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26 August 2010
I have finally arrive in Bologna, $250 out of my budget for luggage, 16 1/2 hours of flying and salivating and openly gaping at beautiful Danish men in an airport. I have finally made it to my destination.

My journey is not over yet. I still have a test on the first of September to finalize my stay and I must find an apartment. I did however meet some really cool Americans from Pittsburgh on the flight over who will be attending the same school different program. So they will probably be my only American friends here. They too have the same agenda as I. Make as many foreign friends as possible, perfect the Italian and whatever other language they can pick while here.

I am excited. I still only understand about 70% of conversations however my ear is getting better and my response time is too. That will take a few months but I am not worried. Tomorrow I will go out into the city to listen, practice and talk as much as I can. i must prepare myself for next Wednesday's exam. I was told it is not difficult but I prefer to be over prepared than not prepared at all. Tomorrow I also get to see the first apartment of my list of places to stay and meet my potential roommates.

And I must say my friends and family back home sent me off in style and love. You guys rock.

Now my life begins. I must find out about working as well there seems to be some confusion there as well.

Ciao a tutti

a dopo

Sono qui

I have finally arrive in Bologna, $250 out of my budget for luggage, 16 1/2 hours of flying and salivating and openly gaping at beautiful Danish men in an airport. I have finally made it to my destination.

My journey is not over yet. I still have a test on the first of September to finalize my stay and I must find an apartment. I did however meet some really cool Americans from Pittsburgh on the flight over who will be attending the same school different program. So they will probably be my only American friends here. They too have the same agenda as I. Make as many foreign friends as possible, perfect the Italian and whatever other language they can pick while here.

I am excited. I still only understand about 70% of conversations however my ear is getting better and my response time is too. That will take a few months but I am not worried. Tomorrow I will go out into the city to listen, practice and talk as much as I can. i must prepare myself for next Wednesday's exam. I was told it is not difficult but I prefer to be over prepared than not prepared at all. Tomorrow I also get to see the first apartment of my list of places to stay and meet my potential roommates.

And I must say my friends and family back home sent me off in style and love. You guys rock.

Now my life begins. I must find out about working as well there seems to be some confusion there as well.

Ciao a tutti

a dopo

I leave in 10 days

15 August 2010
Holy cow,

My departure is only ten days away or nine in some parts of the world. I am elated and nervous at the same time. I look forward to seeing my old friends and some of my new ones. I called my friend Antonella today. I have not seen her in 13 years. I met her when I first moved to Sicily. She and Alessandra made my two years there the best. She also told me that Alessandra who moved to England will be home in September as well. Yay! REUNION!

The last three months have been quite stressful. Shit, the word stress does not even cover it. I have gained about 25lbs and now I must lose that weight plus some. The first thing I will do when I arrive in Bologna besides get a cell phone, is buy a bike. It is the biking city of Italy, so why not. My friends G and M are on vakay so for my first four days I will be staying at Lucrezia B&B. I found them through the AirBnB site. The pictures look great.

I hate the airlines! I have to pay an additional $50 for a second check in bag to fly overseas. Don't they know I am moving man?

In other news, I am meeting other people online and through mutual connections that are waiting for my arrival and my new found family the Chiostergis will be waiting in Milano for me as well.

I am exhausted, my last day of work was Saturday but I am looking forward to this new journey. Now I must finish packing my mom's house to move and study for this test on the first.

On another note, my other traveling friend Feather has already arrived in Europe for the first leg of her trip. I am wishing her a bon voyage as she leaves tomorrow from Germany on her way to gay Paris. La Duree anyone?

Until next post.

I leave in 10 days

Holy cow,

My departure is only ten days away or nine in some parts of the world. I am elated and nervous at the same time. I look forward to seeing my old friends and some of my new ones. I called my friend Antonella today. I have not seen her in 13 years. I met her when I first moved to Sicily. She and Alessandra made my two years there the best. She also told me that Alessandra who moved to England will be home in September as well. Yay! REUNION!

The last three months have been quite stressful. Shit, the word stress does not even cover it. I have gained about 25lbs and now I must lose that weight plus some. The first thing I will do when I arrive in Bologna besides get a cell phone, is buy a bike. It is the biking city of Italy, so why not. My friends G and M are on vakay so for my first four days I will be staying at Lucrezia B&B. I found them through the AirBnB site. The pictures look great.

I hate the airlines! I have to pay an additional $50 for a second check in bag to fly overseas. Don't they know I am moving man?

In other news, I am meeting other people online and through mutual connections that are waiting for my arrival and my new found family the Chiostergis will be waiting in Milano for me as well.

I am exhausted, my last day of work was Saturday but I am looking forward to this new journey. Now I must finish packing my mom's house to move and study for this test on the first.

On another note, my other traveling friend Feather has already arrived in Europe for the first leg of her trip. I am wishing her a bon voyage as she leaves tomorrow from Germany on her way to gay Paris. La Duree anyone?

Until next post.

Visa Process part 2

06 August 2010
I have begun my visa process for my travels to Italy. It just does not get any less stressful. Once I am there I will not be able to relax until after I pass my first exam-the entrance exam--that I must past to start classes on September 1st. Until then, i must gather documents for the Consulate to receive my Visa. For which I plan to have done by Monday.

1) 2 passport sized fotos
2)bank statements
3)travel statement
4)passport
5)letter from friend stating they will sponsor my lodging even if they are not

Talk about crazy.. However I am still very excited. I just bought my plane ticket. I fly out August 25th. Whoot! I have two layovers and 16hrs of flying. The most exciting plane ticket yet since I get to layover in Copenhagen. So I can add one more place on my list that I have "visited."

I bought my plane ticket fro $711 one-way on Cheap O Air. I have even guest blogged on the site. The wonderful thing about this price is that it is half the price of all the other site. My buddy pass fell through so I had to purchase my ticket. Most sites were quoting $1400 one-way. Craziness. All in all, it seems things are looking up for me. I am excited. I just need to make it through this last leg of the process. I can't give up now. I must make it to the oldest University in the Western world, founded in 1088. Holy Cow, that was right before the first Crusade. Talk about history.

Now back to studying and then to work. Have a good weekend

Visa Process part 2

I have begun my visa process for my travels to Italy. It just does not get any less stressful. Once I am there I will not be able to relax until after I pass my first exam-the entrance exam--that I must past to start classes on September 1st. Until then, i must gather documents for the Consulate to receive my Visa. For which I plan to have done by Monday.

1) 2 passport sized fotos
2)bank statements
3)travel statement
4)passport
5)letter from friend stating they will sponsor my lodging even if they are not

Talk about crazy.. However I am still very excited. I just bought my plane ticket. I fly out August 25th. Whoot! I have two layovers and 16hrs of flying. The most exciting plane ticket yet since I get to layover in Copenhagen. So I can add one more place on my list that I have "visited."

I bought my plane ticket fro $711 one-way on Cheap O Air. I have even guest blogged on the site. The wonderful thing about this price is that it is half the price of all the other site. My buddy pass fell through so I had to purchase my ticket. Most sites were quoting $1400 one-way. Craziness. All in all, it seems things are looking up for me. I am excited. I just need to make it through this last leg of the process. I can't give up now. I must make it to the oldest University in the Western world, founded in 1088. Holy Cow, that was right before the first Crusade. Talk about history.

Now back to studying and then to work. Have a good weekend

Breaking News

02 August 2010

This just in. I have finally received my official letter of acceptance from the University of Bologna and Italian Consulate pending I pass the Italian competency exam on September 1st. I will have my plane ticket tomorrow and my Visa on August 24th. I am sure the people at the Consulate hate me but hey when you got employers, family, and university breathing down your neck you tend to breathe down theirs. However, I know Lucia will understand. She was an awesome lady.

I am still having the butterflies in my stomach. I have the list for what I need to know for the test but it so vague. So I will study everything for the next month including history and culture.

I added RAI to my mother's Dish Network programming so that I can watch Italian constantly. Complete immersion will do just nicely.

Wish me luck as you always do. I will keep you posted.

Breaking News


This just in. I have finally received my official letter of acceptance from the University of Bologna and Italian Consulate pending I pass the Italian competency exam on September 1st. I will have my plane ticket tomorrow and my Visa on August 24th. I am sure the people at the Consulate hate me but hey when you got employers, family, and university breathing down your neck you tend to breathe down theirs. However, I know Lucia will understand. She was an awesome lady.

I am still having the butterflies in my stomach. I have the list for what I need to know for the test but it so vague. So I will study everything for the next month including history and culture.

I added RAI to my mother's Dish Network programming so that I can watch Italian constantly. Complete immersion will do just nicely.

Wish me luck as you always do. I will keep you posted.