May 11. Watch out Italy! Ready or not here comes Rachel!! ;)

On this day I will be heading over to the country of pasta, pizza, gondolas, and much more. Super excited for this new adventure. It will be a bittersweet moment in my life. I will be leaving the only home I have ever known (besides the apartments in Greenville...lol). I know it will be a challenging experience for me, but at the same time Im sure it will be very rewarding. I never would have dreamed that I would ever even visit Europe, let alone, live there! I know that God has blessed me with this amazing opportunity. Not many people get this kind of opportunity. It's up to ME to make the most of it and enjoy all moments, even the bad ones. Now, when I sit outside on my porch I imagine sitting from one of the balconies of our apartment. I picture myself reading a good book while drinking a good glass of wine and taking tons and tons of pictures of everything that is around me. I think I will learn a lot from this experience. Only one month to go...it is so hard to believe that is happening to me. Of all people in this world, I never would have imagined that I would be getting prepared for this experience. This kind of thing happens to other people, not to me. Until now! :)

Riding Horses in Tuscany? YES PLEASE!

http://www.florencetours.net/?event=offer.detail&offerId=13153
I've been reading Frommer's guide to Northern Italy. It got me even more excited about living in Italy. It was funny when me and Thomas skyped earlier. I'm pretty sure he got a kick out of me today. I started babbling on and on about these different things we could do. He of course made fun of me. :) My friend sent me information about something she did while in Italy. Riding horses in Tuscany! It sounded like a lot of fun. I saw other tours on the website like riding vespas on an ice cream and wine tour. Thomas really made fun of me about that one! Haha! I could see the secret smile on his face. I think it probably makes him happy when he sees me excited about Italy. But anyway, I am very excited!! I want to have picnics, go to the local markets, go on a bike tour, ride horses in Tuscany, etc. etc. etc. etc.!!!!! :) Now that the praxis is out of the way I can keep my nose in books on Italy! :)

Our New Home! Much more to add to it to make it home!

 Looking down from the second story balcony!

Our friend Gretchen! She's been a big help!

 Our bedroom. The door leads out to the second floor balcony.

Hallway leading to the bathroom & guestroom.

almost to the bathroom and guestroom

Guestroom

Bathroom

The Staircase! So cute!

Living Room leads out to the balcony!

 Almost to the downstairs bathroom

Downstairs Bathroom

Thomas is looking up at Gretchen from the first floor balcony!

Part of the kitchen

Other part of the kitchen!

Garage

Garage

Since these pictures were taken Thomas has bought a couch and a few shelves and things from IKEA. More pictures to come when I get them.

It's been too long.

Its been such a long time since I last blogged..time to catch you up with stories!!

Story1: Thomas and his first scarf

As Thomas was visiting Verona he realized something...how cold it was. He realized that it was so cold that he needed a scarf. Thomas doesn't buy scarves. Well, he decides to swallow his manly pride and buy one. So, he goes into a local store with a sign displaying the name.. GC.. Thomas goes inside and starts browsing. He picks up several items, including scarves and sees the price tag. I think he found a 200 something dollar scarf and I'm pretty sure he about died. It was then he realized, from looking at a tag, what the GC in the store sign stood for...want to take a guess? Yes, Gucci Coutre. Only Thomas. After speaking with an Australian and getting pointed into the direction of a sale at an Armani store Thomas ended his trip with a genuine stylish Armani scarf. Of course, it was bought to keep him warm, not stylish. ;)

Story 2: WE HAVE AN APARTMENT!!! It's two stories with a cute set of stairs, 2 bidets, 2 balconies, and a guest room that's as cute as pie!!! Will post pictures in a separate post. :)

Do Not Enter Unless You Are Here For The Morning Service

Thomas finally made it to Venice today! He saw lots of old churches, shops, and statues. But, I think the highlight of the day was when he interrupted a Catholic church service. He walked into one of the old churches and completely missed the sign that said, "do not enter unless you are here for the morning service." When he walked in he said everyone turned around and looked straight at him. He said that before entering the Catholic church you are supposed to kneel and do the sign of the cross (not sure if that's what it is called, it's the hand motion for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). So, that is exactly what he did; he knelt down, did the sign of the cross and then sat himself down in a pew. He said he didn't want to look like a stupid American who didn't know what he was doing. After he did all this and sat down everyone turned back around. Then, after about 5 minutes of listening to the service, he sneaked back out of the church.

The Three Basic Essentials: Family, Friends, and Food

Thomas didn't get to go to Venice today. He got the wrong kind of train ticket. So, he is going tomorrow. But, I do have some more stories to tell...

Thomas' Adopted Family

Do you remember the old Italian man I told you that Thomas met who owns a restaurant? Well, he is still very fond of "Tamas". First of all, to clarify, this man is probably not that "old." Thomas said that he (and most Italians) smoke. So, he really doesn't know how old he is. He said he just looks kind of old. He has a daughter between the ages of about 7 and 10 so surely he isn't as old as he looks. But, you never know these days. Anyway, the man's wife has been helping Thomas with his Italian while he eats and Thomas always has to say goodbye to the Italian man. One evening it was very busy in there and Thomas told the wife goodbye and she told him to wait right there. She then went back to the kitchen and Thomas heard, "dalalalnan roalalake Tamas!" Then, next thing he knows, the man is coming out with his arms wide open for a hug goodbye yelling, "Tamas!" Thomas told his wife that he would have come in and ate the night before, but that they looked very busy. The wife's response was, "Oh no, next time you come in. We will find room for you. You eat with us!" Thomas says he doesn't know how this man does it. He said his kitchen is smaller than my moms and if you know how much my mom complains about how small her kitchen is then this statement should make sense. :)

New Friends  

Thomas tells me that Gretchen and I will get along very well. His reasoning? Because we are apparently exactly alike. Hahahaha :) 

Market, Wine Shops, and Food, Oh my!

 Thomas says there are markets with all sorts of fresh vegetables and many wine shops. Him and his hotel roommate ate at a McDonalds. They were curious to see how alike or different it was from the American ones. Thomas said there was only one thing he saw on the menu that was the same as in America and that was the Big Mac. He got something called the Royal Deluxe. He said it was a hamburger with fresh tomatoes and lettuce (fresher tasting than American) and was delicious! He says as soon as we have a place to live he is buying a grill! I told Thomas that I was writing a blog now, so he says, "Well, I wasn't planning on telling you this, but it would probably be a funny story for your blog." When he went out to eat with the couple that I met through a friend he ordered what they normally order. He said he had this pear pasta which was almost like pear filled dumplings and absolutely delicious! He has had steak and salad. Well, the salads have dressing that consist of balsamic vinegar and olive oil. He said they don't know what ranch is. So, as he is eating his salad he comes across something that looks like a little tomato to him covered in balsamic vinegar. Naturally, he eats it. At this point he realizes that this little morsel is most definitely not a tomato. He immediately asks Gretchen what it is. She starts laughing and tells him that it is HOGS FAT!!!!!! Apparently, a common ingredient in their salads over there. Thomas said it was sort of different tasting and that if it was just on his fork with the rest of his salad he would eat it, but if it was the end of the salad and that's all that was left he would not touch it. Thomas has also eaten at a pizzeria. He said it is so neat because they cook the pizzas in an old brick oven like you would see on TV.

Becoming one with the Italians

I will give my husband this. No matter where he goes he makes a friend and makes quite an impression. Background on this: (1) We go to the airport and he asks the person there 20 questions, makes them laugh, and it looks like they have been friends forever. (2) I go back to our old apartment the other day to see if they will unlock our old mailbox so I can make sure we haven't missed any important mail. The lady asks me my old apartment number, I say, "193-B." Her immediate response is, "Ohhh Thomas! He always gave me a hard time" I just shake my head, laugh, and think, "yep, that's my husband." Now back to present time in Italy. Thomas goes into a restaurant he has never been before. Somehow mingles with this old Italian man who owns the place. The man continues to talk and share lots of wine with him and his little girl shows Thomas her magic tricks. Thomas comes in to eat there the next night and the man greets Thomas by opening his arms and yelling.."Tamas!!!!!" (Trying to spell it like the Italian man said it, hahahaha). So, Thomas is adjusting well I think. Of course, I'd like to think that he misses me. ;) Heehee. He has had dinner with people I think will become new/good friends. He has a hotel roommate who is also married and tonight they both spent the evening talking to their wives on the phone. Hahahahaha! OH and we both have global droids and use the skype mobile application to talk on the phone to each other and its FREE because we are basically skyping from phone to phone instead of computer to computer (no video though). So, that is a good thing. Definitely better than Afghanistan. Tomorrow he will tour Vicenza some more and Saturday he is going to Venice. He said I would love downtown Vicenza...lots of little shops and neat architecture. I am really getting excited. :)