Oct. 24

Yes, I'm going back to the boring title because I can't think of anything else. But this title happens to be significant as it is over the half-way point! While the idea of being home in 2 months makes me very happy, I'm also glad that I'm not going home in 2 weeks. It seems like I've been here forever! But I still can't speak the language, and I still have lots I want to see and do before I leave!
When my mom came, I asked her what surprised her most about Bologna. (As she is a faithful reader of my blog, I wanted to know what she noticed that I had not written about.) What struck her the most was the difference between the University part of the city, and the other parts. The University part is pretty dirty, with LOTS of graffiti, ripped advertisements, and some vagabonds (I don't really know what to call them but they are 20 somethings, some of them homeless, and all of them with dreadlocks and dogs). Then you leave that part of the city and there is the rest of beautiful Bologna: full of history, fashion, and beauty!
Some other random things:
-With an italian accent, there is no difference in the sounds of the words earth, art, and heart, or between word and world.
-I saw a car go in reverse on a one-way street. 30 minutes later, I saw another car do the same thing! I have no idea what it is about that street... but how is that ok?
-On the subject of cars, half of my roommates don't know how to drive! They wouldn't survive 2 seconds in LA.
-Speaking of driving in LA, one of my friends has a video game where you drive through LA. I think it's some sort of cops and robbers game, but we just took a virtual tour through LA- it was so good to "see" the Santa Monica Pier and the LA freeways again!
-Sometimes, especially when I'm very tired, I forget to speak in Italian. A few mornings ago, I woke up and asked my roommate, in English, what time it was. She was obviously confused and it took me a few seconds to realize what had just happened.
-Maybe this is obvious, but I was surprised to find out that most American actors have an Italian dubber that dubs all of their films. So the italians have a different idea of what Russell Crow sounds like.
-I'm not saying this is an only-in-Bologna kind of thing, but it is a not-at-UCLA kind of thing: there are hooks in every classroom to hang up your coat when you walk in. It gets so cold here that you need a place to hang up your winter jacket. -_-
-It's funny the things that you never think to be grateful for. But one thing every UCLA student should appreciate is the fact that all our lecture halls have exits that go outside. At Unibo, the lecture halls empty into the hallways. So when all the classes are let out at 10 min before the hour, it's almost impossible to get through the halls. If you have a class in the lecture hall on the 3rd floor, it can take almost 10 minutes to get out of the building!
-And another wonderful shout out to my Daddy and Grandmama! I went to the California Study Center yesterday for a class and that is where I pick up my mail. As I was walking over there, it occurred to me that there might not be any mail for me, which made me very sad. But when I walked in, there were 2 letters in my mailbox!! You guys have no idea how much it means to me. Thank you!! And Pop-pop, cigarettes behind the ear is waaayy cooler :)