Wednesday, May 28, 2003 :::

And now, we head over to Rome where correspondant Alan Brotz is on the scene...

This blog keeps giving me shit here in Europe, so I can't read any comments...thank you to those that have left them, even though i can't read them :)
Rome has finally started to feel more like home... - i think the initial moment of real comfort occurred after i slept past 9 AM for the first time; i'm so used to sleeping late that if i don't, everything incessantly feels foreign. Anyway...lost a few pairs of boxers to the wind while they were hanging out to dry...Tony the Tiger and my cheetahs are gone forever. Ah well...I'd rather lose them here than anywhere else...

If you haven't seen Matrix Reloaded yet and don't want it spoiled, STOP READING NOW.

Matrix Reloaded was rockin', but i don't feel that it lived up to the hype. Definitely didn't live up to the original. I keep comparing the two, and the way I see it, the original is this organized, intelligent, bad-ass movie with more focus on character interaction and development than anything else, and I always love films that really flesh out the characters. The sequel, in my opinion, is a rushed, unorganized mess of tons of awesome shit, with very little concentration on characters, more special (or not so special) effects, and limited definition. HOWEVER, I feel that to judge this film without seeing Revolutions would be insufficient and flawed...so I'll delay a final review for that reason. On it's own, MR feels incomplete and rushed. I AM inspired to check out Enter the Matrix on XBox, though... - if anyone has played it on any platform, let me know what you thought. I know that it fleshes out the general Matrix storyline, so that's what i'm looking forward to. And Frank, I agree with your gripes for MR wholeheartedly.

Frank - that's awesome that you're moving out. Craziness.... - who, if anyone, are you going to room with? And what's the deal again for the shindig when i get back? - lookin forward to it...Also, i was hopin' for a review of the new Deftones disc. Haven't picked it up yet, cuz the cheapest i've found it for is freakin 19+ Euros. Ridiculous.

We're going to Florence tomorrow for 4 days, so that should kick some serious ass...staying at an amazing hotel, eating at restaurants fit for royalty - it's all so incredible. I truly am the luckiest kid alive.

More detailed entry coming soon - i've had next to nothing to eat today, so my body is too busy hating me to allow my mind to think. Hope everyone's doing well...congrats to those who have finally finished high school! Juan, hope everything worked out well the other night. Miss you all more than words can say. Addio...

::: posted by AJBrotz at 12:32 PM

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Monday, May 19, 2003 :::

Thank you to everyone who commented/posted/e-mailed - i can't tell you how awesome it was to hear from you! Technology is amazing, isn't it? We're thousands of miles apart and still able to communicate. Benissimo...

Even though I'm keeping a separate handwritten journal, I think i'll try to keep this blog updated every day or so. So much easier..

The whole Rome Home group went out last night for dinner, and words cannot convey how delicious everything was. The meal put all Italian/American meals to shame. The quality of the grated cheese (not sure what kind yet) was phenomenal...i practically died, it was so good! I'm convinced that what we eat back in the States isn't even real cheese. And the sauce...perfetto. The meal consisted of several courses, each served separately, one after the other was finished: bread; bruschetta; pasta with sauce, cheese, and bacon; ham and potatoes; and tira misu (sp?). All of it was excellent. It may very well have been the best meal i've ever had, and to think - I have approximately 14 more prearranged meals of this caliber! I am truly the luckiest man alive...

On the frustration/remorse/whatever tip: I'm chalking most of it up to being so low on sleep. My body works in a manner where i don't necessarily get tired - just irritable. I don't see a solution to this sleep problem, but maybe it will work itself out over the course of six weeks. It's just...who wants to sleep while in a place as amazing as this? Also, I've made a few new friends, and two of them are very interested in photography, so Thursday morning, we're going out on the town for a few hours with the sole purpose being to take pictures. I am ecstatic. Hopefully, my SLR will stop being an asshole; it keeps playing this game where it partially advances the film to trick me into believing that everything is working fine...and then, out of nowhere, the camera tells me that the film chamber is empty. I've tried ignoring the display and finishing the roll, but the thing just stops advancing the film. I've had to partially expose 3 rolls of film thus far. Bitchass to my camera. Of all times to be a fuckup... Anyway, maybe it will correct itself.

Had my first class today, and so far, I'm extremely enthused. More details later...

This city is incredible... - took a quick tour around the neighborhood after dinner last night and man, there are some absolutely breathtaking sites. The Trevi Fountain is to DIE for...truly one of the most beautiful sites I've ever seen. Took pictures, but then my bitchass camera fucked up, so i may have lost them.

Starving, tired, and it's almost time for class...hope to post more tomorrow. Arrivederci!

::: posted by AJBrotz at 8:05 AM

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Sunday, May 18, 2003 :::

BONGIORNO! GREETINGS FROM ROMA! Holy crap, I'm in Rome! and it's really hard to type - the keyboard layout is different...and my time that i payed for is almost up...so this will be short...but HEY! I'm in another freakin' country! INSANE! For the most part, everything is going really well...but more details later. BEAUTIFUL. That's the word for this trip. Everything is gorgeous...I absolutely fell in love, head over heals, with Paris. It truly is the city of love...GOD, you just can't understand unless you go! So romantic...ahhhhhhhh...

Rome is nice so far - had cold pizza on accident, but that's alright (pizza here is totally different than pizza in the states - or even pizza in Paris, for that matter). I'm currently starving, having only eaten that and some junk food after the foodless 15 hour train ride from Paris.

I may be out of time...going to check to see if i can't pay for more... - one sec...
- Okay, it's all good. The guy will tell me how many EUROS I owe him once i'm finished. You guys...the euro is a much, much better system of currency than the dollar. There are coins for 1€, 2€, and, of course, for cents (1, 2, 10, 20, 50) - it's all so convenient (and how cool is that "€" symbol?!?). Each bill is its own color and size, and they're all much more attractive than our dirty green dollars. The only bad thing about having to use euros here is the exchange rate, as the euro is more powerful than the dollar.

Even though everything here in Europe has been exciting and...incredible, I find myself spending more time in frustration/remorse than happiness. Often, I would rather be by myself than with the group (Kim, Brandy, Nicole, Christy, and Drew), primarily because Drew is the only one that I can really be myself around and receive reciprocation from. Definitely growing tired of the group consisting primarily of girls (so much chatter/bitching/you know what i'm saying) but...it can only get better. I hate to complain - i just need to vent a little. It's only been four days, and already, this. Things should improve, though - classes start tomorrow, so we'll be meeting many other students, i.e. making more friends. Friends... - I wish more than anything that the crew could be here with me...Frank, Will, Brian, Juan - I miss you guys hardcore. And I do mean hardcore...but seriously, I'd love to share all of these experiences with you. There have been so many instances where our brand of humor and strengh of friendship would have perfectly complimented the situation. Juan, I walked past this violin player in the Metro (train) station in Paris - she was gorgeous, and her music was...ahhh...even though it only lasted a few seconds, I literally had tears in my eyes, and I know you would have freaked out in the same manor (probably ten times as extreme, which is why i love you). Such an abundance of live music in Paris... - accordian players on many of the trains, looking for tips (which, in my mind, they deserve - they're damn good)...small bands in the stations - in short: in Paris, i was in heaven. Beautiful architecture, beautiful flora/fauna, beautiful music...ahhh! And the couples... - there's such romance between them. French couples are the only people I would really define as "lovers." The way they hold each other...whispering...carressing...and the guys are so damn smooth and gentle - it's a strong contrast against what i'm used to seeing in the states (the macho front). Paris truly had everything I could ever want, being so rich in culture, so abundant in natural/ancient beauty - I could compare it to New York...or more accurately, Boston...but there's much more culture in Paris. It's glorious.
Melo, I don't know if you read this anymore, but I thought of you several times while in France, of how much you'd appreciate and savor everything. You HAVE to visit this place SOMEHOW, someday. Sorry for failing to return your calls - it was purely because i was busy, I promise. We'll catch up when i get back.

Rome is gorgeous, but i have yet to feel like i belong, like i felt in Paris. Ironic, eh? I'm sure that after six weeks, i'll feel more at home.

No luck in locating any music shops yet - there were a few Virgin Megastores in France, though, so i'm holding on to hope. Here in Rome, The Matrix Reloaded opens on the 23rd - I'll definitely be hitting that up, but i need to locate a theater first. Again, in Paris, there were three theaters on one street... - I have to stop comparing Paris to Rome! Rome WILL deliver!

There is so much to say...much of which I have captured on camera and in my journal, so to avoid feeling redundant, I'm going to end this entry. I miss everyone - EVERYONE - more than i've ever missed you before!

WHY THE HELL AM I ON THE INTERNET?!? I'M IN ROME!!! CIAO!!!

::: posted by AJBrotz at 10:35 AM

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