August 2009
5 posts
SEEya Perugia
Though I’m super excited that today is my last day of work (OMG YAY NO MORE PHOTOCOPYING), I can’t help but feel a little sad. For some reason, the farewell song from Playhouse Disney’s “Out of the Box” keeps playing over and over in my head.
so long, farewell, to you my friend. goodbye, for now, until we meet agaiinnnnnn.
Tomorrow I’m off to Rome for the...
Ain't got no money. or Not another Mastercard...
ROME:
Roundtrip train ticket: €20
Ridiculously overpriced bottled water: €1
Leggings as appropriate clothing to enter Vatican Dome: €10
Ticket to climb Dome: €10
3-in-1 Ticket for Colosseum, Palace, Roman Forum: €12
Last minute hostel room due to disappearance (non-existence?) of the 24hr. Internet Cafe: €27
Traveling with a good friend who has a bottomless pit for a stomach and...
BREAKING NEWS
Reporting from the food market in Florence, Italy — Today, I ate the most delicious sandwich I have ever had. No exaggeration.
MLIG.
the uh-m-brella game
Lady: Come ti chiami? [What is your name?]
Me: (processing what she just said to me) Uhhh…May
Lady: uhmay?
Me: no no, may.
Lady: may?
Me: si si
3rd time this has happened in Italy.
July 2009
16 posts
May's Official European Travel Guide: Florence
Let’s face it, there is no possible way to see all of Florence in one day. But if a day is all you have, this travel guide will help you make the most of your trip.
Start out your day by acquiring a map of the city. While I myself am a huge fan of spontaneous and map-free exploration, I would recommend a guided, free-map exploration given the time crunch. After all, getting lost is only...
“they talk very loudly. and they wear white socks.”
– Julia, my friend from Germany, on Americans
chocolate cake
My roommate is leaving today at 5pm, but since I won’t be able to see her off because of work, we said our final goodbyes last night. Turns out that we both decided to get the other a chocolate cake as a parting-thanksforbeingmyroommate present. Delicious. She has also willed me her leftover ice cream in the freezer, pesto, and a buy 10 get 1 free gelato card that has one stamp on it. I only...
“Shannon, just stop. You’re old.”
– “13-year-old brother Colin, when I asked if he was really about leave the house wearing socks with sandals. Apparently I’m out of touch. (via shanahanigans)”
Yea, Shanahan, I wouldn’t worry about that. I think you still have the moral high ground on this one…
(via milfy)
Given the fact that this...
spalian
Before taking italian I over IAP, I had taken 4 years of spanish back in high school. The two languages are extremely similar and while knowing one makes the other a lot easier to learn, it is really easy to get confused and mix them up. Many of the words and phrases in italian are exactly the same as the ones in spanish and others only differ by the last letter.
Almost every person that...
would you like a sales report with that?
everyday i’ve noticed someone carrying a tray into the big boss’ office (big boss = brunello cucinelli). i didn’t really think anything of it until one of my coworkers asked me to accompany her to get some red handkerchieves:
me: what do you need red handkerchieves for? cw: have you noticed how there is always someone carrying a tray into brunello’s office? me: yeah,...
work(less) agenda
what i do when i’m bored at work:
-Gchat people telling them that i’m bored. at work.
-Read the nytimes, cnn, and bbcnews. (in that order now)
-Wikiversity - reading up on finance to better understand the stuff in the news.
-Plan out my MIT courseload.
-Plan out my dinner.
-Sneak glances at my really attractive possibly probably gay co-worker.
-Update this blog.
FACT: guys here are forward.
stephdoesparis:
tell me, does it ever work for you? does sneaking up behind a girl, copping a feel, and whispering in her ear that she’s your beautiful princess and asking her to dance with you… DOES THAT GET YOU LAID?! because honestly my initial reaction is to cut off my lower body with a machete before you can get any closer to it.
first of all, if you don’t remove your hand from my person,...
foreign foreigners
Perugia is home to the “Universita per stranieri” (translated = University for Foreigners), where more than 8000 people from around the world go to study Italian every year. The university offers a lot of different programs (Italian language, writing, art, literature - all with different levels) that you can choose to study for any amount of time ranging from just 1 month to 4+ years....
not-so-good-tasting gelato flavor
liquorice. blegh.
note: good tasting gelato flavors = everything else
"A life, and what to do with it"
This is a post originally made by the fabulous Christine (big big twin*!). I think her words are extremely wise and absolutely on point. I think this post describes what we all kind of already know (some more than others), but reinforcement is nice and it is something definitely worth reading:
“I got into an extended argument the other day with a friend who made the claim, “MIT does an...
why i need mosquito repellent (or an alarm clock...
During the course of my stay in Perugia so far, i’ve somehow managed to acquire 27 mosquito bites on my left arm, 14 on my right arm, 3 on my face, 15 on my right leg, and 9 on my left leg (the count as of last night). because of this unfortunate circumstance, i was itching and scratching all night and barely caught any sleep before my alarm clock tried to wake me up for work at 6:30 AM. it...
in Italy
things you don’t generally find:
dryers
microwaves
pet leashes
girls wearing t-shirts
spinach (i swear to god i can’t find any in Perugia)
things you see in great abundance:
pasta
guys with fabulous hair
June 2009
26 posts
talk, of the small sort
Me: so… Coworkers 1 & 2: *smile* Me: what’s your favorite Italian food? Coworker 1: pasta Me: nice…any particular type? Coworker 1: mmm, no, just pasta Me: *nod and smile* what about you? Coworker 2: i like pasta Me: yeah… pasta is pretty awesome. Coworker 2: what is your favorite Italian food? Me: well…I’ve basically only had pasta so far. haha, so i guess...
frustration.
i lost my dress :(
where could it beeee?????????
seriously though, i went through all my stuff at least 3 times this morning and i still can’t find it. i know it’s here with me cuz i wore it just a few days ago…
Day 1 @ Brunello Cucinelli
6:30 AM - omgsoearly. *roll out of bed. literally.*
6;50 AM - hmm, what should I wear? first impressions are important after all.
7:10 AM - ughhh i can’t decideee. whatever, this outfit will do.
7:30 AM - all croissants should have custard fillings. omnomnom
8:20 AM - wowww, everyone really is dressed in only white and gray. well, now i know not to wear bright blue anymore…
8:25...
a little late but
mahfablife:
found out first hand that tumblr is blocked in China! so no more updates from connie. twitter is also blocked, quelle dommage, as is livejournal. No but seriously, it was done so people couldn’t express subversive opinions about the recent 20th anniversary of Tiananmen Square Massacre, and by subversive, I mean mention it. All of this censorship makes me wish I had something more...
“yea europe is sometimes a very solo adventure punctuated with various...”
– tiffy
i have a feeling this is pretty much going to sum up my experience here…
Perugia - beginnings
After about 2 weeks of traveling, I’ve finally arrived in Perugia and am in the process of settling down for the next 2 months.
A little fun fact about Perugia: the entire city is situated on a gigantic hill, with the center of the city (where I live) at the very top. my internship is in Solomeo, which is located at the very bottom of the hill, so I will definitely get my daily dose of...
German Toilets →
o man, speaking of water pressure, it definitely took me 20 minutes to get conditioner out of my hair last night. I’m pretty sure I would have had an easier time washing my hair using the water fountain in Burton Conner.
kambr:
basketkes:
Man, these are the kinds of things I have to deal with out here.
In 24 hours, I’ll be on a bus to Copenhagen :)
“We’ve had innumerable bad...
o man...
Alice: hello
Me: oh hi
Alice: still swooning?
Me: still swooning
döner kebabs part 2
Foods you must try in Berlin:
Döner Kebabs!!!!!!!!! (i may or may not have eaten 3 today…)
Currywurst
Wiener Schnitzel
Nutella/Almond Pastry
Foods you must try in Cambridge/England:
N/A
While cambridge food is not the tastiest, they def. know how to eat in style. I ate at the dining hall in Qian Qian’s college (Caius College) twice and the experience seems to come straight out...
this is a race
kes wants to blog about doner kebabs. but im blogging about them first. haaaa.
doooonerrrr kebabs
3 reasons to
1) the customs guy was definitely drunk. haha i could smell him from 10 feet away. it is 7 AM.
2) the airport smells strongly of hot guy. just in general. like axe, but better.
3) i still can’t get over reason #1.
itinerary
planned so far:
june 4 - SEE YA tampa
june 5 - arrive in london/cambridge (visiting qian qian!)
june 10 - berlin w/ kes and will maybe meet up with stephanie or emma
june 13 - milan (couchsurfing? haha i need a place to stay)
june 15 - back to london!
june 17 - arrive in perugia (final destination)
aug 22/23 - back to MIT for FAP (don’t have a plane ticket yet…should get on...
on creating a username
me: what should the name of my summer blog be? sammonium.hydroxide: maybaybay Kesavan: fannymay Anthony: woohooit’sliu David: spaghettiandmayballs
yay new blog!