Italian Hands

Now that I feel as if I've finally settled into Rome, and that I am finally a "resident" here, I find myself noticing the littlest things that make me laugh, or just smile because it's a silly culture difference that I hadn't seen before or just some odd happening. I'm weird. Once you knock out all the big monuments, like the Vatican, Colusseum, Castel D'Sant Angelo, etc...suddenly you have time to actually enjoy the city you are in. Not that I wasn't enjoying those sights, but it's different immersing yourself into a culture, versus just visiting a place. Hmm, I guess that's why they call it study abroad? Lol.
I was on the bus in the later evening last night coming home from class and this older man gets on the bus with his son (he basically could've been a mini version of that man). They both had the bellies that men should have, well, at least if the lady in the family knows how to cook. Most Italian women seem to have a good idea of what a dinner should be: pasta, pasta, pasta. The boy must've been only eight years old, but he had the sass and hands of a grown Italian man. And I absolutely love that. He was telling his dad about something (it was in Italian, bear with me), and his hands were waving all over the place, and I could tell through these movements when he was really excited or just straight up as angry as an eight year old could be. I'm not sure why, but that moment really stuck with me. I love Italians and the way they speak to each other. Their hands and mouths tell you all you need to know about the conversation, no need to know the language.
The woman from my neighborhood bakery has finally memorized my order...due cornetti al cioccolato meaning two chocolate croissants :D...I went into the bakery craving one (just one!), and she was shocked and asked me if I meant two instead of one. Haha. I would learn Italian sweet nothing phrases for that woman, so I could tell her how much I love her chocolate croissants.
School is....school. I had my first macroeconomics exam today. I am less than thrilled about my performance. Our professor definitely led us in a different direction. I'll wait and see how I did.
I enjoyed my photography class this week, probably because it was at the Piazza Navona! We got to spend three hours just taking "artistic" shots of things, and getting the feel for digital photography. I had a photoshoot (hah) with Tara. We basically took turns, and used a tripod and a light reflector, how professional am i now? I haven't gotten a chance to even look at the photos on my computer yet, but definitely this weekend. I'm getting antsy for that class every week, hoping to learn more!
I'm off to Cinque Terre bright and early tomorrow morning with my baby girl, Catherine. We'll be gone just for the night and return home Saturday evening.
The grape festival, also known as the wine festival, is on Sunday. I would love to go, but I can't very well do everything! It's a train ride away, which means more euros to be spent that I could very well save for other things. I chose to go to the Perugia Chocolate festival instead, which seems way more up my alley anyways, but I won't be going until October 23rd I think. We'll see!

Ciao,
Kate