Ciao!

Ok just a warning before i start this. I am typing this on Elo's mini computer (the size of a book) and I may make some errors that at 1 in the morning I am too lazy to correct. We'll see.

So let's see...not very much is new since new years really.

I have been looking for apartments online and i have a few leads, but I have to wait until I arrive in Bologna to see them and meet the possible roomates....I am thinking happy thoughts.

I have called about 5-6 places and 3 are looking pretty good. I will be arriving in B0logna on Friday and will probably call them all Friday evening to meet up saturday.

On saturday my friend Desiree is arriving! She is flying into Bologna and then taking a bus to the train station where I will meet her. Desiree is another girl from the Universityof Minnesota and will be on the same program. We had italian class together this year and worked together last year.

We are both staying at my friend Simona's place for the weekend before our program starts. Simona worked at Lago del Bosco (Italian camp) with me last summer and she is my best Italian girl friend and it will be amazing to get to hang out with her this semester!

She has been great in helping me find a nice apartment in the right area with the right people. I am probably going to end up sharing a room so I won't have to pay as much.

So Today (January 6th) is the day of the Befana. It is a very long story about an old lady, but in the end she is like as friend of Santa. Last night kids hang up their stocking and today they open them to find sweets or coal. My Papi gave Elo, My Mamma, and me our own befanas. They were filled with candies and candy coal as well. I am so excited to have my own Befana!

Here is a link to the legend. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Befana

I was pretty excited to celebrate the Befana today too because they put on a small play every year and grill out. Elo also told me that when she was little they used to burn a witch (doll thing) as well. She doesn't really understand why, but I thought I should include it.

Well my excitement was dashed. Today it snowed. 3 inches probably in all but the "bad" weather made the postpone the celebrations until sunday...I leave Thursay. SAD!

The snow has closed all schools and has cancelled some exams at the universities. So weird because it is NOTHING compared to what we get.

Everyone has been off work since before Christmas. My parents hunting and fishing store has been open along with other bars, but most jobs have been very relaxed until tomorrow or even until monday. What a nice break to have!

Tomorrow I am going to have to repack my bags. THAT is going to take a while haha. Then I will probably visit the store because otherwise I will get bored. It is fun to pretend to work at the store and I try and help as much as I can. Tomorrow evening I am going to Watch Elo play volleyball and then we will probably hang out for a while because it is my last night.

Thursday Elo is driving me to this mall that is close to my friend Michele's house. She wants to take advantage of the sales and help me out.

Michele was abroad in Thailand with me. He goes to School in Virginia so he is only in Italy for Christmas break, that is why I have to see him now.

So I am staying at his house for one night and then taking the train to Bologna where Simona will meet me at the station.

Well that is it for now and it might be a while before I update. You can expect photos in maybe a week....sorry!

Love you all and take care.

Don't forget you can call or email me!