New Life!

Let's start with Graduation. I went to the AUR graduation this year because a lot of my good friends were graduating... specifically my friend Cortney (see above, Cortney, Freya). The graduation ceremony was held not to far from the school itself at Villa Aurelia.

I don't think you understand. This is a large manicured garden with fountains and a huge beautiful villa overlooking the entire city of Rome:



This is the view from the top... first off, look at my amazing colorful city! You don't see this kind of color in New York, that's for sure. I was swooning the whole time. The ceremony itself was incredible and short. At most, 40 kids graduate a year, making the whole experience that much more intimate. It wasn't like that huge anonymous ceremony we had to sit through for Stef's graduation at Fordham. It was quiet. We sang both the Italian and American National Anthem's. I cried during both of them.

Then comes the reception. Okay, maybe I'm not used to the high life, but it definitely felt nice to have a glass of prosecco in a lovely garden while we are all nicely dressed and mingling with teachers and family and friends.

(Freya, me, Alison, Rita)

So now, I cannot wait to graduate. Not only for the party, but because graduating from AUR isn't going to be like my stupid high school graduation, which for me wasn't much of an accomplishment at all. Also, if you plan on coming to visit, plan for May 2009 so that you can enjoy the free prosecco with me!

Okay. More on life. I got sent home from work two days ago because I was feeling nauseous and sick. I realized that most of it was just do to tension headaches I've been getting as a result of working too darn much (I thought the stress would be over after school) but also because I haven't been doing anything productive. Right now I'm sending out my CV and contacting anyone who will listen because I want to start giving tours. This little art-loving fiend wasn't cut out for the restaurant business... I'm really tired of rude Italians and having dirty fingernails all the time. Also, I'm quite sick of the harassment and I think it's best to get out of the situation before I start breaking necks. I love the people I work with, but they seem so miserable. They all work every single day and this has become their career. That may be fine for some people, but I need to be telling the world about the Sistine Chapel and making people appreciate modern art for the first time at the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna.

So hopefully by the time I come back to Rome from the states I'll have a new job. One where I get to wear dresses and talk about art. There is nothing that would make me happier.

Okay, that's my life so far! I'm going to go see the Mirò exhibit and then give my friend a haircut before work. Yay!

This little girl has a few things on her mind.

Let's start with the good: I cannot stop listening to Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: Allegretto. I think it is the greatest piece of music I've ever heard in my life and it makes me want to lie on the floor and stare at the ceiling every time I hear it (that's a positive thing, I swear).

Now on to the heavy... for my final project in my Van Gogh to Warhol class, we had to create a mock exhibition with a specific theme. I chose the psychological effects of artists as a result of war and violence. It is titled The Eve of Destruction after the P.F Sloan song, made famous by Barry McGuire. My gosh, the words of the song are enough to kill you. Then you have McGuire's raspy voice pleading with the listener to wake the hell up to what's going on around. Yes, it was written in the 1960s, but are we not still on the eve of destruction?

So actually, I am sitting here, writing my paper and listening to this song, looking at images of Picasso's Guernica and Kirchner's Artillerymen and crying my eyeballs out. I'm laughing as well, because what was supposed to be an easy assignment has turned into this monumental thing. Oh gosh.

I still have 4 more papers to write before this day is up. I have to work at 5. Can she do it?

Probably not, but what the hey.

The taste of freedom!

So here it is. I finished my last final this morning. I still have a few papers to write, but when that is over, so is all of the crap.

I changed my work schedule. I will be working more, but I am working nights only, five to be exact. So I'll be making more money, but I am not a waitress anymore. Get this... I'M A BARISTA! Yes my friends, I am working behind the bar, frothing perfect cappuccini and making beautiful desserts. I'm so happy to not be running around anymore cleaning up after people. And yes, five nights of my week are dedicated to work, but I have Friday and Sunday off completely, and I have all day to go to museums and galleries. I can do everything I want!

And I'll be making enough money to save a little for a couple of trips or to buy a keyboard. I'm thrilled. I have a full list of wonderful things I'll be doing this summer including: learning French, reading at least 30 books, bellydancing/yoga, painting constantly, finding a new Italian boy with a motorino (now accepting applications...)...

There is much more, but my feet hurt to much to go get my list.

Anyway, I'm going to shower and then sleep really hard. It is nearly 3, I just ate my dinner, and I still have to wake up tomorrow and do things. Oh summer, you are so close!

Me and Steffi standing in front of my paintings... this picture is too small to do it justice. You gotta see the brush strokes, kids! More pictures soon!

If I wanted to listen to crappy Italian music all day...

...I would just turn on the radio.

But here it is, May 1st, the day of our Lord. Or really just the festa dei lavoratori. Let's not even get into the implications of this (Italians working? Wait, when did this happen?).

Right across the piazza, *my* piazza, there is a huge concert that happens every year on this day, so we were able to hear them setting up and doing sound-checks all day yesterday, and today has been non-stop music all day. Okay, I cannot say that all of it is bad. They had some jazz group play and that I enjoyed, but everything else has been pretty annoying.

I worked today though, because I have a presentation and a class tomorrow. So I was at the restaurant and there was a parade going on in front and a ton of people inside. What can I do?

I've pretty much been dying lately for a few reasons... mostly school related. Also the love-life is in a bit of a crisis because I feel like I haven't had any time to bounce back from a really stupid break-up. But soon and very soon, May 8th to be exact, my life will be handed back to me on a silver platter. No more teachers, no more books... well, actually, plenty of books because I love those, but only fun ones like Life With Picasso and This is Not a Pipe. Art is my life, no?

I just had another art show for my painting class. I'll put up some pictures soon when I get a chance to take them. Also, I'm in the middle of a search for a job as a tour guide. I'd much rather be getting paid for exploring one of my passions instead of mopping up spaghetti sauce and taking orders from a Turkish slave driver.

My loves, everything is good and lovely and soon to be gooder and lovelier. Yes, I said gooder, because I can do whatever I want.

The weather is stunning every day. Soon to be enjoyed by yours truly.