Nobody wears red in Rome.

Why am I always the cartoon character wherever I go?

So things have been in complete madness since the last time I wrote. My school ruined my loans for this semester, and blah blah blah things got insane with me going to the financial offices every day, being treated like a criminal delinquent, falling behind in my schoolwork and losing weight... but thank the Lord, it's all over.

Somehow, I was able to explain the entire complicated situation to our landlady (all in Italian, thank you very much) and she was completely fine with everything, very relaxed, kept telling me not to worry and just to call her when the rent is ready. And people don't believe that there is a God that is watching over us and providing for us... Ha!

I was talking with our friend Jake last night (who is right now in Rome staying with us!) and we were discussing how blessed we are to have our parents. We both come from families that support and love us no matter how screwed up things get, and how incredible it is because many people don't know what it's like.

So for the first time since I've been here this month, I'm at ease, I'm relaxed, and I'm finally able to enjoy my beautiful city to the fullest.

Jake will be here for a week, then he's off to travel around the rest of Europe for a couple weeks, then making his way back to Rome for a few days to hang out before he goes back to Jersey... it's great to see a familiar face from home. And it's also so much fun taking someone around the city you love and showing them all of the wonderful things.

I keep picturing my family and I sitting on the steps of Trilussa on a weekend night... mostly because I think it would be funny, but also because you want to share your favorite things with the people you love. Hope they are ready for it in February.

Things are good. I'm in the process of speaking to all of my professors about my situation, so they know that I'm not some slacker that doesn't feel like doing work... they are all incredible anyway, so it all works out.

My Italian is getting better every day and I'm even beginning to forget how to say things in English. YES!