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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