The Emerald Isle: Ireland

If I learned one thing this weekend, it was that I can book my own flights, transportation and accommodations, travel internationally and....well, survive.

I traveled for 8 straight hours to get to Ireland: a bus, 3 trains, plane, and another bus. After several obstacles, and a day of traveling that nearly ended in tears, I found Rachael (long story). There are very few times in my life when I have been so happy to see someone and get a hug. That was one of them.

The rest of my trip was great! I explored three seaside villages (some which reminded me of a combination of Martha's Vineyard and Santa Fe), a couple castles, made friends with two middle-aged couples from Texas (who later said a prayer with me for my safe travels and for being such a nice girl...haha...that's Texas for ya), and ran into four girls from ITHACA. What are the chances? I danced with one of them in Muevete last year. This world keeps getting smaller and smaller, huh?

Saturday night I had the chance to hit up a legit Irish Pub with Rachael. It was called The Bleeding Horse. Neither Rachael nor I could figure out why. We were going to ask the waitress, but it was fairly busy and she didn't have very good English, so I guess we'll never know the story behind the name. Anyway, everyone had been talking about Bulmers Hard Cider...so I figured I couldn't leave an Irish Pub without trying at least a half-pint. It was better/milder than I thought it was going to be, although I was kinda tipsy the rest of the night. psht. Such a lightweight...I know.

Before my flight out on Sunday evening, Rachael and I explored downtown Dublin. Dublin reminds me *a lot* of a smallish American city. I think this was actually a good thing for me since I have been mildly homesick recently.

However, my trip to Ireland was not complete without a trip to the local Tesco to purchase peanut butter and AMAZING Irish granola. Mmmmmm. Little did I know that peanut butter is considered a "gel" when flying. When I was going through customs in the Dublin airport to fly back to Pisa, they pulled me aside and opened up my luggage. The guy found the peanut butter, but saw that it wasn't open. After checking with the guys sitting at the computer screen, he cleared me to keep it (I was almost certain that he was going to just throw it out!). I apologized profusely, and then thanked him almost as profusely since, well, we all know I love my peanut butter.

It has been 2.5 months since I last had peanut butter....but mmmmm it is good! Y'know what's even better? Irish granola AND peanut butter....together! :)

Aside from the travel mishaps and frustrations, it is safe to say that I had a wonderful time in Ireland! I wish I had time to go to the cliffs on the West Coast, but that will have to be for another time.

Next up: To Bulgaria this weekend to party with Anna and surprise several other people that I worked with on Martha's Vineyard this summer. Can't wait to see their faces when I just randomly show up in Bulgaria! hehe.

It's gonna be a party weekend, so I have to rest up this week. ;)

VINO (Wine)!!

If you would like a certain type, year, brand, model, make =P of wine from Italy, please let me know! :)

I checked the airline regulations and I am allowed to bring an unlimited number of bottles home in my checked luggage. I don't know how many I will be able to fit (I've made several clothing purchases since arriving 2.5 months ago...) but let me know and I will see what I can do. The only fee I charge is that of the bottle....or the damage it does when the red wine spills all over my new clothes! haha. Kidding. I am a better packer than that. :)

Just shoot me an email, katie.crutchfield@gmail.com OR you can text my cell (yes, it will work from the States): 039 348 185 9326.

Travel Plans/Weekends

March 27-29: IRELAND

April 3-5: BULGARIA

April 11-18: ICELAND (Spring Break!)

April 24-26: SPAIN

May 1-3: Cinque Terra (the Italian equivalent of the French Riviera)

May 8-10: Studying for finals

May 15: Departure from Rome & back on American soil

Flattery

My ballroom instructor, Davide Galluzzi, and his dance partner, Monica, (also his wife) have won national and international competitions.

Last night, Monica was watching Davide and I execute a Paso Doble routine. Afterwards, the petite, dark-featured woman walked over to us, paused, searching for the correct words (she knows very little English), and said to me, in English:

You are a beautiful dancer.

I smiled, thanking her in Italian, and she walked back over to the other dance couple she had been teaching.

That was enough to make my night. Being complimented by an internationally ranked Latin, Standard AND 10-dance dancer, who doesn't even speak English but made the effort to say that to me. . . .my trip to Italy is complete. :)

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Anna visits from Bulgaria!

After seven months, I finally got to see Anna again! (minus the hideous flight-attendant uniforms!) We met random guys in Florence who wanted to have a picture with us, got invited to a wine party, went clubbing, and danced on chairs. Travel plans are in the works for me to visit Bulgaria.... :)

DANCE: THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE

Dance, math, music....I think these could all be classified as universal languages - no matter where you go, steps, numbers and music notes generally do not vary.

Last night I had my first private Italian Latin dance lesson. It was truly more than I could have ever hoped for. I learned 5 or 6 new things - related to technique, in addition to new moves - in 45 minutes. That's more than I learned during last semester (granted I was teaching the ballroom lessons 95% of the time...).

I'm so excited and happy! Two months without dance is no way to live! I will be taking private lessons every week for the rest of the semester - or at least that is my goal (wish I had a job to replenish my poor bank account!). I hope to return to Ithaca a much-improved dancer. :)

In terms of language, Davide, the teacher, did not speak any English. One of the ladies that had a lesson before me interpreted for the first 15 minutes or so of my lesson before she had to leave. Afterwards, we were on our own....and that was okay. As I said, dance is definitely a universal language. With an International syllabus of recognized moves, it was much easier to communicate, because "Natural top" is the same move no matter where in the world you are. Davide ended up speaking Italian while showing me what I should be doing - stepping on the outside of my foot for a spiral, tucking in my butt, making sure my thighs stayed together, etc. It was not at all frustrating, and he didn't seem to be frustrated either. But, it would be nice if I could eventually get to the point where I understand some of the things he is saying in Italian. Guess I have 11 more weeks to work on that. :)

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On another note, today has been the MOST beautiful, sunniest, warmest day since I arrived in Siena. I went out and laid in the Piazza with some other girls from IES. Definitely felt great to soak up some Vitamin D. I plan on trying to get out there a few times a week, since I seem to be the poster-girl for being WHITE. Goodness.

And....Mom and Dad are officially NOT coming due to the fact that Mom broke her ankle a little over a week ago. Disappointing, but life throws you curves - you just have to go with it.

Off to make dinner....Ciao!

CARNAVALE!

Apparently Brazilians and New Orleans folk aren't the only ones to celebrate this time of year - Italians are enthusiastic participants as well.

To me, Carnavale seems like the Halloween-equivalent, although I am told that Halloween is also celebrated here. Depending on which Carnavale festival you attend, festivities can range from Masquerade Balls (Venice, Italy) to everyone simply walking around in their costumes, music performances, fried food, and lots of silly-string and confetti (Viareggio, Italy - where I was yesterday).

Although I haven't been an active participant (a mask and costume wouldn't exactly fit in my suitcase, nor did I even think to bring any), I have been an interested and amused observer. :) While on the Piazza del Campo taking these pictures, I suddenly became the target of 5 and 6-year olds with silly string. I quickly protected my camera lens and ran away from them, but they were already on to their next victim (thank goodness!).

Tuesday is Mardi Gras and I am going to a mask party at Gallery (the local club) - should be interesting....since Italians seem to know how to party. ;) Have to say...don't think that anyone can party harder than the Serbians I met on the Vineyard this past summer...

Italy is always filled with surprises, though. :) I wouldn't have it any other way!!


(Side note: I deactivated my Facebook account last week - I came to Italy to experience life and culture, not sit on Facebook and waste time...which is basically what I was doing. To be honest, I find it very liberating - one less thing to obsess over! And, I realize how ridiculous it is how wrapped up people are in it - today, Facebook came up as a topic of conversation AT LEAST 8 times in the course of 2 hours, "Did you see the pictures....", "Oh my gosh! They're dating?!", "Did you get the message about...?" And I just sat there thinking, 'Wow. What has this world come to?' Yes, I will eventually put Facebook back up again, but not right now. If people need to contact me, that is what AIM, email, snail mail or phones are for...)