Vino Rossa o Vino Bianchi?

I've been in Italy for two weeks now, and the only class that has started is Italian. Art restoration and (hoping I don't get bumped) Art History will be starting next week. So many things have happened in the past two weeks that I can't think of a way to start; you'll have to make due with a bullet list, or else this could last forever.

*Had the longest day possible, starting at 8:00am in the US and ending at 11pm the next day in Italy
*Petted about thirty outdoor cats, much to the dismay of my classmates
*Spent four days in Pescia (here read ultimate perfection in Italian countryside)
*Saw the hometown of Pinnochio
*Climbed a Tuscan mountain (from one Tuscan town to the next)
*Witnessed a Vespa on Vespa crash
*Saw an exhibitionist Italian man on a Vespa
*Have eaten the best food the world has ever seen.
*Found that water (naturale OR frizzante, but particularly naturale) is not available unless you ask for it specifically. The availability of wine, however, is not a problem.
*Have not yet even thought to turn on my own computer (I use the school's, but only when absolutely necessary)

Mia donna's name is Giovanna. She has a husband and a thirty year old son who got married last week, and there are two other American students living in our house. Mi famiglia is the most adorable thing I have ever seen in my life, and despite their lack of English and my lack of Italian, they make me feel incredibly at home. (Giovanna and I have a date to watch House M.D., as we have established that we are both in love with Hugh Laurie.)

We live across the Arno from Florence; I see the rowers on the river every day as I cross the bridge, and it makes me realize how much I really miss sports. I have yet to get involved with anything activity-wise here, but I have an audition for the choir at the Duomo next Tuesday. We'll see how that goes. Depending on scheduling, I may even see how much joining a boat house costs. I doubt I could keep a single afloat, however.

Florence is incredible. It's raining right now, and the city is still beautiful. It's impossible to get lost, because even if you've gone down a street you've never seen before, you will inevitably run into one that you have. My school, in Santa Croce, is about twenty minutes from both the Duomo and the Ponte Vecchio. I'm already beginning to hate the tourists. But if that's the most of my troubles, I have to say I'm incredibly lucky. Despite my initial fears, I'd say a study abroad in Italy was the perfect choice for me.

This weekend I have a classical concert to go to, and on Sunday, a wine tasting with an Italian count. Let's see how this goes for the non-drinker. It should be fun. Everything's fun in Italy.