July 4, 2009
Happy 4th of July! I’m sure you are all having parties and such today – here in Italy, it’s just a normal day! Although, today at “the rocks” (where we lay out by the sea – similar to what it looked like in Naples), there was an Italian man sporting an American flag speedo!
I still don’t have my internet modem, so I can’t get online regularly and I’m writing this in Microsoft word from my apartment. Then I’ll go sit on the steps outside the school where I can get internet signal. The school is only two doors down from my apartment (very convenient in this heat…)
This morning we set off for a three-hour tour of Ortigia with our program director Lucia. We learned about the Greek, Arabic, and Italian impact on Siracusa (our island) throughout history. We went down into the catacombs that were used as bomb shelters during WWII. It was really neat down there and about 20 degrees cooler! We also got a main idea of Siracusa and toured its castle/fortress. After our tour, I came back to the apartment, ate a fresh peach ☺, and – oh! Right when our tour was getting started, a big van pulled up to the school and MADE MY DAY. My BAGS!!! I literally jumped up and down… there was a lock on my bag though… so my roomies and I spent nearly an hour using a serrated wine cutter to saw through the lock… it worked though and now I have my stuff and got to take a wonderful shower with shampoo and put on CLEAN clothes!!
This afternoon we went to the rocks for a few hours, which was glorious! It’s beautiful and there is such a nice breeze down there. I got some major sun too, at least for me! I also jumped off a big cliff with the help of some Italians to find out how deep the water was. I’m having a really good time and am really excited and getting more settled in. Things are becoming familiar since I’ve been here a bit now.
I miss you! Love you!

While I was writing, a friend told me I get online at this café down the street so I came here and ordered a cappuccino… but I can’t get on the wireless, and I think you have to use their computers… bah! It’s really hot in here and im drinking hot coffee quickly to get out of here so I can go back to try and get signal outside…I would text the guy to ask about internet, buuuuut I don’t get signal in here and I haven’t paid for my coffee yet so I don’t want the people to think I’m dining and dashing… aye yay yay! Okay I can’t complain – this cappuccino is molto bellissimo!