Italy thus far..

So I have finally found a significant chunk of time in the week with which to attend to my internet needs, because frankly, I refuse to pay arguably rediculous prices for internet (about 7.50 US per hour) with which to answer emails and possibly upload one or two pictures. But alas, the school we are at does have internet and we are allowed to use it as long as we have a class in session. For me that means from 12 to 5 on Mondays when I do not have a class. But anyway, these things are a bore, so lets talk about something else.

First things first, I love it here. This city is so beautiful, every step that one takes can lead you down an ancient street or into a modern shop. I can explain how strange it feels to use the Coloseum as a running track in the mornings, and I can not convey how awe inspiring it is to walk through ancient ruins on my way to school. May it be the random political parades that happen on whatever day that they have chosen to throw one, or the almost magical golden glow over the trevi fountain at night, this place is indescribable.

With all of the things I have seen and with all of the things that I am now needing to familiarize myself with, be it the language barrier, how to cook dinner, or just how to use these freaking computers and cope with the internet, this place is already beginning to change how I think about the world. I am such a small small person. We all are. When one walks by the monument to Vittorio Emanuel, this fact is obvious. There have been billions of people on this earth, all of which thought that their world was the most superior, it was all they ever knew. Well, in seeing the monuments to those people, and the progress that the city has made since then, it becomes very apparent that time does not stop for no man. I know this makes very little sense, but my mind is reeling trying to figure myself out in this grand scheme of things. I have truly realized that for perhaps the first time that I am small. I feel like I could literally write in this strange and far removed manner for the next five hours but for the sake of time I shall not. But I do implore and beg of you to talk to me about life when I get back. I already need the relief and I know that I shall certainly need it then!

Another thing that has become completely apparent to me is that I desperately need to preserve and work on some of my relationships. This realization came through seeing how others in our group are dealing with missing their friends and families. Some people have literally hundreds of emails from friends and families and some people already have extended discourses that were begun only on the course of this trip. This leads me to ask myself, how much have I worked to stay in contact with those I love. I have received emails from friends who did not even know that I would be here! To all of you, every person who reads this, I am sorry. I feel that up to this point in my life, I have been a lousy friend. If you read this, know that I love you and I am sorry for any sense of ignorance you have gotten from me. I severely need to reprioritize my life and my attitude and this is one of the first things I must work on. So if you miss hanging out with me, chances are I miss you to, and would love to do so. If we see each other all of the time, and I have felt removed, chances are I have been. So concerned with my own plans for life and my own zeal to get my own things done that I felt that I have let down a lot of people. So please, just know that I love you, and I really do miss everyone. In fact, I miss everyone much more than I ever thought that I would. But hey, there isnt much that I can do about this now, just wait til I get home and start making phone calls and plans to be with people, to talk about everything and nothing at all.

Back to Italy, pretty much all that you hear about it is true. Gelato is life changing, Italian food in America is a complete joke, and "style" here is something that is far more puzzling than anything else that I have ever encountered. All I can say is, I love it here. I wish you all were with me. And I cant wait to see the rest of the world.

Also: I swear I am going to try to keep this a little more updated, and also work on responding to other blog posts and writing much needed emails.

I would love to hear how you are doing as well, so if you would like to, please email at anangelwillendyou@gmail.com and I would love to talk.

As for pictures, by the end of today, I should have another 60 or so uploaded, including a VERY rough pano of what our apartment looks like, so if you would like to see those, then just head on over to the flickr. Thanks for reading everyone and have great days, you are in my prayers.

Niall