This afternoon I write to you from Marlborough, CT. The adventure of a lifetime has come to an end. Before I get to today’s headlines, let me recount just how it came to a close.
Wednesday was not so much a day as it was an experience. So much happened on that day that it doesn’t all seem like the same day. It began after a bad night sleep. I had stayed up late studying for my Art History exam. I had set my alarm for 6:30 AM originally, but since I didn’t go to bed until 3:30 AM I changed it back to 7:30 AM. I still didn’t feel like I had gotten enough sleep the rest of the day.
The Art History exam was very difficult. I think I got a good enough grade to pass (I took the class pass/fail). But there was just so much to write about and not enough time to write. Grand Tour was really easy, so I’m pretty sure that I got an A in that class. It’d be sweet to walk out of this semester with two A’s and a pass. That would really help my GPA.
Continue reading ‘My Final Days In Europe’
So here’s where I stand. I’ve finished everything for Modern Italy. I still have to turn in my final paper, but the work for that class is done. I still have to study for Art History and Grand Tour tonight. My finals in both classes are tomorrow. Both will be difficult tests too. It’s going to be a long night.
Today I’ve spent basically the entire day working. I took a break at about 2 PM to get lunch and write some postcards, but other than that all I’ve done today is type. Actually, I also took some photos early in the morning. I’ve got more pictures to take, mostly of weird stuff like the hotel, the Study Center, maybe this Internet cafe. You know, everyday stuff. But most of the cool stuff in Florence I’ve taken pictures of already.
I am so tired of working. Pray that I stay awake tonight and that I get a lot of solid studying done.
I am so tired of school. I haven’t had a real break in so long. I just want to have nothing to do for a little while. I’ve got two tests to study for. I’ve got a take-home test to complete. I’ve got a paper to complete. Then I’ve got to pack and make sure everything else that needs to be taken care of before I leave gets done. It’ll never end. Or it will end and I won’t be prepared.
Today I did go to my last class of the summer. So I guess that’s a good thing. I’ve earned three quarters of my grade in Grand Tour and currently have a 93% average. My Art History average is in the low 80s, but I’m taking pass/fail, so I have a ‘pass’ in that class. As for Modern Italy, I still have a test and a quiz that haven’t been given back, but before that I had an A average. I’ll check up on that tomorrow when I turn in my paper and test.
Continue reading ‘The Best And Not Annoying’
Strange Things About Europe, Volume 10
1) I love the British accent, but after a while it becomes very irritating.
2) The Brits drive on the wrong side of the road, which is weird enough. But the entrance for the Victoria Train Station is on the right side of the road (which is the wrong side of the road for them). And every time I crossed that street (which was numerous) I almost died because I looked the wrong way.
3) Walking down the streets of London inexplicably made me want to sing. “Chim chiminey, chim chiminey, chim chim cher-oo! I do what I likes, and I likes what I do!”
4) About 2/3 of London is either closed or being restored.
5) Walking through St. James Park, I saw some kids flying a kite, and once again I felt like singing. “Let’s go fly a kite. Up to the highest height. Let’s go fly a kite and send it soaring. Up through the atmosphere. Up where the air is clear. Oh, let’s go fly a kite!”
6) It’s actually more difficult to go through customs in Italy than it is in Cuba.
7) I felt like more of an international traveler than ever when I looked into my wallet and found three currencies (pounds, euros, and dollars).
I have returned to Florence after a wonderful weekend in England. I have such a story to tell. You’d better get comfortable for this one.
Continue reading ‘London’
Two down, one to go. I only have one more class to go to in Florence, and it’s on Monday. I’m really getting excited for it to be over. I’m not excited to leave Florence really, but I’m really happy to be seeing my family and friends up north. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
I’ve still got this awesome trip to London this weekend. Woo hoo! I’m really pumped. My camera is still at the bus station. I have to go pick it up before I leave. Thankfully it’s very near the airport. So I think I’m just going to get my cab a few minutes earlier and ask my driver to take me to both places.
Continue reading ‘Found It!’
So I just finished typing up a 1000 word essay on the Boboli Gardens for the Grand Tour. It really wasn’t that bad of a paper, but I didn’t really want to type it. It’s not due until Friday, but I’m leaving tomorrow afternoon for London so it needed to be finished tonight.
I managed to do well on all the rest of the work I had today too. I had a quiz in Grand Tour, a quiz in Modern Italy, and a test to finish in Modern Italy. That’s a lot of cramming! 
But thankfully I did well.
It turns out that today was the last Modern Italy class. Monday’s class has been canceled. There is a paper and a take-home test due on Wednesday. That might seem like a lot, but I would rather it be this way than any other way. There were rumors that the test was going to be in class and on Monday, which would mean that I’d have to be ready to take it right after my trip. The other option was that it would be on Wednesday, when I already have two other exams. So I’m happy with the arrangement.
Continue reading ‘Oh So Busy’
Last night I managed to get a lot of work done. I finished typing one of my papers for Grand Tour, I read for today’s Grand Tour quiz, and I studied a little for the quiz on The Day of the Owl that will be this afternoon. I still have to type up another paper for Grand Tour before I leave for the weekend. Right now I’m studying for the remainder of the Modern Italy test that I have to take before that class starts. Fortunately Grand Tour let out an hour early today, so I have a little bit of extra time to go over all the material I need to cover.
They have not yet delivered the camera to the Study Center. I have been told that it will be there this afternoon. I just need it to get there by 1 PM tomorrow so I can take it to London. I’m just glad they found it.
Continue reading ‘A New Roommate’
So the best news of the day is this: the bus company found my camera! They’re going to get it over to the study center some time tomorrow.
Today we went to the Acadamia and saw the original Michelangelo’s David. The two scale copies are nothing compared to the real deal. Mrs. Duckworth actually let us admire it for a long time, which surprised me. She’s usually in such a rush to see everything.
Continue reading ‘The David’
So I took that Modern Italy test. Or half of it rather. Turns out that the study guide that Dr. Carribino gave us only had half of what we needed to know on it. He did tell us what we needed to study in class, but we all just felt like if it wasn’t on the study guide we wouldn’t study it. So we get to class and he tells us that, yes, we need to know all the stuff about the Italian political parties. Crap. I know some, but not all of it. I just accept my fate and figure that I’ll still do pretty good. But remember, there are a lot of girls in my class and I’m not trying to be mean but they’re used to getting their way. So they whine and complain and the Doc eventually says not to do the first section of the test. He’s obviously mad, but he holds it in really well. He tells us after the test that we can take that section in his office on Wednesday. And he even gave us a little study guide for it, so no one would complain. He’s a great professor, and we treat him like crap. 
Continue reading ‘On Behalf Of My Classmates, I Apologize’
So this morning I gave my oral presentation in Grand Tour. It wasn’t as long as I thought it would be. I talk too fast. But here was my big surprise: people were laughing at what I was saying (a positive type of laughter mind you). Now I didn’t think what I was saying was too funny, so I’ve got two theories. Either (a) because all but two were female, those girls have become so programmed that they laugh at any guy no matter what he’s saying because they think he’ll be more attracted to them if they do, or (b) I’m funny looking. Either way, I brought the house down.
I still have to take that test in Modern Italy this afternoon. It’s on WWI and WWII, so it really isn’t that hard. But there are a lot of years to remember. I’ve got most of the major ones down, but there are some that I mix up still.
Continue reading ‘Two Theories’
