Our First Afternoon

We meet Paola in the lobby at 4:00. She says that she can give us a tour and take us around to find an apartment tonight. Already? I’m excited.

So we meet her again an hour later, and she takes us to the first apartment. It is an ADORABLE little home, but definitely too big for only one person. And quite out of my price range. The next apartment we visit already has 3 boarders, with one room open. Roommate? Sweet. Oh yeah, 1 roommate is a girl and the other 2 are guys. OH….

I decide to check it out anyways. We meet one of the boarders, Romeo, and he takes us up to the room. It is PERFECT. Besides the fact that I might be living with 2 guys. But I have a brother. I think I can handle it. I’m shown my room. It’s tiny, but exactly what I need for only 5 months. And I have roommates, instant friends. This is just what I need. So I tell Paola that this is perfect. The only problem: the lease is for 6 months, and I’m only in Italy for 5. I’m not willing to pay 200 euros for a month that I’m not going to be here. Paola works a deal with the landlord, and I get the room. One thing off my to-do list accomplished within 12 hours of landing in Teramo. Not bad.

Afterwards, we get a tour of the city at night, and Paola takes us to the University. It’s very unlike universities in America. It is simply 2 buildings to house classrooms, a library, and faculty offices. Not to mention that it is completely removed from the city of Teramo, sitting on a giant hill overlooking the cute little town. The administrative offices and International Relations office are in a separate building in the middle of town. Not that I’ll be going there much after the semester starts.

After visiting the University, we head back into town to pick up some of Paola’s friends. We are going to dinner.

We go to a restaurant on top of the hill, the 2 Americans and 6 Italians. I didn’t understand 80% of the conversation all night. But the experience was wonderful. At the restaurant, they kept bringing out food. I though it would never end. First was bread and fried cheese. I though cheese couldn’t get any unhealthier, but the Italians find a way: Fry it.

It made me sick to my stomach just looking at it.

But I tried it, and it was good! I couldn’t eat half of it though. All that cheese, all that grease. I shudder inside. Then came the bread and ham. Followed by more appetizers. Followed by our dinner.

I ordered what I thought were lemon scallops…imagine my surprise when I was brought lemon-scalloped steak. Better than what I was expecting! But I had already filled my stomach with yummy Italian appetizers. By some miracle I managed to find room to eat half my lemon-scalloped steak. Then dessert. Holy crap, do these Italians ever stop eating? How do they stay so skinny?

Of course I can’t say no to dessert. And I am certainly glad I didn’t. I tried tiramisu for the first time, and was in heaven when I dove into this chocolate-cake-thing. Danielle and I get up to pay when everyone is leaving, and are told that it is covered. Thank you Marcello from the International Relations office!

They say that Italians like to take their time when eating. We arrived at the restaurant around 8:30 and did not leave until midnight. Danielle and I were close to a zombie-state by this point. Stuffed to the brim with Italian delectables and probably suffering from jet lag. We would get to sleep a little bit, but we had to meet Paola at 10:30 to go sign my lease.

We drag ourselves into the lobby, grab our key from the gentleman behind the front desk, say “Grazie, buenanotte” and squeeze ourselves into the tiny elevator. It did not take me long to wash my face, check Facebook, and worm myself under the covers. It had been a long day, and I had another one facing me tomorrow.

Buenanotte, Teramo. See you in the morning.