking around Rome for the first of 70 days. It doesn’t seem possible – none of the things that really make a departure real have happened. My condo isn’t ready to be handed off yet, all of hotels aren’t booked, my Italian still sucks, I don’t have my data plan set up for my phone, I haven’t started thinking about goodbyes “for now”, haven’t transitioned everything at work… so much left to do. About the only thing I have under control is what I’m taking with me – I’ve bought all that stuff, broken in the work boots, etc. Procrastination is not my friend at this particular time.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Priorities
A number of things about my trip have taken up much of my brain power lately. Namely the following:
1) Communication
2) Coming back
3) Wine
I have had every bit of advice possible given to me regarding how much communication I should have with the States while I'm Italy. Some want me to swear off all lines of communication other than telephone calls - others want ample blogging with photos, updates, the works. I have a feeling it falls somewhere in the middle. My iPhone will most likely go silent except for phone calls to my parents and in dire lonely situations. My laptop will most likely remain in the States for two reasons, 1) it's way too freakn' heavy to lug around everywhere and 2) it's not technically mine, it's my company's. If I lose it, I in biiiggg trouble. So, an iPad it is. Smaller, lighter, durable and private, it will most likely be my next purchase. I've decided to only have it WiFi enabled, that way I don't have 'real time' updates. Farming in the middle of the nowhere kinda loses it's purpose when your phone is going off with text messages. Beyond that, I don't know what I'm going to do over there - how much I email, Fbook, whatever. One of my friends just embarked on her own 7 month excursion and while she checks in every so often on Fbook, she by no means is connected on a regular basis from what I can tell. Maybe I'll just drop a line, 'hey, I'm alive' - ha - don't think my mom would like that very much.
Coming home has me equally concerned. I decided to take this trip for a reason (I'll get into that more later). I've talked with a few close friends about what it's like to feel stuck in your job, career, family situation, whatever it may be. How nice would it be to shrug off that weight - those things that keep you in one place, keep you in one job, keep you from following that dream. What if you could shrug it all off and just go? Albeit, my 'time away' is nothing. 3 months isn't even a drop in a bucket. BUT, it's something. It's unsticking myself from the grind, the cubicle, the laptop, the hunched over shoulders. When I come back, I don't want to go back to the same old same old. I don't think my trip is going to 'fix' anything, but I wouldn't mind a bit more perspective. We all talk about happiness - what that means. Money, possessions, love, family, not living paycheck to paycheck. It's different to everyone. Don't get me wrong, I have an amazing life. I think it may be time to shift the focus a bit though - what that means, I'm not quite sure of.
And really, for anyone who knows me, this is the most important topic: how to get the wine home (j/k). You'd be sickened to hear how much research I have actually done on the subject - what bag to buy at what weight, what the insulators should be, how many bottles, what about olive oil, where in the trip do I start to grab bottles... the list goes on. I think I've settled on grabbing a cheap bag to check over in Italy and then hauling back 12 bottles of something - olive oil and wine. It may seem ridiculous to some, but I love my wine.
1) Communication
2) Coming back
3) Wine
I have had every bit of advice possible given to me regarding how much communication I should have with the States while I'm Italy. Some want me to swear off all lines of communication other than telephone calls - others want ample blogging with photos, updates, the works. I have a feeling it falls somewhere in the middle. My iPhone will most likely go silent except for phone calls to my parents and in dire lonely situations. My laptop will most likely remain in the States for two reasons, 1) it's way too freakn' heavy to lug around everywhere and 2) it's not technically mine, it's my company's. If I lose it, I in biiiggg trouble. So, an iPad it is. Smaller, lighter, durable and private, it will most likely be my next purchase. I've decided to only have it WiFi enabled, that way I don't have 'real time' updates. Farming in the middle of the nowhere kinda loses it's purpose when your phone is going off with text messages. Beyond that, I don't know what I'm going to do over there - how much I email, Fbook, whatever. One of my friends just embarked on her own 7 month excursion and while she checks in every so often on Fbook, she by no means is connected on a regular basis from what I can tell. Maybe I'll just drop a line, 'hey, I'm alive' - ha - don't think my mom would like that very much.
Coming home has me equally concerned. I decided to take this trip for a reason (I'll get into that more later). I've talked with a few close friends about what it's like to feel stuck in your job, career, family situation, whatever it may be. How nice would it be to shrug off that weight - those things that keep you in one place, keep you in one job, keep you from following that dream. What if you could shrug it all off and just go? Albeit, my 'time away' is nothing. 3 months isn't even a drop in a bucket. BUT, it's something. It's unsticking myself from the grind, the cubicle, the laptop, the hunched over shoulders. When I come back, I don't want to go back to the same old same old. I don't think my trip is going to 'fix' anything, but I wouldn't mind a bit more perspective. We all talk about happiness - what that means. Money, possessions, love, family, not living paycheck to paycheck. It's different to everyone. Don't get me wrong, I have an amazing life. I think it may be time to shift the focus a bit though - what that means, I'm not quite sure of.
And really, for anyone who knows me, this is the most important topic: how to get the wine home (j/k). You'd be sickened to hear how much research I have actually done on the subject - what bag to buy at what weight, what the insulators should be, how many bottles, what about olive oil, where in the trip do I start to grab bottles... the list goes on. I think I've settled on grabbing a cheap bag to check over in Italy and then hauling back 12 bottles of something - olive oil and wine. It may seem ridiculous to some, but I love my wine.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Definites
What is tangible about my trip? This I can tell you:
US Airways
06:10 PM PHL 08:45 AM FCO
8h 35m Flight # 718 : Arrives next day, Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Return: Rome, Italy (FCO) Philadelphia, PA (PHL) Date: Tuesday, November 23, 2010 Flight # 719 11:50 AM FCO04:00 PM PHL 10h 10m
Hotel Sept 15th: http://www.hotelgrifo.com/inglese/home.htm
First farm (3 wks, Sept 20 - Oct 8)
Maria and Keith
loc le Manche 18
Rogliano, P. Cosenza
Second farm (2 wks, Oct 11 - Oct 22):
Victoria and Davide
Via Valsellustra, 55
40050 Dozza (Bologna)
http://www.farmstayitaly.org/
Third farm (3 wks, Oct 25 - Nov 12):
Lucie and Peter
Arezzo/Citta di Castello
View Italy destinations in a larger map
US Airways
06:10 PM PHL 08:45 AM FCO
8h 35m Flight # 718 : Arrives next day, Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Return: Rome, Italy (FCO) Philadelphia, PA (PHL) Date: Tuesday, November 23, 2010 Flight # 719 11:50 AM FCO04:00 PM PHL 10h 10m
Hotel Sept 15th: http://www.hotelgrifo.com/inglese/home.htm
First farm (3 wks, Sept 20 - Oct 8)
Maria and Keith
loc le Manche 18
Rogliano, P. Cosenza
Second farm (2 wks, Oct 11 - Oct 22):
Victoria and Davide
Via Valsellustra, 55
40050 Dozza (Bologna)
http://www.farmstayitaly.org/
Third farm (3 wks, Oct 25 - Nov 12):
Lucie and Peter
Arezzo/Citta di Castello
View Italy destinations in a larger map
Audio
One of my friends turned me onto Florence + The Machine and I haven't looked back. This song inspires me. (And yes, I'm aware of the Eat, Pray, Love connection - I don't care)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLUmnq5YlWg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLUmnq5YlWg
Thursday, August 12, 2010
One Month and Counting
Well, the time is counting down. I added the 'widget' to my page for my countdown and it's hard to watch the clock tick the seconds away. I'm not sure what life will be like for almost 3 months without kickball, friends, Polvo's, boat days and all the other random but funfilled times we all have together. Time will tell.
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