FINALLY...and Update!!!

Okay, so I have been terrible this past week! I apologize big time!!! So I HAVE to tell about the skiing trip! It was a BLAST! The story is long but I am going to write EVERYTHING because it makes the story great! You guys might have to take a break while reading! It is long...I apologize!

So to begin the trip (or not even) on Friday morning VERY early, we had a fire drill at 3 AM. I was not a happy camper! ha We had to get up at 530 to catch the bus/metro then train so by the time we got back to the room there was only about an hour and a half left to sleep so it was upseting. After getting up, we caught the bus pretty easily. The metro was interesting. Everyone had gotten on and then when I was about to get on the door started to shut on my arm and it kept closing on it!!! I thought it was the end of me..ha! But it finally opened back up but I couldn't get on because it was jam packed so I had to catch the next metro, luckily everyone met me on that one at the next stop. THe rest of travel was fine we arrived in Rieti and it was pretty cool! Just a small, relaxing town! We traveled up to snow/ski resort called Terminillo, and it was so awesome! We couldn't ski but we had a pretty fun snowball fight and it was a blast!! There were 6 of us there But it was fun. Kurtis tackled me a few times but I got him back with a few good snowballs! ha But we travelled back to Rieti and had the longest dinner ever! But it was a pretty cool experience. It was called the Bistro and it was about 7-9 courses, wine (which was GROSS!), and the best desert ever!! The meal took 3 hours! THe typical Italian dinner...I thought I was gonna die! I like the AMerican way of eat the food and get outta there! But it was definitely and experience I wont forget! Kurtis then gave me a valentine's day card and I just have to share what it says to display his korny-ness! ha I quote, "Roses are red, Violets are blue, all I want to be is next to you." I laughed at it! But thought it was nice! haha

Finally, Saturday came and it was the BEST day ever! We went skiing! I was kinda nervous but it was a blast! I had a great time! It snowed all day while we were there and it was such a sight to see! I can't even explain it in words! As far as skiing goes -- it was wonderful and awesome! I started on the walking area hills and ate it a couple of times! THe first two times I wiped out and did a face plant on the second one. How I did it...I don't really know but I did! haha I then graduated to the bunny hill! I was SO nervous going up! But going down was pretty fun! I went slow and Kurtis was my instructor...he picked it up pretty easily. After I got the hang of it I was ready for a bigger and better hill! THe next one was long and I started going real fast on some parts! ha I only fell once though, so that was an accomplishment! The ski lift was crazy! First off, I was on a seat all by myself! Second I had NO idea what I was doing! haha Kurtis was infront of me so everything he did...I did! I was FREAKING out! And didn't know that the ski lifts stopped sometimes and yea...I thought I needed a new pair of pants! ha But I made it off thank goodness but I was definitely scared! We continued skiing for a long time and it was awesome! We skiied from about 9 AM - 430 PM and I enjoyed every second of it! It was well worth it and it wasn't even that expensive! For dinner we went pizza parading and found some good cheap pizza at 3 different pizza places! We found 1 euro pizza and one place was 1.50 euro..lame! ha It was awesome and cheap and filled me up after 2 peices!

The journey home on SUnday began at 10:40 and I was so sad to leave. But we arrived back on campus around 2 PM, after a LONG bus delay! It was then homework time and we had to write outlines for a Lit Trad paper. (literary traditions) We then just hung out the rest of the night and had dinner and what not. It was definitely a FUn weekend in so many different ways!

The school week now came and it wasn't too bad! Nothing too strenuous happening! Ashleys birthday was Monday and was sad that i had to miss it but we can celebrate when I get back to the states! On Tuesday we had a Theology mid-term but it wasn't too bad! We studies quite a bit for it so I felt like I was prepared! But we will see how he grades it...I'm still kind of nervous because there are only like 3 grades for each class! The rest of the week was relaxing. We went into Rome for Art and Architecture class on Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday we went to the Roman Forum and it was FREEZING! Even our professor felt bad for us and she let us go kind of early but it was extremely cold but still pretty cool! On Thursday we went to the Colosseum and the Paletine Hill. They were both pretty amazing! I enjoyed it a whole bunch! On Thursday morning Kurtis woke up and couldn't lift his head and everyone came to the conclusion that it was some kind of insect bite because there was a red spot and also a big ol' knot by it. But he had to stay home from the trip which kinda stunk for him but I think we are going to go visit again so he can see it all. Nurse momma helped us out over the phone! She was a savior!! THanks mom! ha But other than that nothing too exciting!

The weekend finally came after classes on Friday (they were our first Friday classes). We didn't do much just kind of hung out on campus and relaxed. The weather was BEAUTIFUL! Definitely the best weather yet here but I could walk outside in shorts and a t-shirt and I did! ha We played some soccer and I finally got to play some volleyball! =] I was SO excited and didn't really have anyone to play with but just touching a ball made me all happy!!! We spend a lot of the day outside. Saturday night we went out to experience the Carnevale that occurs here in Roma towards the time of lent. I don't really understand and it wasn't anything too special but it was still fun!

SUnday we relaxed some more and studied and yesterday (monday) we had a lit trad midterm and it wasn't too bad...once again studied lots for it! THe midterm didn't seem too bad but we will see. On Monday though we had class and the played soccer for 2 and 1/2 hours and then worked out with Kurtis for an hour and it was AWESOME! =] Definitely got the workout in for the day! ha But the weather was nice so you can't stay inside on those days!

Today is here and we only had one class so it was kind of nice.

But sorry it is so long. I will try to put more updates in so that there isn't one lONG one like today!

Hope all is well in the states! I miss you all!!

Kel