Not much went on this weekend... I wanted to go to Venezia but then that plan got foiled because everybody else had tons of work and then I realized that I had an essay for my Italian cinema class due Monday that I had not started, so yes, lots of Saturday was spent writing and looking up words in my insufficient Italian-Engish dictionary. Actually, from 11ish to 4ish I was not at home and instead I was enjoying the most incredible dance class! It was *so* much fun!!! I don't really know how to explain the type of dance... sort of a cross between hip hop and jazz and modern. It's a dance choreographed for an exhibition in May, which is sad since I'm not going to be here in order to perform. That, and it costs 10.50 each Saturday for the class which lasts 12:30ish to 2:30ish (in Italy, times are always expressed with "ish" because nobody takes schedules very seriously. This works pretty well for me, in general. But I do have some concern that the first round of postcards which I have sent out this weekend will not actually get to the U.S. any time soon. Meh, what can you do?). But yes, so the dance class was the highlight of my weekend. And I remember all that we did, which is wonderful. It is to the song "Let's get married" y'know, how it goes "meet me at the alter, we ain't gettin' no younger..." etc. etc. Yes, it was fun. I was pretty sore afterwards though. But good sore since it was from dance.

And then there's the rest of the weekend. I finished the essay Sunday morning and the Deb and I went out for lunch and then I decided to fare una passeggiata around the town to explore some. So I was strollin' along, and the sun was out and I was feeling all warm and my tummy was full of risotto con asparagi and I was singing a little bit to myself because I found these two park-piazzas which were very beautiful. It was away from the center of town where I live, so it was calmer without many cars. There were trees in a circle around the piazza and grass and stone benches all around. I saw somebody giving a haircut just on one of the benches! And there were children running and laughing and playing. Some strange euro music coming from one of the parked cars. I must have had this blissfully contented look on my face, because I passed one guy who said Buonasera. Come va? as he passed by (which is unusual for a Florentine because they keep to themselves for the most part, aside from looking you up and down. But then again, I would learn that he wasn't Florentine so that makes sense). Va bene, I said softly in passing and kept walking. About half a block later I felt like somebody was following me. It turned out to be this guy, who started talking to me again and following me wherever I was going. It got to be really creepy. Especially since I didn't know exactly where I was and I didn't know how I could get rid of him or where I could go that would be safe. I started heading back home and I didn't really want to talk to him and so I kept my answers short to whatever he asked and didn't initiate any conversation. Then at one point he asked me to sit down in this other piazza and I kept walking and took out my telefonino and started to call my roommate. Thank goodness for cell phones. I think that he got the idea because he disappeared in the distance as I walked far far away from him. Still, it was a pretty creepy experience. What is wrong with men in Italy? I don't think that I've found any nice, normal guy. I know Bea, I will have to try a lot harder to find your Italian Stallion for you. Anyways, so then I started walking back, senza strange guy, and headed back home. Of course even then I can't really be left in peace because who should come along, but an old, very wrinkled man in a tan sweater passing the opposite direction to me on the street made loud shocking kissing noises that totally disrupted my reverie of the day... for the second time. After he passed I was thinking that I really should have told him that he was past his prime. I don't think men in Italy get that, though. Hm...

That pretty much wraps up all my adventure for the weekend. This week should be nice because I'll have finished my essay and then I just have to catch up on a lot of reading. So school work wise it should be pretty chill. I also have been reading through Firenze Spettacolo to see what events are up for the rest of October. With Halloween approaching I am getting really nostalgic for the U.S! They don't celebrate it here, except in imitation of the U.S., but hopefully (since there are about 5000 american students in Florence) there should be some sort of party on Thursday. oooh, you know what I am really nostalgic for? Thanksgiving. How could it possibly be the same without a huge turkey dinner with the cranberry sauce that my uncle makes and pumpkin pie... mmm... ooh! That reminds me, last night we had ravioli con zucca! It was very very interesting and I liked it alot! (zucca is pumpkin, btw) But yes, I am definitely getting nostalgic for Stanford. Especially reading all the Dance News emails and hearing about all the fabulous people (woo hooo Tina!) who are on Opening for Viennese Ball. I miss dancing!! I miss it!!

Ah well. Give me a call and remind me about how wonderful Cali is! I love you guys!