Plane Ride

2:59 Paduan time, 8:59 at HOME! – Hey all! Here is one more update from the air over Greenland. I’m about halfway through my trip, I still have about 4:30 hours to go and it’s -74 ℉ up here!
The past week has been full of paper writing for me… I had two due: The first I wrote about the architecture of the Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) in Venice. The second I wrote about Totalitarianism in Fascist Italy, exciting! I finally finished at 3 o’clock in the morning the day before I left and sent it out – I really don’t remember what day it was it was so darn long ago it feels like. Anyways I woke up shortly thereafter and made my way to the Venice airport with Catherine and Christina only to find our flight postponed. After a short 7 hour delay where they felt it necessary for us to re-check our baggage we made it to London where we ventured to the house of a friend of ours, Sajni, where she was waiting with homemade burritos and showers and beds. It was a really nice of her to put us up for the night – we felt like we were the Royalty, move over Harry.
Anyways we didn’t get much sleep again last night as were up and on our way to the London Heathrow airport by 5:30. We lucked out today as our flight was one of the few not cancelled due to the heavy fog covering the city – it was pretty nasty.
All in all this plane ride has been pretty uneventful, I have started several movies and gotten bored with every one of them. I just want to be home I can’t wait to see everyone. I don’t know if I will update this while I am home, but I can’t wait to see everyone this break and if I don’t get to: Have a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a Happy New Year!

Uncle Bob and Dan the Man (In-Explicit Content)

1:44 PM, Padova - So for my birthday Uncle Bob and Dan the Man decided to send me a package with a handful of "useful" items and list of clues in which I need to match them.
Now as a rule of thumb, I usually do not post/discuss anything that Uncle Bob has been involved with out of respect for the innocence of others, but since they have given me the rules and told me if I matched them up correctly they would send me more... I feel obligated. And I just want to.
Ok so here are The Clues:

A. Stress reliever - This was kind of dificult, right off the bat. I had to choose between a popular "American" magazine and a little squishy toy from the cemetary Uncle Bob works at. I choose the squishy light-bulb.
B. Pumba's actual edible snack - Easy. A box of bugs. (Fruit snacks)
C. If you share a bathroom, your roommates will appreciate this - A scented banana muffin candle. Mmmm. I will, too.
D. Sticks to the roof of your mouth (double dose) - Two HUGE barrels of peanut butter. I can eat for the rest of the year now!
E. Danny loves to make/eat this - Puppy chow. Steve loves that stuff, too.
F. Limits time on the shtooper - This has got to be my lactose pills. Thanks guys!
G. What Dad wants/reads - Log Homes Illustrated. I am still debating on which on is my favorite. I need more time.
H. Never Happened - This one stumped me. But after process of elimination I came to the conclusion it was the World Series ticket. At first I thought 'real funny guys' but then I looked at it and saw it was from Game 6 - which never happened. Well now I can say I have a ticket for game 6 of the 2006 World Series!
I. Considered an airline weapon - Pocket knife. I can't tell you how much this would've came in handy this year. Thanks.
J. What America reads - Thanks to Hugh.
K. Don't let Kristy see an opened box when you come home for Christmas! - In Italiano, preservativi.
L. Good party munchie--tradition at Tiger's games - Planter's nuts. Score.
M. Jot a few things down here - A notepad in the shape of a coffin that says "Last Writes" at the top. Haha.
N. A World Series giveaway (that you weren't able to receive) - Tiger Towel! Go Tigs!
O. Just in case you forgot where you were born – They sent me two bookmarks with American flags and the Pledge of Allegiance on them. God Bless America. Though Dan, I still am not sure where I was born. – I think it was Southfield…

And that’s the end of the game. Thanks for alllll the stuff you guys sent. It was hilarious opening it all up in the Study Center with Dave & Co. I can’t wait to get home for Christmas and see everyone, - Not too much longer! But I reallllly have to get back to work. K ciao.

Roman Holiday

10:25 AM Padova – Happy Holidays everyone! Greetings from a chilly (46 degrees) Padova. I am currently in my room procrastinating, delaying going to the library to study for the rest of the day so I thought I’d update the story of my life for the past week. Last week started birthday season as 6 people here have birthdays in December. I was the one who was lucky enough to be able celebrate it in ROME :-P
We had a class in Rome on Sunday so we all took the train down Friday night to get a little extra time in the Eternal City. We arrived Friday night, checked into our hostel and went straight to the Spanish steps for a pub crawl to help bring in my 22nd year of life.
Let me say this, pub crawls = American crawl. There were about 50 people who went on the pub crawl with us and most of them were from the States. However we did manage to meet a handful of Canadians, and this one kid named Barry from South Africa. All and all it was a good time.
Saturday: Birthday in Rome. Grace and I made our way to the Vatican early in the morning to catch up with the rest of the group who stayed in a different hostel. Met up with Dave and Catherine there and the 4 of us wandered Rome with no place in particular to go. We had all been to Rome and had seen many of the main things so we decided to just do what we want and wander where we wanted. It was great, we ate near the Pantheon, walked through the Roman Forum and saw the Trevi fountain along the way.
During the entire day there was a big protest against the current Italian government – we saw thousands of people in the streets (the news said 2 million) waving flags of their respective parties and many supporting the old Prime Minister, Silvio Burlusconi . After seeing a bunch of people standing outside a building we found out he was going to be leaving from there shortly. Even though we were the obvious foreigners, Grace and I decided to stay and wait for him. We waited for 20 minutes with some guys with Uzis and another guy taken straight out of the Godfather and then he came out and gave a little wave. It was pretty cool to be that close to a former member of the G-8 who is still such a powerful man.
After that my awesome friends took me out to a great dinner in Trestevere and then we went to a couple other bars. It was a great time.
Sunday: Class. Went to a bunch of churches, saw the “cambia della guardia” (changing of the guard) at the President’s house as we were walking by, went to church (In Spanish) at the Gesú (out of which the Jesuit order was founded) and got home late Sunday night.
All in all it was a great weekend – Thanks to everyone, and Happy Birthday Kristy!

New Post

5:19 PM, Padova - Hey all! Thought I'd change the site a little bit, I was getting bored with the old one. I don't know what I'm going to do with the rest but I'll figure something out. It doesn't loook as smooth but oh well. Pictures from last week with Kristy are up here.
Kristy made it home safe, I got a ride home with a soldier (Greg) from Tennessee, and last night was Christina's birthday so we had a pre-dinner spritz for her, and that's about it that's new. I REALLY need to do some work soo... Catch you later.

Kristy was/is here

12:49 AM - Padova - Hey all! Kristy and Steve here drinking a glass of wine and recalling our fabulous week together. We have had a wonderful time together and so we would like to share with you some of what we've done. Recap:
Saturday - Steve made a check list of things to do before Kristy arrived. He ended up checking all of them off (with the help of the girls studying here with him) most importantly the item "Go Get Kristy." Kristy was proud that the remembered that, if nothing else.
Trips to and from Venice were rather uneventful - Steve was able to watch the entire 1997 Michigan - ohiostate while on the train and we made it back in time for Davide to cook us a lovely pasta with his own version of ragu sauce. Then we prepared for The Game. After some minor techincal difficulties with the ESPN gameplan we were successfully off and running as were the Wolverines and we were able to watch the first Touchdown. Go Blue. Enough said.
Sunday - We slept. Pizza with Danielle and Angela. Basta.
Monday - We left on an early train to Florence where Kristy was able to experience her first taste of true Italian culture... Everything was closed. For future reference: Don't go to Italy on a Monday.
Florence was still a great time even if we were forbidden entrance to practically everything we wanted to see - we were able to see the Duomo (by Brunelleschi) and the 700 year old Ponte Vecchio.
After that we hopped a 5 HOUR train to Rome. Ugh. It takes 5 hours to get from Rome to Padova, not Florence which is halfway in between the two. In Rome we checked into the Freedom Traveller hostel (highly recommended) and went out for a classy night in the eternal city.
Tuesday - We did Rome in a day. St. Peter's, Vatican City, Colisseum, Roman Ruins, Pantheon, the Prison of Paul and Peter (wicked cool), and we even tried for a pub crawl on the spanish steps but we were too late (even for Italian standards apparently) so we went across the street to Mickey D's for a not-so-classy dinner and some beer. On our way back, we bought a bottle of wine and drank it as we were caught in the rain and thunderstorm. Good times.
Wednesday - Early train. Back to Padova. Study. Test. Italians made us a Thanksgiving dinner which they slaved over for hours. They did their best with the turkey which they bought Monday and had killed Tuesday. Basta.
Thursday in Padova - Happy Thanksgiving! Woke up and went to the Duomo which happens to be around the corner from Steve's apartment. We saw the art in the baptistry which neither of us had ever seen before - pretty nifty. And then we walked to Prato where we got a phone call from the early morning crew at America's Thanksgiving Day parade. (Aka - Dan the man, Slick, Poppa Schrags, JD, Uncle Bruin) after an intense game of 2 on 2 football on Woodward. Proceeded to the Basilica where we were able to enter however for the 1 hour that we were there everything (including access to the Saint's tongue) was closed. Naturally. We took a picture because it was literally closed for the one hour that we were there. Appointment, panino, class, Thanksgiving dinner with the Boston Paduan program and the UC program in Bologna. We took over Vecchia Padova, a local restaurant, and had our pot luck. We brought limoncello, stuffed our face and had a great time.
Friday - Verona. After class on this rainy day we hopped the next train to Verona where we saw a bunch of old, artsy things. Started off at the Mantegna exhibit, Arena, Juliet's balcony (where we touched her BOOB for good luck), and then we saw the Roman Theatre built in the first century B.C. Had a nice little dinner, took the train back and now we are writing to you. I just opened some birthday presents, too. Ho-Ho's and Tiger gear from the famb and tickets to White Christmas at the Fox over break from the Garvey's :-)
Tomorrow it's off to Venice and Sunday the girl half leaves :-( It has been a fun trip and we are both looking forward to seeing everyone over Christmas. Peace and Love
- Us.

PS. Pictures will be up probably Sunday. It's Home Alone 2 time. Night ya'll/y'all.

Hype

OK so this morning all I have been doing is watching hype videos on youtube for THE GAME. I don't know how anyone is getting anything done in Ann Arbor or Columbus right now. Here are some of the best I've found:

The Daily Show: In Columbus
I am pumped.

Calcio, presentazioni, esami, football (ancora)

10:45 AM Padova - Hey home! As always I have much to say so I'll get right down to it.
Having the Internet at my house has been great. I am able to talk to whoever I want using skype and I have a webcam so we can see each other. I'd love to talk to you, too - Add me as a skype buddy my name is "schragoo".
Well last weekend I went to Milan to go to the Roma - AC Milan game. As Dario pointed out, it has been 20 years since Roma has won in Milan at San Siro and they took the game 2-1 thanks to two goals by Francesco Totti a true hero according to the Romans. The game itself was great even though were on the third ring of the stadium in the last row haha. It was kind of cold we had to bundle up, but I'm sure it wasn't as bad as what ya'll get to experience in the great state of MEEECHIGAN right now. For the Californians, however, it was something new and exciting! Speaking of Meeechigan, I hear there is a football game this weekend. Can I get a line?
Back to Milan. After the game we rushed to the train station to try and catch the last train back to Padova or Venice. Surprisingly (actually nothing surprises me much anymore) it left earlier than 11:00. We had no hope catching that one so we were in a bit of a predicerment: Do we try to find a hostel and sleep for the night or do we see what the Milan nightlife has to offer? We opted for the latter and went to a disco si chiama "Rolling Stone" where it was Erasmus and foreign exchange student night. Perfetto. They kicked us out just before 6:00 so we went to the train station and slept a little on the uncomfortable church benches. We caught the 7:15 train arriving at 10:30 in Venice where we had our architecture field trip all day. We slept on the train a little, but needless to say we were quite exhausted when we got home around 7:30 at night. Fortunately for me I had time to prepare for the presentation and the exam I had on Monday. AHH!
Didn't sleep much that night either.
Monday: Presentation on the Midterm Elections at 10:30. We went to the study center around 9:00 to go over what we were going to say. The three of us presenting had each prepared a quick 5 minute piece and were a little nervous about actually doing this. We get to class thinking "well, maybe the Prof will forget." No such luck. Right away we were asked to come up and he sat us down in chairs in front of everyone. This is a two story lecture hall, mind you, and here are three foreigners who can barely understand the language let alone speak it well in front of them all. We each presented our piece and were done within 10 minutes or so.
At least we thought.
Nope. Professor Mascia decided to turn this into a Q and A session with the Americans! We were up there for almost an hour and a half (I think Melanie clocked it at 1:24) going back and forth with the prof and the students. We held our own I must say. They fired some good questions at us and we understood most of them and were able to respond to all. It really is interesting to talk about politics with Italians because they love to talk about it and they have different views than we do in America. Per esempio, there is a documentary which they love to play on the TV here (I've seen it once) about September 11th. This documentary paints a pretty convincing story about the Bush Administration's active involvement in the events that occured. Convincing enough that many of these Italian students actually believe that the Administration helped them carry it out. Naturally we were asked our opinions on that conspiracy and questions of that sort. I think that one of the main differences between Americans and Italians is that we have a certain faith in our government which they can't comprehend here because they have had a (recent) history of corruption and ineptitude with their government. But those are my thoughts, not yours.
Anyway we held our own in the presentation -I think we represented l'Usa well.
The test I had to take... well it went. Basta.
Other than that classes are going well, Kristy comes Saturday and the football game is Saturday night. Since I have the Internet now we should be able to watch it at my place. Woohoo! I will be posting pictures from this weekend soon but I'd love to hear from you all. Skype me!
Off to eat and then class -
Stevo

I'm alive, I promise

11:31 AM Padova, 5:31 AM Detroit - Hey all! Wow it has been a long time since I have updated this site. Actually a ton has happened since that I don’t know where to start. I guess we can start on sports since that seems to be where I left off.
We all know the Tigers ended up losing in the WORLD SERIES. I’m still amazed they made it that far and am proud to say I’m a Tiger’s fan. Apparently my love for the Tigers was interesting enough for people to read about. If you haven’t seen or heard of it you can read it Here.
A very special Thank-you to Neal Rubin of the Detroit News for letting me talk baseball with him and giving me a play-by-play up until the last pitch of the season.
Well since then I have been busy. I have had classes, Halloween parties, and field trips. Last Sunday I went to Verona with my history of architecture class. We saw the Chiesa di San Zeno, the Arena and the Teatro and then we went to see Juliet’s balcony. It was a really nice day-trip, just me and the girls (see above).
Then two days ago (Tuesday) some of us decided to go to Milan to try and get tickets to the upcoming soccer match: AC Milan vs Roma. They were all sold out online but we heard we could get them maybe in Milan. After trying three different places we finally found an AC Milan super-fan store that was able to sell us tickets on the third ring! So I am going to the game, I am so excited. I told me roommates and they expressed genuine concern for my well-being. They say they are absolutely nuts. Just makes it better. That game is at 8:00 on Saturday night so we are going to go in the morning-after noon and watch all the crazies and then try and catch a train back. The last train to Padova leaves at 11:30 or something so I don’t know if we are going to make it, however the following day we have a field trip in Venice all day so we might be able to just head straight there and sleep in the train. Who knows, I’m not worried all I know is that I’m going to be at the game! The girls are excited to see Totti and I’m excited to be in the sports atmosphere.
Speaking of sports, I am tempted to write David Stern a letter about this new ‘Sheed Rule. I don’t think that rule is fair at all, he is taking away the Constitutional Right of Freedom of Speech from the players. They aren’t allowed to complain, talk bad about the refs, pretty much they aren’t allowed to show emotion. I can’t get down with that. That is what sports (especially basketball) is all about. I’m glad I don’t have to watch it.
Anyway back to Padova. Yesterday my professor, Professor Mascia, decided to single out the Americans and ask us to present on the midterm elections on Monday IN FRONT OF THE ENTIRE 150 STUDENT LECTURE HALL. You can’t just say no to a prof so now we have to give a presentation in lecture on Monday. In a language we don’t speak. However he did say that if we wanted to use English a little bit we could because many of the kids will understand that anyway. That is going to be an experience. I have a test that day, too. So today and tomorrow I am going to be busy researching and studying for my tests that start next week. Actually it’s after 12 now, I should probably get going on that. I’d love to hear from ya’ll, thanks for stoppin’ by!