today was great!

Today was such a good, fun day! I went to the beach with Becky and my neighbor, Rachel (Steph is with her family in Tuscany). It was about a 30-minute train ride to the last stop. We had to walk across a road, and there was the beach! The weather was so nice today too...I think it got up to like 67 degrees! The beach was a dirty and the sand was dark (we figured they probably clean it up during tourist season). There was noone else there. We just laid on our towels and relaxed for almost four hours! It was a little windy, but sooo nice to just be outside with nothing to worry about.

We stopped at the grocery store on our way back to get dinner supplies. I had decided I was going to make dinner...I was determined! I just really wanted to cook and prepare something. I knew I wanted to make chicken and pasta (because that is so easy), but I couldn't figure out what vegetables and such. I finally decided and kept it a secret from Becky. I have never cooked for my roommates...or actually, ever...so I wanted to completely suprise her. 

When we got back to the apartment, Becky made some french fries from just frying slices of potatoes. We had wanted to try that out, and decided tonight was as good as any! So thennn I got to work on my masterpiece. I began boiling water for the pasta. I then sliced up some tomatoes and mozzarella balls and put them in the refrigerator with olive oil, pepper and oregano on them. I sliced up some bread I bought and put olive oil and diced garlic on them. I put the pasta (bow tie) in, cooked some chicken in olive oil and garlic and threw the bread into the oven. When the pasta was done, I mixed in some fresh pesto I bought. I served my colorful amazingness with Riesling (because Poppop said Mommom had really started liking it, so I decided to try it). Everything turned out really well! I was so happy. The chicken was good, the salad caprese tasted gooood with the pesto, and the wine is really good also. 

So besides being really tired from being drained by the sun today, I am feeling really good! I can cook! And Griffin and Mom are going to be here in a week! And I am going to start really getting out and seeing Rome because we all just realized our time here is so limited.

Tomorrow Becky and I are going to Castel Sant'Angelo, a huge fortress near the Vatican. I also want to do this walking tour around to a bunch of churches at some point. I alsooo need to get to the Roman baths. After the fortress we were thinking about taking our homework to Villa Borghese, a big park/gardens/zoo, because the weather is supposed to be really nice again. Sunday morning we are going to a market in Trastevere, which I still haven't seen in the daytime.

Last week went by fast, as usual. Samm left Monday, and things went back to normal. I was supposed to have two big tests back-to-back on Thursday, which I was stressed out over. I was going to skip my 8:30 photography class to sleep and study. I ended up going because I felt guilty skipping, and it turns out my Italian class was cancelled! That would have been the first test of the day. Our teacher apparently moved the test to Tuesday! Suchhh a relief. We are learning more grammar and such, and it is getting more challenging. So anyway, I tried to study for my Italian history test, but it didn't go very well. I think my grade on it could go either way. I just was not in the mood to study, which is horrible, I know. I have a 10-page paper due in that class in April, so I am really going to focus on doing well on that.

So that's about all for now. I am going to go plan out some day trips and places to see in Rome. I am also going to look into what I'm doing with the fam. We are definitely going to the Amalfi Coast, which should be amazing...beyond that, I need to make an itinerary (maybe). We went to a nice, cheap wine bar in Campo di Fiori for a little while. It was nice...not too many annoying Americans. Tonight we are all just going to stay in and relax. I have really enjoyed this weekend so far, and it just started! I like Rome and the beach and seeing new things. Study abroad is such a cool experience. Going back to Fordham is going to be an interesting transition!

Study abroad students get to register for classes early, so I need to get all that settled by the 25th. I miss Ram Van, and I need a summer job. Any ideas, please let me know!