Priggish.

Yesterday was the first full day in Italy. Of course, it was so fun. After staying up until 3am the night before, Sarah and I still ended up waking up around 9. As our stomachs grumbled their protest of emptiness, we decided we needed more than the single egg our Italian household had to offer.

We woke up Anna, asked if we could go to the store, told her to go back to sleep, and let precious, tired Kate sleep in. Sarah and I made a lone trip to the store, struggling through the Italian/English language barrier.

I have decided this, Italian grocery stores are ballin. They are so much better than flippin Walmart. Everythingggg looked scrumptious. Ah, what a dream.

After a hugeeee breakfast, we made our merry way to the mall. This mall is huge. It is so big it has an airport where people can park their planes while they shop. We got some really good deals on some killer clothes. You should be proud of me, I only bought one shirt J.

That night, Anna’s mom made a meal of rice and peas in some creamy yellow sauce, sautéed zucchini, chicken, and a fruit dessert. The conversation was quite wonderful at the conversation, even though we can not exactly communicate with Anna’s parents. Still, it was fun to try and talk to them.

Anna’s mom called me “sparkling”. She said I was not like that the last time I came here. I told her I was nervous and shy then, and Anna’s dad laughed a loud billowing laugh and yelled (in Italian of course), “But now you are a part of the family!”

Of course I yelled yes right back.

I love to watch the dynamic of the Di Corcia family. Anna’s dad is always being ridiculous, Anna yells at him to basta (stop) and zita (shut up), while Anna’s mother contently sits and smiles at everyone around the table, making eye contact and uttering phrases in Italian.

One of the first views of Seriate.

You can never ever ever ever have enough gelato.

Displaying our scores from the seasonal Italian saldi.

Just two roommates in Italy.

This is where Sarah, Kate, and I sleep.

Alessia, Anna, and Kate.

Today, we woke up early and got ready for our trip to Milano. Anna got us some croissants with chocolate iin the middle, a common European breakfast. I just don’t understand how you can feel satisfied starting your day off solely with white bread, chocolate (wait, this I can understand), and coffee. Like, what? Sarah and I ate extra, while Anna and Aleccia stared in disbelief and muttered “silly fat Amercans”.

We arrived in Milan, happy to rid ourselves of the crazy Metro full of quizzical stares, and stepped into one of the fashion capitals of the world. The old buildings were absolutely gorgeous set against the lazy Italian sun, and the outfits that the people were wearing were very interesting. Suspenders, on girls? Low cut, baggy pants, sinched at the ankles? Parkas in June? Tight, white, low rise pants on grown men?

 The train station.

Getting ready to gooooo.

Finally arrived in Milan, I was a little excited.

We stopped by Anna's university so she could get an application packet for next year.

She was pretty thrilled.

Milan.

The square in Milan outside the cathedral. We couldn't go in the cathedral because we had on dresses that had no sleeves. A disgruntled Sarah kept saying, "I'm pretty sure Jesus loved the prostitutes, so why can't we just go inside and worship Jesus?"

The cathedral.

The Gallleria.

Precious little boy chasing pigeons.

We were fame, so we stopped in the Galleria for lunch. This was mine, cheesy pesto pasta with a huge salad doused in red wine vinaigrette and olive oil.

Kate had lasagna and tomatoes with fresh mozzarella.

Sarah had lasagna, roast, and some kind of vegetable?

We were exhausted with our tired legs and full tummies, so we stopped for some café.

Walking into the galleria, we came upon spot where millions have done this exact thing. They stick their heel in a worn hole, spin around, and are said to now have good luck.

Good thing I have a lucky roommate now.

Alessia really likes peace signs. She is awesome.

Two roommates in the Galleria.

Sarah and Kate.

Alessia, Kate, and Anna.

Oh, there it is, there it is.

Galleria.

The shacka (silly) Americans.

It was freeing to be able to wear what we wanted to wear. We didn’t get as many stares speaking English either.

Shopping was extremely exhausting, and we were more than ready for gelato (of course). That is one thing in which I think America is seriously lacking. Come on. Gelato, creamy, yummy, and coldddddd, to soothe the dehydration and hotness of a full day in the non-air conditioning. Ah, behind Jesus, it is one of the best things everrrr.

Trying on crazy pants at Zara.

All of us outside the Cathedral right before we left.

At the end of the day, we all sat on the train, heading home. On the nasty, hot, and smelly train, Kate and I sat across from Aleccia and discussed words in English and Italian. Once again, lots and lots of stares. But we didn’t care. We were having so much fun, and we were loving the moment.

Seriously, how blessed are we?  I am in Italy right now, with my bestttt friends (sorry Meredith Ury, I wish you were here too!), learning different languages, eating different foods, meeting different people. Here we are, learning different customs, and laughing and loving a lottttttt. Oh my gosh, this is such a blessing

Thank You so much Jesus, thank You for the opportunity you have given all of us, for the fellowship, for the joy in our hearts, and for the constant encouragement. What an awesome part of life to live.

Ok, it did get really, really hot. Stra caldo!

Oh yea, we switched dresses, and the man sitting next to us looked soooo freaked out. Probably one of the funniest moments of the day.

So, on our way home from the train station, we noticed how dark it looked outside. Like, it looked as if it was about to pour down. Our nasty, sweaty, gross, gross, gross bodies were ready to welcome some sprinkles. However, as we walked down the sidewalk, Sarah and I rapping about Anna, rain began to fall. It began to fall so hard. The closer we got to the house, the harder it fell.

It soon became a storm in which we were stuck, running in our cute little dresses and shopping bags. An Italian man actually stopped and tried to give us a ride.

Haha. Heck. To. The. No. Thank. You.

As we ran up Anna’s stairs, we began yelling, “Chanel, Chanel!” at the top of our lungs. Chanel is Anna’s huge German Shepherd, with whom we are all in love. She is cooler than Anna.

Anna’s mom met us at the door, as we stood shivering and soaked. We looked back, and Anna’s gate was banging all over, as someone had left it open behind us. Anna turned to run down the stairs and close it, and her mother began screaming her little Italian head off. They yelled back and forth at each other for a long time, and Kate, Sarah, and I had no idea what to do. We figured she was mad at us for coming in the house soaking wet, and saying we were stupid to leave the gate open like that.

When we got inside the bathroom, we asked Anna what her mom was yelling at her, and Anna began to laugh. Apparently, her mom was freaking out, and kept saying she was going to get struck by lightening if she touched the gate. Anna had been yelling back, “No I won’t! That’s stupid!” Ahahaha, they are awesome.

Us after we ran inside from the torrential downpour.

Well, Kate and Anna just left to go and get some yummy pizza for us. Is there anything better, after a long day of traveling on smelly buses and through the freezing rain, than warm, gooey, soft, and just plain awesome pizza? No, didn’t think so.

We switched al of ours up, so could try different kinds. All of our favorites is the one with green on it.

(As I finished posting this, Anna’s dad just came in and tickled both Sarah’s and my feet. He’s such a baller.)