I'm aware that I haven't posted at all in 2009 so here is a belated first post, to celebrate the fact that I am fiiiiiiinally online in my new apartment. I've been here since Wednesday night but have only just got the password for the wireless. I'm so happy finally to be connected...it's rubbish not having internet when you live in another country!! this is great.
The new house is...interesting. I'm still at a stage where I don't feel at all at home here, and Erika, my friend and housemate who's moved with me, is away at a wedding in the UK this weekend so I'm currently alone with my new housemates, 2 italian guys who don't speak english and of whom I'm terrified!! Well, terrified is a strong word but I'm shy of them, and concerned that one might be a bit weird. He's older (mid 40s) and is the brother of the landlord (who I think I dislike, he's really patronising and bossy) and I'm afraid he might be obsessive about cleaning. The flat is seriously ridiculously clean. Every time I go in the bathroom I feel like I'm just messing it up.
On the other hand, it's a lovely apartment in a lovely part of town - Re di Roma, walking distance to the Colusseum and generally much, much more central and fun and lively than horrible Rebibbia. It's in a really nice big building which is kind of orangey-pinky in colour and as I type I'm watching seagulls flying around in the sunshine (although still cold, it's really sunny here at the moment. I don't know why there are seagulls though, the sea's at least 50km away surely).
OK, so this was just to catch up (I'm due to go and bid farewell to my friend Luis, who's leaving Rome, in 19 minutes on the other side of town, oops) and I'll leave you with a few photos:
ancient acquaduct in the park near my school
me and Laura, first visitor of 2009, at Piazza Garibaldi near the Spanish Embassy I think
We went to see the Pope giving his weekly address or speech or sermon or whatever!! he's up there in the window, there's a little banner hanging out from the window he's in
