Day 6: Mi finestra

As I woke up this morning  the chruch bells could be heard in the near distance chiming 8:00 AM.  You could hear the people stirring in the street and the children's voices ringing as they mad their way to school.    Fabrizio, who works at the small cafe across the street, is greeting all of his customers, and suddenly in the far distance I heard the call of something so familiar: that damn cat who has been in heat all week!  Day and night she hasn't stopped calling out into he streets ! ha
All of  the sounds  of Sansepolcro are mesmerizing...I find myself becoming more Italian everyday becasue I love to listen and look from my window.   I  find myself leaning out to hear the birds chirp, to people watch, and to see the beautiful view.
Hearing the church bells from my window make it feel like home.  In the mornings, at home, I can hear the distance chiming of the country, baptist church bells.  Sansepolcro is the same.


The past two days were spent mostly practicing and going to class.  Last night, Ashlee, Jessie, Emily, and myself were all practicing with the windows open.  You could hear us throughout all of the streets.  This Sunday we will perform at the gelato festival in Sansepolcro!  Playing music in Sansepolcro is surreal...I could have never imagined myself doing this.

Lesson 1: Don't ever say Posso avere due cokes....it's coca-cola

Well, I made it!!  I have been here for two days and I absolutely love Sansepolcro!  There is only one phrase too describe this place: out of a story book.   When I stuck my head out of my room window for the first time, the view was breathtaking.  You know that scene in Beauty and The Beast where Belle is walking down the street in the beginning of the movie? Yes, Imagine that.  Although instead of Bonjour, it was Bonjourno! The hustle and bustle of the market, boutiques, and restraunts are below you, the houses are beautiful, and the food is to die for.  Our trip has been pretty darn comedic so far...from giggles on the airplane, to arriving in the Rome airport,  to nights out on the town.

The Italians are very quick to recognize us...blonde hair, blue eyes, and fair skin.  Need I say more? However, they have been very welcoming...a band actually started playing the Star Spangled Banner when we walked by.  In all honesty,  I have never wanted to be a brunette so bad in my life!  The amount of attention is quite overwhelming.

Oh and another adjustment has been the shower situation: one towel, one week. Gah! This is coming from the girl who uses three washcloths a day!!  I'm getting the hang of it though. 

However, if blonde hair and washcloths have been my biggest worries, then I'm quite alright.  There are many more things that could go wrong.  Such as a waitress mistaking your order for a coke for the drug, coke.  Yes, Jessie and I made that mistake.  That's lesson 1 for Study Abroad.   It's Coca-Cola. 

Watch out ya'll! High Maintenance is a comin' to town.

I'll be leaving in less than 48 hours.  Wow. I cannot believe it!  I packed my super outdoorsy mountain pack (courtesy of my friend Liz) for the first time today.  Let me tell you...I look legit.  However, it's a littttle heavy. Okay, way heavy.  But, I can  succesfully run around the house in it.  The pre-trip jitters have already kicked in.  I'm nervous about leaving my parents, my animals, my boyfriend, and everything familiar to me. 

I'm accustomed to spending my summers pool-side or on the beach.   Seersucker, sundresses, wedges and jack rogers  are part of my uniform, and The Avett Brothers or good ol' Carolina Beach music can be heard from  my car.  However, part of this summer will be much, much different.  I'll be trading in my canvas beach tote for a mountain pack and heading to Italy and Switzerland. I'm excited for all of the new sights and people, and especially the food! I'm counting on these next 5 weeks to face me with challenges, laughs, tears, smiles, and new experiences.  Lord Have Mercy...High Maintenance is hittin' Europe.