Easy Tiger

This week my Facebook and Twitter feeds have been overflowing with reports of how glorious the weather currently is in England; the land of cold and dreary. Only as far as weather goes, of course. I suppose that's me getting my just desserts. Having spent most of the last fortnight gloating about the beautiful weather in Rome, how I'm out gallivanting in shorts and vest tops and how nice it is to just sit in the sun with a gelato. Well, I suppose Rome still has that advantage. I love my country, but the English don't know anything about ice cream!

Moving swiftly on... on rather returning to my point. Over the last few days England has been sun bathing, barbecuing and boasting about it. I spent yesterday looking out at the rain and, although today was dry, I have been forced back into full length jeans and long sleeve t-shirts. This is not what I had in mind when I moved to a Mediterranean country, especially not in late May.

However, as a natural optimist I think it always better to focus on the positives. So having now had my mini moan about the past few days allow me to tell you about the weekend and the good things that came my way.

This weekend I went to Sicily for the Evento Nazionale. A weekend of fun, where Erasmus students studying all over Italy come together in one holiday resort to make mischief. Maybe I'll come back to the mischief in another post. For now, I'd like to simply take a moment to remember the warmth and the sun. I'd like to talk to you about tanning.

I'm basically from Essex. Give me this one break!

I'm not going to say to much about my time in Sicily as, I'm almost embarrassed to admit, I didn't really do anything there. I didn't see any sights or do anything remotely cultural. I spent the morning my the pool with my book and the afternoon dancing by the pool with my mates. Sorry. All this pool time did lead to some good results, mind you. The tan. I'm not completely bronzed- bitter disappointment, but there's still time- however, I have been reminded of the one great affliction of sunkissed skin. Tan lines.

Some of you may have been somewhat confused by the title of this post, but now here it is. Why is it that a bikini, a vest top, a pair of shorts, whatever you wear, will eventually leave you striped like a colour-confused tiger! *Grumble*

Oh well, I'm sure they'll fade/fill out. There's still time to work on my 'I live in Italy' tan!

That's all I have to say. It was a fun weekend, but as I told you, I didn't really do anything. Which was lush.

Party on Erasmus!

Dancing in the street.

"Callin' out around the world, are you ready for a brand new beat?
Summer's here and the time is right for dancin' in the street."
-Martha & the Vandella's.


May Day. A cheeky bank holiday to celebrate in the spring time. We all know it's steeped in tradition; such as white dresses, dancing around a May pole, etc etc and yet all it really means to most Brits today is a long weekend and a week without that Monday feeling.


In Italy, Primo Maggio (1st May) is still a holiday -yay!- but apparently is a much bigger deal. Also known as Festa dei lavoratori (Workers' Day) it its actually celebrated on 1st May, and not the nearest Monday. This means that on Tuesday, next to nobody was at work and there was a great deal of fun to be had.


Here in Rome the occasion is marked by a huge concert in front of San Giovanni. It was so surreal to see a massive stage rigged in front of one of the city's most imposing basilicas. The streets were packed from early afternoon through to midnight and the atmosphere was really relaxed and lots of fun.

I spent the afternoon on the rooftop terrace of a friend, living very nearby, where we had a barbeque. After a showering of rain earlier in the day we feared this plan may yet go awry but in the end we were very fortunate and enjoyed a wonderful afternoon.

After watching the sun set, which was even more stunning with that view, we headed back down to the piazza to enjoy the concert and the atmosphere. Most memorable May Day by far. Grazie Roma!

That's all for now- so much shorter than my last post!

p.s. We dip-dyed Rosa's hair. We're proud of the results!
p.p.s. Anna has a really annoying habit of looking cool in photos!

Back to Reality... briefly.

Last week I went on holiday, to the glamorous destination of Home. It was a really lovely trip, however brief. This was a whirlwind tour, calling in three counties in just six days. It was a wonderful though, due to both the pleasure of spending time with my family and friends; and the peace of mind I got from sorting out some administration and logistical elements regarding my upcoming return to reality.

The act of going home is simple as are the feelings are warmth and ease that it gives. It’s an age old and pure idea which is rooted in the very centre of who we all are. We can always take a step back, return to the place we started from and the people who love and know us best and figure out how best to move forward. The moving forward part is the challenge and even though I wasn’t at home in Essex for most of my trip I was so grateful to my patient and loving parents for putting up with my incessant phonecalls about housing and module selections. Mostly that just told me that I was making sense and making good choices, but sometimes all you need is someone who knows you well to say ‘yes, that sounds good. It’s a good choice for you’.

As a side note, other amazing things about home which brought a smile to my face with their sheer simplicity included getting off the plane to non-humid, crisp, albeit a bit chilly air (it’s different in other places!); rain that just drizzles nicely rather than simulating monsoon season; red meat in crazy served with any kind of potato; using my iPhone and having a very hectic ‘recent’ list; and Cadbury’s chocolate.

I began my mini-tour of the UK with a much needed trip to Warwick Uni, to see so many of the beautiful people I’ve been missing, meet the new RAG exec (which I am so proud to be a member of), hand in some boring paperworky things and check out and sign  for my house for next year. Busy, busy, busy!

I stayed with my friend Charlie, who is currently a very busy bee with all things Physics related and more, and so I think/hope he didn’t think me horribly rude for being here, there and everywhere whilst abusing his hospitality. Here’s what I managed to squash into my 3 and half uni days, he’ll probably be interested to know where I kept disappearing to, in fact...

Monday was an early start and the train to Leamington Spa, where the lovely Tara (as mentioned here and here) met me, having jumped on a train from Birmingham.  We had a pub lunch and did some shopping, kitting me out with a new bikini for what I hope will be a very sunny summer. I then went onto campus to meet up with Charlie for some ‘yay, one exam down’ drinks... which of course resulted in a plan to go out. Notorious Mondays are always a laugh and I had a brilliant time, both catching up with some of my friends at re-drinks and bumping into so many mates at the club. I did enjoy every double take, dropped jaw and ‘You’re back?!’, always followed by a big hug.

Despite all this nocturnal fun, Tuesday was another early start and a very productive day! I began with addressing my housing situation for next year, which has been a many month long saga- things are harder when your not in the country! I'm really excited about the group I'm living with though and our awesome location. Having finally viewed the flat I signed the contracts, only 6 weeks later than the rest of the gang and then headed off for a catch up with my friend, Lucy. This was a great catch up and I got to grill her on some second year modules, which she's been taking this year in order to get her and investigate some module based rumours that I'd been hearing. More about that later.

Tuesday evening began with a RAG meeting. I was so chuffed when I was voted RAG week co-ordinator for next academic year, and have been feeling guilty about my absence and consequent lack of involvement since being elected, and so this was a brilliant opportunity to get to know the new exec and talk about what's going on and to share what Beavis, the President, and I had been brainstorming about RAG Week! I'm really excited to get back to these lovely people and do some good work in the autumn. Will also be digging into organisation very soon.

Unlike here in Italy, back home we have to apply and request modules nice and early and so these decisions have been on my mind for weeks now. You may remember how the Venice visit of March served as an information point about modules offered by the Italian department and so I sorted out three out of four modules for next year then and there. However, my English option has given me much food for thought over the past few weeks and whilst having a fairly good idea of what I wanted to do this uni visit was the perfect opportunity to both catch up and grill some of my fellow English Lit students. Between that resolve, those chats and the aforementioned 'I think I'm doing the right thing Mum? Dad? Yes?' phonecalls I fnalised my decision and submitted my form (early, I may add). Sorry David, Lucy, Ella and Sam! And a huge Thank You for all of your insights! I felt both relieved and pleased to have the decision made and out of my hands. First choice: 'The English Nineteenth Century Novel', with 'Literature of the Second World War' and 'Victorian and Romantic Poetry' as back ups. I think I'll be happy with whichever I get, and there's always final year if I find myself longing to do one of the others.

With the lovely Will You remember him from here

Wednesday was another mad day with key features including seeing Sarah, my friend and future housemate, to catch up and discuss the house a little bit. A tiny bit, in fact. Other things seemed so much more important at the time. During this epic teatime I got a text from Charlie and duly agreed to a night out at the SU (Student Union). This was a very easy concession to make as Wednesday in sports' night, the Union is packed and the music is old, cheesy and very easy to have a silly dance and sing-a-long to. So much fun!

Thursday morning called for the much anticipated coffee date with the wonderful Mr Sam Clarke, who I was very disappointed to miss out on seeing over Christmas We didn't have much time as he was between a lecture and seminar but we caught up nicely on what we'd both been doing, followed up with questions about letters and we've started plotting some fun for when I'm back in the UK 'for real'. After this and another impromptu coffee with my friend, Felicity, I headed off to Banbury to see Fiona. You may remember her from my birthday.

With my Bestie

Fiona is one of my very best friends and one of our greatest grievances is that it's this year, this year in which I am in Rome that she is on a work placement in Banbury, only twenty minutes away from my university. Shocking! However, I was very pleased to get to visit her, meet her colleagues and friends and go for steak, because that is what she and I like to do. We then went out for a big night and we had a lot of fun in various establishments with some cheeky offers and cracking tunes- yes, she has made me a fan of Call Me Maybe- but we ended up leaving earlyish as we had so much more to catch up on and so little time together!

Friday was back home to Essex and dinner with my family. I was so sorry to end up having so little time truly at home but we went for a cracking dinner and in true family fashion there was no one single of conversation, but always at least three different ones running simultaneously- which is impressive for a table of five. Later, two of my best friends from school came to join us as well as some of my brother's mates and all told it was a good night.

Unfortunately, Saturday brought a fairly early flight back to Rome and I was greeted by a warm sunshine. You know that excellent moment when you're going on holiday and you get off the lane to find the air so warm and dry that you know you're abroad? It was that! That summer feeling. I was glad to be back, as I'm keenly aware that my time here is running out. I really want to make the most of all the time I have left, but... I'll tell you a secret, after such a short trip home I've been a tad homesick since I got back. I didn't really get enough time with anyone and can't wait to be reunited with them all soon.

But for now, Rome, sun and fun! After all, it won't be long until I'm truly Romesick!

The family we choose for ourselves

This weekend we celebrated Easter. The most important holiday in the Christian calendar. For me, as with all holidays, Easter means family. The whole family together. Yet I chose to stay here in Rome. To most people this would seem fitting simply for the religious significance. It makes perfect sense for a Catholic to spend Easter in the heart of the Roman Catholic world. This was not my logic. When I decided to stay here, I confess, I was thinking solely of the weather, how much fun I'm having and that I'm not due many more trips before going home for good. So I opted for Easter in Rome and visiting uni at the end of April instead. However, despite my fiscal logic and clear thinking about the big picture I'd be a massive liar if I said I wasn't homesick during Holy Week, at the thought of the upcoming family gathering (food, drink and general loving merriment)  which I was to miss out on.

All that being said I had a lovely weekend. With most people having succumbed to the call home for the holiday my flatmate, Rosa, and I were left to fend for ourselves and it just so happens that we had ourselves a lovely little weekend. Lucky for us that we were left with good friends and a positive attitude! We began with good intentions and bold resolutions. The two of us struck a bargain to sort the house out, she taking on the kitchen whilst I tackled the bathrooms (I admit, she had the harder job) as well as both of us doing huge amounts of laundry. What wonderful housewives we'll make one day!

Rosa vs. the Kitchen.

Next up was our long talked of trip to IKEA (here pronounced ee-kay-ah). I cannot begin to explain or justify why this was so exciting, but we were buzzing. We had McDonalds (where Rosa was suitably impressed by my ordering skills. They're the same words, but with whole new identities), tried out all the houses in the showroom, I finally got a new bedside lamp (having pulled the old one from its perch whilst sleeping... just before Christmas) and Rosa got a cuddly Broccoli, her new fidanzato, Brian Broccoli.

Easter itself included mass at my parish church here followed by breakfast. Coffee and Creme Eggs. An Easter classic. The moment of the day, however, was before breakfast when, upon opening the door on my return home from church, I got a whiff of the lamb already roasting for lunch. Lush!

A hearty Paschal breakfast.

We continued by watching numerous episode of 'Ally McBeal', officially re-named 'Single Female Lawyer' in our flat and then, finally tucking into our delicious lamb. It was a cracking feast, finished off perfectly (in my opinion) by drinkng wine out of actual wine glasses. Thank you IKEA! I then got a call on skype from my Dad... so I spoke to everyone! My nan, my aunts, my uncles, some of my cousins, the mother, the brother girlfriend. Gosh, it did remind me of how much I wanted to be there. Especially when I saw my cousin's little girl standing up all by herself. I didn't approve any mile stones occuring without me! It was lovely to talk to everyone though, and to know they haven't forgotten me and miss me too!

The feast.

That evening I was expecting the (very late) arrival of Will, my wonderful friend from uni, and so we happily relocated to The Yellow, a hostel near Termini (with a very good bar) to pass the time with ever more wine. When he finally got from the airport to the station we had an epic emotional reunion on the platform and a banterous evening at home.

Empty metro station... sit on the escalator- who's there to judge!?!

Easter Monday (Pasquetta) was my typical day of hosting, roaming Rome aimlessly, enjoying the sunshine and pointing out what things are. We had lots of fun. Being a uni friendship there was obviously wine with lunch, dinner then followed by a hilarious big night out. Being with Will did, in fact, give it an edge of the English night life and has got me rather excited for my trip to uni at the end of the month.

Will by the Colosseum

Me in the sunshine.

All in all, Easter was a fantastc weekend, even though it wasn't typical. I was glad to have such good friends with me to prove the saying 'Friends are the family we choose for ourselves'. I wasn't with my family, but I was at home and with people I love and at the end of the day, when all said and done, that's all you really need. So I'm a very lucky girl.

Hope you all had a happy Easter too!

p.s. Just to get the soundtrack of the long weekend- gosh, we now love Ally McBeal!

All At Once

When I decided to do a Year Abroad and move to Italy, I confess, I was thinking 'I know! Brilliant idea! I'll go and spend a year in the sun... and maybe improve my language skills too'. However, whilst this logic is not without merit the last week has taught me a terrible lesson. Winter happens in Italy too. There's no escape, quite literally when the snow delays your flight for four hours!

Yes. It's a well kept secret, but sometimes Italy experiences a bout of genuine winter- not just the slight breeze that makes everyone wrap up ridiculously in the otherwise warm early November sun. We've had snow over the last two weekends and are experiencing a seriously cold spell.

A snowy Colesseum

But life goes on and my moaning won't. Despite the cold I've had a brilliant week! Life works a bit like London buses, it seems, you send a while waiting for the next big thing but then lots happens all at once. That's certainly been true of this eventful week!

Last Friday I flew back to England for a short but sweet trip and although I hadn't been away too long I loved my time at home. As I mentioned earlier the journey didn't quite go off without a hitch as the weather kept us grounded at Ciampino (aka the world's most boring airport) for four hours, but nothing bonds travellers better than a good grumble (luckily for us Brits it was grumbling in a queue!) and thankfully after that hiccough the rest of my trip went perfectly. I was only home for four days, but in that time I got to see a lot of my extended family, all of my friends that weren't away at uni and got a bit of all the culinary classics that are never quite right anywhere but England. By this I mean Curry, Chinese and anything requiring gravy! The only thing I didn't get to do was go up to visit all my friends at Warwick, but there's always next time.

So why the last minute, short trip home? Funnily enough, even though I'm only half way through my Erasmus year and barely got my head wrapped around all of the things I want to do, I have started to look ahead and to think about what's next... and how to fund these big adventures. Short answer: get a job. So this summer I'm setting my sights on returning to London for what should be an epic one. With both the Queen's Jubilee and the 2012 Olympics in my own city I think I'd be foolish to stay away! So a couple of interviews called me back home and hopefully come July I'll be busy working and saving up for my next big escape!

Since coming back to Rome, however, things have been anything but dull. Jumping straight back into deep end of the Erasmus night life creates many a tale, not to mention that this weekend filled the streets of Rome with hundreds (if not thousands) of my compatriots here to support our boys when they played Italy in the Six Nations. Flying out for a couple of days is probably as cheap as going to a home game  as you only pay about €25 instead of up to £250 last minute, as tickets are like gold dust in the UK!

The frosty pitch at the Stadio Olimpico.

Despite the match nearly being called off due to the snow, which you can see on the pitch, it was a brilliant day. I really like the way rugby fans can enjoy the stadium atmosphere and a bit of national rivalry whilst standing side by side, trusted not to unleash waves of hooliganism and violence, unlike football fans. We were surrounded by Italians chanting away why we belted out choruses of 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' and I gave Anna a minor lesson in patriotism when it came to the rest of out national songs. We had a great time and the joy of the two of us just going together was that we didn't have to pretend to know any more about the game than we actually do (we follow it well enough) and it was perfectly fine to spend as much time discussing the players as the actual rugby. Excellent!

A couple of highlights from the match.


To summarise, the last week has been rather good. I've been happy in both of my homes, I've laid some groundwork for next summer, learnt that I like rugby and we got snow- which is beautiful and fun, even if it means it's freezing cold, you may fall over and society grinds to a standstill!