A Moment of Synchronicity

Peace can be found at 289 feet above ground
A week or so ago, Becca and I climbed the Torre del Mangia in Siena's Piazza del Campo. We climbed the medieval staircase, with no handrails and barely enough room for one person. As you can imagine, two way traffic was kind of a problem, but we managed to squeeze into the corner if someone was coming the other way. By the end of the climb, my body was not too happy with me, but the breathtaking view way worth the struggle. From that far up, the bustle of the city drifts away to reveal the more peaceful side of Siena, with its gorgeous stone and country side.

Yawns are contagious even from thousands of miles away
I have been using my iPhone to FaceTime to keep in contact my boyfriend. Usually when I get ahold of him, it's either time for me to go to bed, or it's nighttime back home, which means one of us is usually yawning. This exchange of yawns, one I saw as annoying before, now makes me smile. It's a moment of synchronicity which connects us, despite the many miles that divide us.

All the rumors you've heard about Italian men are true
Before I left for Italy, I was warned about how forward Italian men are; when they see a pretty girl across the street, cat calls and smoochy noises will ensue. However, the first two weeks Becca and I spent in Siena, not one guy had approached us. Either the stereotype was untrue, or we were just not that good looking. Of course, we went with the former theory ;) But then we went to Pisa. Several groups of guys called out, "Ciao, bella!" putting their fingers to their lips and making the expected kissy sounds. I'm not sure if I will ever be comfortable with this tradition, but I'm going to take it as a compliment.

I have a new appreciation for the American laundry process (something I never thought I'd say!)
In Italy, electricity is extremely expensive. As a result, washers are much smaller and dryers are nonexistent. I can fit about a third of the clothes in one load that I could back home, and everything has to be dried on a nifty contraption. Clothes come out stiff and scratchy. While I don't mind doing it for a few months, I will be glad to have my huge washer and dryer back when I get home.

Taking an unknown path leads to wonderful surprises
This Sunday, Becca and I went on a mini-adventure, exploring the parts of Siena that we had left uncharted. Of course, I was hesitant at first, but thankfully Becca pushed me out of my comfort zone. We happened upon some gorgeous views, and even found a park with a swing. Five minutes of swinging the landscape of Siena was just what the kid in me needed!

Red-heads are a rarity in Italy
As a result, I get stared at on a daily basis. The combination of my odd hair color and my above average height draws some attention. Even a police man, driving past in his cop car, was perplexed by my appearance. Although completely harmless, I do miss being able to blend in.

A glass of wine and live music is the perfect cure for homesickness
Thankfully, I've been able to avoid extreme homesickness so far, but one night last week, I was really missing the comforts of home. We got invited by some American friends to go out, and frankly, it was the last thing I wanted to do. After a few tears, I picked myself up by my bootstraps and forced myself to go, and I had a blast. The band played a bunch of American songs I knew, and although being in the presence of musicians made me think of my amazingly talented boyfriend, I'm so glad I took advantage of a fun experience.

Italians run on their own time
Not only are clocks set on a 24 hour clock (so instead of 4:00 pm, they say 16:00,) Italians also like to take their time getting places. One of my teachers usually gets to class 5 to 10 minutes, and when you plan to meet someone at 8pm, it really means 8:30. I'm not sure if I'll ever get used to this. For now, Becca and I still show up to class a respectable five minutes before it starts.

Having a kindred spirit makes all the difference
I am so very thankful to have such a great person like Becca on this trip with me. She encourages me to be adventurous, but is okay with staying in and watching Netflix too:) I'm not sure if I would be having as much fun as I am if she wasn't here. God has definitely blessed me with a kindred spirit to make this grand adventure even better!