Monte San Salvatore 1/12/13

 We hiked up Monte San Salvatore yesterday.  We started around 10 am and didn't stop hiking/walking until 4 pm to make the grand total for the day about 10 miles.  It was extremely exhausting but completely worth the views.

This picture was taken about 1/2 way up the mountain. Brinberg must be in incredible shape because he was booking it the whole time and we were all huffing and puffing from the start.  By the time we reached the top I thought my legs might just collapse under me, but it was so worth it.

 After we hiked back down the mountain we walked through a countryside and town.  While passing a church in the middle of a farm, a bunch of horses ran past through the path.  This was when we found out that Maureen is a secret horse whisperer because she whistled to call them back to us and they came running back.  It was quite entertaining.

The town we walked through to get to the bus to bring us back to Lugano was really small and beautiful.

After we got back we all took a nap from the tiring day and then literally took over a local pizza place for dinner.  Everything in Lugano is extremely expensive so at dinner our entire table ended up ordering the cheapest wine and the cheapest cheese pizza.  I'm sure the restaurant owners didn't know what to do with us.

After dinner we headed out to the local bar Coyote Ugly.  It was interesting though because all of the bars close really early and then everyone heads to night clubs to go dancing.  A bunch of us went dancing to end our first fun night out in Lugano.

We've Arrived!!!!

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       We left Dulles on Thursday around 5:45 pm and arrived in Lugano at 8:00 am (2:00 am Eastern Time).  Upon boarding the plane, I overheard two flight attendants complaining about the 45 “kids” aboard and how much soda we were going to drink, so that was welcoming.  The flight wasn’t that bad though, each seat got a personal tv :) Pitch Perfect was the movie playing (which was hilarious so I highly recommend) … but it took me about 4 hours to realize that there were several movie channels to choose from and that when pitch perfect was on constant replay it was on purpose.  After we arrived the real struggles began…. I did not think when I packed two rolling suitcases as well as a rolling carry on, because when you have to carry them by yourself unless you have a mysterious third arm its near impossible.  Not to mention that we had to carry them up an enormous hill to get to the Montarina (the hotel we will be staying in).  bad idea, I ended up piling one on top of the other and had to back peddle all the way up while holding them so it wouldn’t fall, it was quite the workout--- but Professor Brinberg must absolutely love Maureen and I because we got a room on the first floor (seriously cutting out having to carry our bags up like 3 more flights of stairs) AND have a balcony :) not to mention we are one of very few rooms with just two people.  We really lucked out and I couldn’t be happier!

Lugano is BEAUTIFUL, the lake and mountains surrounding us are so pretty.  After getting a bit settled in we went on a mini tour of the city.  

 Brinberg showed us our school and other necessary places then set us off on our own to get groceries and whatever else we might need before finding our way back to the Montarina for dinner.  I did not have any idea how hard the language barrier was going to be until entering the grocery store.  I knew everything would be in Italian but I guess I just never thought that one through because it was completely overwhelming and I had NO idea what anything was.  I ended up just choosing the obvious items with brand names that I already knew (so I could quite possibly be living off of nutella and ritz crackers for the next 4 months).  After we finally got the bare minimum of what we needed from the store, Maureen, Megan and I headed back in the direction of what we thought was the Montarina.  Turns out we were not going at all the right way and what could have been a 10 minute walk turned into an hour long struggle…. I had decided to buy a 6 pack of liter sized waters because they were really cheap and it seemed like a good idea. Yet turned out to be another BAD idea…. Juggling two grocery bags and the water around town while being completely lost ended with me abandoning the water on the sidewalk and cutting my losses as we eventually found our way back home.  We all have dinner at the Montarina 4 nights a week together in the cafeteria and the food is delicious.

After dinner was a bit more relaxing as things calmed down.  Many of us running on about an hour of sleep just unpacked our bags and relaxed.  Tomorrow we are going on a 6 hour hike up a mountain while being completely jet lagged so that should be interesting, wish me luck! Missing everyone already!

T-Minus 5 Days

I cannot believe that in five days I will be boarding a flight that will take me to Europe for the next 4 months.  I've started saying my goodbyes and am continually asked "Are you ready? ... Excited?" and still cannot fathom that this is actually happening.  I am not entirely sure I will believe it until I am physically on the plane.  Mom and I spent the entire day running around gathering last minute items all afternoon, constantly adding on to my mental list of everything that's left, but I honestly have no idea how I can possibly fit 4 months of my life into two fifty pound suitcases. 

I am so thankful to have been given this opportunity and intend to take full advantage of the next four months-- every weekend is going to be a new city and a new adventure.  About a month ago I booked an apartment for 8 of us to enjoy Carnevale in Venice, Italy in early February.  Just booking the apartment gave me goosebumps.  I cannot explain how excited, nervous, thankful, and happy I am for this semester.  To think that come April I will be boarding another plane headed for Africa is completely unrreal (although the pain in my arm from my yellow fever shot earlier today is still definitely very real).  I'm very much looking forward to meeting 40 new close friends and traveling everywhere imaginable this semester.