Buon Compleanno

The other night, I had to accompany the little girls to their friend Mia's 5th birthday party. This is why I love my job. I got paid to admire a beautiful home in Piazza Venezia while gawking at the high designer clothes all the mom's were wearing. There wasn't a single couch or corner that didn't have a couple middle aged women whispering to each other, laughing, and smoking cigarette's. At the same time, there were about 30 children running around, staining their fancy dresses and trousers with the abundance of food. I found myself chatting with one of the maid's and she said, "Isn't it too bad? Her favourite colour is blue, but the mom insisted the colour theme to be white."
But this was no ordinary birthday party. It looked more like a wedding, just without the groom. There were tables filled with trays of finger food, two stands for crepes and cotton candy, and a coca cola fountain. There was also a live puppet show performance in the living room. I ventured onto the wrap around terrace which had, as my host mom told me, "one of the best views of the whole city." It really did. 

I will never forget the sad images of the house workers running about to make sure this party had gone off without problems. The three of them, dressed in formal maid uniforms, were constantly speed walking all over the place cleaning up spilled drinks and making sure everyone had enough to eat. I saw the male cook who could've very easily been someone's grandfather, and I have never seen someone look so tired in my life. He brought the cake out which was a delicious vino cake. As in wine cake. What 5 year old gets a cake made with wine for their birthday? I must say, it was so delicious, with little chocolate chips baked inside. The whole time I was there I was wishing I had someone else to share it with. 

What's It Like In New York City?

So. I have something on my brain that I need to share. I mentioned in my previous post that Nathan and I were going out for dinner in Trastevere Wednesday night. Well, that didn't happen. He likes to cook and when we met up in our usual spot in Campo, we agreed to just go back to his apartment, eat pasta, and watch a movie. One of the reasons I was excited to see Nathan is because he's leaving in a week now, so I don't have much time left to spend with him. It might seem selfish, but there was a bigger reason than that... Did I mention that he grew up in New York City? And that I kinda wanna sorta move there next...? He moved to Boston when he was around 13 years old, but he spent most of his life living there. 
I've been giving a lot of thought lately to what I want to do next year, and The Big Apple is looking more and more appetizing to me. I've never been there, except to the JFK airport where I connected flights on my way to sunny Florida. But seriously. When I close my eyes and ask myself, "Where do I see myself in one year?" I see me jogging in Central Park. I can see myself bustling through Queens, Brooklyn, and Chinatown. I can see myself drinking martinis and going to cool parties in Chelsea and admiring the beautiful townhouses in Greenwich Village. I've been doing a lot of research about the pros and cons, and the only cons I can find is "lot's of traffic, expensive, high unemployment rate, rude people..." 

Its still so much to think about, but can't you see me sticking my head out of a yellow taxi cab and being happy there? I can. But its still a lot to think about, just as I gave Italy a lot of thought before coming here. But talking to Nathan got me so hyped up, because really - how lucky am I to know someone who grew up there? My only true issue is that even though I turn 19 this July, I won't be of age in the U.S. You have to be 21. But luckily... I have my sister's old driving licence who is already 21. So really - I'm technically of age there. What do I have to lose?! The really nice thing is that I would be on the same time zone as my family, and the distance between my hometown and New York City is a mere one hour plane ride. That feels like practically nothing compared to being a nine hour flight from home as I am right now. I would definitely come home for Christmas, and the best part is that I already speak English. So I can go there already understanding everyone. In a city with a population of over 8 million, do you think they'd make room for me?

I know what some of you guys are probably thinking right now... I'm in Rome, and I should be enjoying myself here. I definitely am enjoying myself here, and I absolutely love Rome. But lately I've been having to think about my future, too, and what I'm going to do next fall. 

Italy, Ireland, Same Thing

I had the greatest few days of my life thanks to a little unexpected adventure. The family I'm working for took me to the countryside where they have a house just one hour outside of Rome. Its located in the Lazio region, and the mom's side of the family owns a small village perched comfortably atop a huge piece of land overlooking herds of sheep and mountains. It was literally like a small village, with houses only owned by those related to the grandparents. All of the houses were made of stone and covered in ivy and English roses. The family even owns their own Catholic church that sits proudly among the dozens of beautiful homes. I felt that I had left Italy for the weekend and landed in Ireland. When I I went for a walk through the countryside, I felt like I fell into a scene from PS I love you. 

I spent the entire time drinking homemade red wine, horseback riding through the mountains, and doing my best to stay on the good side of the strict grandparents. 
Clemi, the eldest daughter, took me aside later and assured me not to worry about them, because "nonna is impossible." This made me feel much better, and I could see it was true every time we sat down for a meal when the grandmother would boss everyone else at the table around. Get your elbows off the table. You cannot sit at the table with messy hair, you must tie it back with a pony tail. Sit up straight. Speak more clearly. 
I even got the chance to go to Bracciano, the town where Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes got married. As it turns out, the mom is close friends with the woman who owns the 15th century castle where they got married, and I got to go there! I was completely wonder struck and have never seen anything so extravagant in my life. I asked the woman how the wedding happened. My first question was how they approached her. She explained that Tom is a close friend of the Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani and they have connections and BAM - they had the wedding there. 
Now I'm back in Rome sweet Rome, and missed the city oh-so much during the past few days. The family is still in Bracciano and comes home tomorrow, giving me some time to do whatever my little heart desires. I drove home with the Filipino workers who sang country songs for over one hour.

Its A Wonderful Life

If I was at home right now, this is what I'd be doing... 
I'd be decorating the tree at home with my family, watching the delicate pearl coloured snow flakes fall, baking gingerbread cookies and buying an extra tub of vanilla icing for extra 

deliciousness, wrapping presents in every colour imaginable, stashing my purse with candy canes... I'd be making a snowman and donning her in my pink plaid scarf, and going beer boganning with my friends at H. H. Knoll park. I'd throw snow balls at the side of the house, sip hot chocolate inside by the fire, go Christmas shopping at the Pen Centre, and walk down West Street arm-in-arm with mom picking out new ornaments. I'd be buying candy cane scented soap from Harmony on West, listening to Christmas music and drive around the city appreciating everyone's lights display. 

My favourite part about this time of year is eating yummy holiday candies with my sister on the couch while having a marathon of all the classic Christmas movies. Our personal favourite is A Christmas Story.

Missing out on Christmas this year makes me realise that I don't think I can miss out again next year. I think that this is my one year to really put myself out into the world and travel and experience Europe, but next year I would like to be able to be closer to my family so I don't have to miss out on things like this.
Niagara-On-The-Lake is, in my opinion, the world's most picturesque city - especially at 

Christmas. There's horse carriages you can ride around on, beautiful Victorian mansions that are dressed up in their Christmas best, and the most incredible Christmas store in the world. Its open all year round and sells everything you can imagine that has to do with Christmas. 
This week, they're putting a huge Christmas tree up at the Vatican, which I'm really excited about. Last night, Nathan and I were taking another nighttime walk around Rome and appreciating all the beautiful Christmas decorations and lights. He's leaving for Paris today and isn't coming back until Sunday, so we wanted to see each other before he headed off. He said, "Even though I love this city, I can't wait to go home for Christmas." Sigh... I told him that I'm not going home for Christmas. I expected him to say how terrible that was, and that I should be with my family, not in Europe. But I told him my plans, and he was really enthusiastic for me, which made me feel really good. I probably already mentioned this, but I'm going to travel with my Austrian friend Magda for Christmas. 
Actually, today is exactly 3 weeks until my trip, and I'm so excited. I'm flying to Munich first, where Magda is picking me up. Then we're driving back to Salzburg to spend Christmas, and we're travelling to a place called Upper Austria as well. Then we're going to spend a few days in Vienna, and then Prague for New Years. So even though I'm not going to be home for Christmas, I'm still so excited to see Magda and travel to so many new places.

Follow The Yellow Brick Road

When I arrived in Italy, my life became technicolour. And now, I never want to leave. I was talking to my friend Taylor about this, who's living on the border of France and Switzerland. I'm really proud of her, too, because she was supposed to go to the University of Toronto for law, and now she's learning French and having the time of her life. She says, "The only problem with coming over here is that I never want to leave." I couldn't possibly agree with her more.
Ever since I moved into my new house, I haven't had much time to update my blog because I'm literally in the heart of Rome. I no longer have to wait for anything or anyone - I can go wherever, whenever. And every single day, I'm out and about. I also have loads of free time, so I've been spending most of it out with friends, window shopping, touring around, eating more food... It is pure heaven over here.

One of my favourite people here is my good friend Kelsey, who I spent Sunday evening with. We met up at the monument in the centre of Campo dei Fiori and split a bottle of wine. I keep a wine opener in my purse at all times. We talked about her busy weekend, and my new house and I gave her the details of my new beau. We'll call him Nathan. 
Nathan is 20 years old and is studying here with my other American friends like Connor. I met him a few weeks ago at Scholar's but nothing really happened between us until last week. I went out with my au pair friends and the Americans on Friday, and Nathan was there. I've never been this attracted to a guy before. He's from Boston and has tanned skin, dark brown eyes, and a perfect smile. On top of his charming looks he's an actual gentlemen, and asked about how I grew up, what my family's like, and all that important stuff that's sometimes awkward but really wasn't at all. He's really easy to talk to, but its bittersweet because he's going home to the U.S in three weeks. I was talking to a friend about him and said how terrible it is that I just met him now, and that I wish we had met sooner. She reminded me that it could be worse, and that I could've met him three days before he left, or maybe not at all. This is true.
So, after Kelsey and I had some wine, she walked me to Scholar's where I went to meet with Nathan. His favourite football team, the New England Patriots were playing, and they won, so he was pretty happy about that. We hungout there for a bit and then decided to walk around the city. Rome at night is beyond any kind of beauty you can ever imagine, especially the Trevi Fountain, with its electric blue water and gold lights.

It still has tourists and romantic couples lounging about even at 1 am. We walked everywhere, and eventually ended up at Villa Borghese. We just hungout there and had a view of the whole city. The best part was St. Peter's Basilica, which was decorated with gold lights. It was definitely one of my favourite nights in Italy so far. I don't know how much I want to, or should reveal about my current romance going on here. I actually get the butterfly feeling with this guy, and so I want to respect his privacy as formally as I can. When he was walking me home, I saw my Swedish friend Ronja, who I've been running into spontaneously lately. She thought that maybe he was Italian or Greek or something, and said, "Who's the hottie? What country is he from?" He replied, in perfect English (and that irresistible Boston accent), "I'm from the U.S." She was really taken aback, but then laughed and said, "That's too bad, I was hoping we could talk bullshit about you behind your back right now." Oh, Ronja... 

Casa Dolce Casa

I have moved into my new house in Rome. Finally, I am here. I'm living in Campo dei Fiori, which is in the heart of Rome. Everything is in walking distance, and I'm nestled right in between the Vatican and Piazza Navona. Piazza Navona is a beautiful square filled with outdoor café's and has several large, marble fountains situated right in the middle. In my opinion, I am living in the ultimate location in Rome, for day and night. How lucky am I? 
Speaking of luck, I've had a lot of it lately. What I mean is that before I moved here and took the bus, I would show up at the stop and it would magically arrive within the first five minutes of my being there, when it usually takes between 10 - 15 minutes of waiting. Then, when I was out for dinner with my friend the other night, the waiter came over and apologized because he actually sat us at someones reserved seat. No big deal, right? We'd just move. Well, I guess they felt pretty terrible about it, because we scored a free bottle of wine. Also, I went to the grocery store the other day because I wanted to pick up a box of tea for myself. I didn't know that there was a huge sale on the vanilla tea that I love, but even better than that, I got the last box.
So - my new living situation. Its a beautiful yellow house filled with lots of art and interesting details. For example, there's a spiral staircase, wooden beams, and archways here and there. My bedroom is painted a light cream and I have those Japanese cherry blossom flower pattern on my curtains. I have a chandelier and wooden beams across the top of my million foot high ceilings, and a picture of an angel hanging over my bed. I like to think this will make me have only good dreams. I have my own private bathroom right across the room from me that is painted this amazing shade of bright orange. 
Not only do they own a beautiful house in the centre of Rome, but they also have their own castle in Tuscany as well as their own private island. I swear, someone could make a movie about these people. But oh, wait - someone already did! A couple weeks ago there was a film crew taping part of a movie at their house.

There are 10 of us living in the house: the parents and their four children (Clemintina, Manfredi, Lodovica, Desideria), not one, but three Filipino workers, and now me. So its a busy household. Actually, the one Filipino worker is currently home in the Philippines for a little while, but he's coming back sometime after the holidays.
Clemintina, the oldest, spends most of her time out with friends or in the upstairs loft painting. Manfredi is rarely home, because he's always playing sports. Which he could do perfectly at home, since they have their own basketball and volleyball court. I'm really only responsible for the two little ones, Lodo and Daisy. Lodo is curious about everything I do, and tries her best to ask me questions in English. Her and Daisy follow me everywhere, and have become my two little Italian shadows. 
The kids all go to the private, super exclusive French school in the heart of Villa Borghese that was a palace designed by Michelangelo. Man, if only I could've had the education these kids are getting... Its really tempting to speak French since we all know it fluently and their English isn't so good. But Lodo really does try hard, and I can't imagine trying to be trilingual at the age of 8. Daisy has created her own personal language called Frenglian. French, English and Italian all rolled into one. 
Anyway, the house is literally sitting on top of pure Roman ruins. There is a pathway under the house where there were old shops, and they keep their wine and ping pong table down there. So, I can play ping pong in Roman ruins without having to leave the property. Another interesting fact about the house is that during the medieval century it housed a madwoman. 

During this time, my bedroom and the parents bedroom were connected, and she was imprisoned for chopping off her father's head. She eventually died here, which is a nice thing to know about the room I'm going to be sleeping in for the next 6 and a half months.

Friendsgiving Part II: Jewish Ghetto Style

On Saturday, I surprised my family by calling them at my grandparents house. Its my grandparents 56th anniversary and my nana just turned 79 this past month, and so all the family on my mom's side had a party. I was in touch with my cousin Graeme who knew I was going to call, and he picked up the phone right away when I called. 
Last night, Kelsey and I went out for dinner to celebrate Thanksgiving. I know Thanksgiving was a month ago, but Kelsey is American, and so this is her day to celebrate. We kept giving it formal names like, "The day in which we give thanks to God." We went to this little restaurant in the Jewish ghetto of Rome. It was my first time going to that neighborhood and it was a nice change in scenery. There were amazing little kosher restaurants and we had such a delicious dinner. Fresh bread, to start, and then I had gnocchi. It was steaming hot, smothered in tomato sauce, and had melting mozzarella cheese dripping through it. I have never tasted anything so perfect in my life. Kelsey had couscous and vegetables, and we shared a bit of each others meal. After our fancy dinner we walked over to Scholar's to visit my friend Connor who goes there every Sunday to watch the American football games. Connor is the guy from Atlanta who saved me from that French guy. Connor was there with a few of his other American friends and he hit me with some tragic news. They're all going home in a month. What? I thought they were at least staying until spring. It was so sad, but we had a really great night together and I loved celebrating 'Friendsgiving' twice. I think I will make it a tradition once I come home to celebrate both Thanksgivings. Why should the best holiday known to humankind be celebrated once a year, if you can celebrate it twice? I don't know why I didn't come up with this idea sooner.

Kelsey and I also flipped through my thick book on Rome. The book was published by National Geographic and has hidden maps, cool ideas for what to do and where to go, off-the-path excursions, and interesting facts about the city. We found so many things that we want to do together.
My current host mom is in Poland for the week, which means I am solely responsible for Giulia until I move out on Wednesday. My bags are almost entirely packed, except for this load of laundry I'm going to do before I go. Giulia went to her viola lesson after school and did some studying at home. After we got that out of the way, we made popcorn and watched A Bug's Life. I haven't seen that movie in about a decade, and I forgot how adorable it was. I love watching old Disney movies. I also walked around my neighborhood and took cool pictures of displays and found this really funky furniture shop. It was a great way to kick off the new week.

Old Buttons & Warm Memories

I did some shopping, and that's about it. My favourite store in Rome is called Tally Weijl, which is similar to Forever 21. I bought a hot pink skirt, black glittery top, and a dippy-wrappy-kind-of-funky leopard print top. I also bought some cool jewelry, a new scarf, and, best of all, A NEW COAT. But not just any new coat! A snow white, winter pea coat that fits me beautifully, even when wearing a thick sweater underneath. It has these cute silver buttons that make me feel like an adorable and feminine British soldier. Because its white, I can wear any coloured scarf with it, which is wonderful. It also has these white silk-lined pockets that make me feel like I'm touching heaven whenever I stick my hands inside. I wasn't planning on buying a new coat, but my beloved grey bell coat is tattered. 

I bought this grey coat two years ago in the States and I fell in love with it. That thing got me through the freezing cold winters of Canada and France, and we shared a lot of beautiful memories together... However, two of the big buttons are missing, which wouldn't be such a problem if it took more than four to do the coat up. There is also a huge chocolate stain on the front of it from my gracefulness of eating a crepe. As my nana Whyte would say, it was 'well loved'. Since we're on the subject of my nana and I love history (not that she is historical, but wait for it) her mom - so my great grandmother - was the first female principal in Ontario. Pretty cool, huh?
So - on a more important note... This Wednesday, I am moving in with my new family. This day has crept up on me, and I'm beginning to pack my belongings, which is making everything more surreal. 

Let's Make Better Mistakes Tomorrow

In a perfect world, I think I might possible maybe spend another year abroad... I really just don't know what to do. Part of me is saying, "Go to Ottawa! You need to go back to school." But then this other part of me is saying, "School will always be there, I promise. Right now you are young and have the ability to be flexible and travel and do everything in the world that you want to do." 
I talked to Cely about my dilemma in not knowing what to do about university. She didn't offer any help, although she did listen to me and give me a banana. When in doubt, have some potassium...
I'm playing ping pong in my brain. Europe, university. Europe, university. The thought exhausts me.

I found this interesting questionnaire on the internet. One of the questions read, "How do you define success?" I used to think the answer would be happiness, but that's a mood, not a destination. So... How would I define success? By learning a new language. Traveling to new countries. Eating dinner at that exotic new restaurant or sitting on one of the world's greatest ancient monuments while eating cinnamon gelato... That isn't success though, that's just what I like to do. And its a very depressing thought to know that I can't live this way forever... I just don't where which direction to go. If I came back to Europe again after next summer, would I be stuck in the same question as I am now, and could I really be away from my family again for another whole year? That's the reality when you move halfway across the world. 
I recall something I read about in the book Influence by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. They put together a book that includes personality tests, opinions, favourite quotes, photographs of their favourite designer clothes, places of travels... There was something in there called the Proust questionnaire. Marcel Proust was a French writer who believed that a person must first understand themselves before they figure anything or anyone else out. I decided to fill out my own Proust questionnaire.
1. What is your greatest fear?
being abducted, or losing my eye sight

2. What is your current state of mind?
content

3. What is your favourite way to spend time?
traveling and exploring, but on a normal day, spending time with friends, drinking tea, writing

4. What historical figure do you most identify with?
i don't know
5. Which living person do you most admire?
oprah winfrey
6. Who is your favourite fictional hero?
robin hood
7. Who are your real-life hero's?
my papa whyte

8. What is your most treasured possession?
the teddy bear my papa pressé gave me

9. When and where were you happiest?
here in rome

10. What is your most obvious characteristic?
possessing a creative mind, making others laugh
11. What is the trait you hate most in yourself?
stubborn

12. What is the trait you hate most in others?
being late, dishonest and arrogant
13. What is your greatest extravagance?
the fact that i live in rome

14. What is your favourite journey?
 the one i'm currently on
15. What do you most dislike about your appearance?
my height, i wish i was taller
16. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
perfection

17. On what occasion do you lie?
when I'm annoyed and i say that i'm busy 
18. Which words of phases do you most overuse?
"keep calm and carry on"
19. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
 not being such a perfectionist
20. What do you consider your greatest achievement?
moving to france alone at 16, then moving again to italy at 18, learning languages on my own

21. Where would you like to live?
right here in rome, where i am. or in buckingham palace.

22. What is the quality you most admire in a man?
a good listener, spontaneous, genuine

23. What is the quality you most admire in a woman?
independence, a strong sense of self

24. What is it you most dislike?
bullshit

25. What do you value most in your friends?
their ability to love and support me no matter what i do or where i go

26. How would you like to die?
in my sleep, obviously
27. If you were to die and come back as an animal, which animal do you think it would be?
a lion

28. If you could choose an object to come back as, what would you choose?
a book
29. What is your motto?
everybody dies, but not everybody lives

30. Who has been the greatest influence on you?
oprah winfrey

31. What or who is the greatest love of your life?
i don't know 'who' yet because i haven't met him but writing and traveling are my two favourite loves at the time. i'm consistent and dedicated to them as i haven't been in my other loves.

32. Which talent would you like to have?
singing, or the ability to pick up languages the same way that animals can pick up diseases. you know?

33. What would you like to be?
"a wise woman"

Paradise

I have to share my new favourite song, Paradise, on this blog because it is absolutely wonderful. Its from Coldplay's new album, Mylo Xyloto, and it just so happens to be on constant loop on my laptop. What can I say - I'm obsessed! A lot of people criticize Coldplay for their songs being the same one after the next and putting people to sleep. I admit, sometimes I fall asleep to it - but only because its soothing. But some of their songs have made it onto my 'Jogging' playlist, so there! Anyway...
By nature, I am not a zen person. I'm loud, passionate, and get excited easily. When I laugh, you can literally hear me from half a mile away.  Lately I've been spending part of my afternoons reading Pride and Prejudice on my favourite bench at the park. When I don't feel like reading anymore, I just watch the ducks swim in the pond and... well, that's it, actually. I don't think, I don't feel, I just watch the ducks swim because its relaxing.
Before I begin to tell you how I've been spending my last few days (sorry for not updating, guys!) let me tell you a little tale about last Saturday. As the world knows, Berlusconi has made headlines for quitting his job as prime minister. On Saturday, Roman citizens, news crews, reporters, journalists, and even tourists lined up outside the gates of Piazza Colonna. It was truly incredible to see how happy the Italians are. The busiest street in Rome, Via del Corso, was blocked off because police were worried about people attacking the government as well as the private black cars that were sneaking their way through the back of the building. I made friends with this Italian journalist Alessandro, who told me everything that was going on. I am so glad I met him, because of course I love journalism, but he was feeding me all the information on exactly what was happening. 
The crowd of people then walked to Berlusconi's house which isn't too far from Piazza Colonna, and you will never believe this... HIS HOUSE IS RIGHT BESIDE SCHOLAR'S! YES. 


All this time, I've been drinking right next to the prime minister's house. Scholar's is literally right beside his house. Its funny because I always wondered what this beautiful building with a large Italian flag was, and was even more curious as to why there were always policemen lined up outside, but I never would've guessed he lived there. I guess you really do learn something new every day, huh?

Mad Haus

BREAKING NEWS - the Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, has resigned from his position of national sleazeball. Within a month there will be a new prime minister. HALLELUJAH! THE ITALIANS HAVE GONE WILD! Seriously - its all anyone is talking about right now. Even 9 year old Giulia is thrilled. For the past 17 years, Berlusconi has been a selfish tyrant. Its kind of a bittersweet moment for Italy. On the one hand, they are finally free of having a terrible leader who is involved with fraud, the mafia, bribing judges, being charged for having sex with underage girls, having scandalous affairs with foreigners, and saying crude things that have caused other governments to look down poorly on it. 
On the other hand... Who is going to run the country now? And how will they pull the Italians out of their sinking debt? I asked a few of my au pair friends about it and they said they're nervous on the financial effect this will have on the rest of the European Union. We'll see what happens, but today I had the best time waving an Italian flag through the streets with the other Italians who were crying, smiling and blowing kisses up to the sky. It was crazy.
My next piece of news seems a lot less serious compared to the paragraph I just wrote.
I am so excited to travel with Magda this Christmas, not just because I get to see amazing cities like Munich, Salzburg, Vienna and Prague, but because I think Magda is hilarious. We haven't met in person yet, but she e-mailed me back in May through an international pen pal website because she wanted to improve her English. Much to her surprise, I was moving across the ocean to a country that borders her own. We became close over the summer, sent each other post cards, packages, and thought it would make perfect sense to travel together - why not? So on Wednesday, December 21st, she is picking me up at the airport in Munich and we will set off on our 15 day road trip adventure.  
As everyone knows, today is the luckiest day ever. In the morning I was telling Cely about it an she got so excited. She set an alarm on her phone and we both made a wish at 11:11. I'm not a superstitious person, but if the world is telling you to make a wish at the luckiest time on the luckiest date, then why not? Besides - the next time I'll be able to make an actual good wish won't be until my 19th birthday. And that's too far away from now, in my opinion. Back on track - since I'm not superstitious, I'm going to tell you what I wished for and hope it doesn't affect the outcome. I wished that this winter, it will snow in Rome. They haven't had a serious snowfall since January of 1985, but I like to think that this year it will. Of course - it already snowed back home in Canada. So maybe that's a telltale sign that my wish will come true.

Do As The Romans Do

Are you planning a trip to Rome? Even if you're not, here is my step-by-step guide of how to survive in the Eternal City. It'll come in handy if you ever visit. The first thing I want to talk about is the buses. In order to 'legally' take the bus, you have to buy a ticket for 1 Euro at a news stand or tabacchi and stick it in the little yellow machine on the bus. This machine will stamp the date and time on the ticket to prove that you've paid for your ride. 
The second thing is to always act like a Roman. Just follow them. This is especially smart when crossing the street. Sometimes there aren't lights at crosswalks. There's no hesitating, no 'maybe I'll cross...' You decide whether or not you're going to do it. If you do, look in the direction of oncoming traffic, stare into the eyes of the driver, and they will stop without any problems. Then you move along. 

The nice thing about Rome is that there are a lot of clues around the city for what area you're in. For example, if you want to get to Piazza di Spagna (Spanish piazza), look around at what you see. There is a very famous hotel close by called Hotel Madrid. Madrid, as in the capital of Spain - so Piazza di Spagna must be close by, right? Right! 

Food. How many times in your life will you get the chance to eat true Italian food? Do as the Romans do and savour every bite. Italians take great pride in their food, and for good reason. Also, one of the best experiences you will have with food is dining alfresco. Italians like to enjoy their food while also enjoying the weather, the scenery, and people watching. Also, dogs are welcome almost everywhere, so don't be surprised if you see a Yorkie or a beagle sitting alongside their owner at the table.

It is said that the best art museum in Rome is actually Rome itself. There are beautiful fountains, statues, monuments and paintings everywhere you look. You will notice in Rome that there are many different depictions of the Virgin Mary. The interesting thing about this is that it is not to honour her, but because the Romans believed that if thieves were around and saw the Virgin Mary, that they would have a change in heart and behave like a good Roman should.
Italians are very laid back. This is sometimes a problem for me, because I grew up learning how to do things quickly - this is why we have places like Walmart, because we don't want to waste our time going to different stores. We would rather one-stop-shop and get it over with quickly. Italians like to take their time. I remember going to my favourite bakery in the centre one morning and saw on their sign that they opened at 9 am. Well, it was just past 10 am, and the owner was outside carrying boxes inside. I asked how soon they would be open. She said, "Whenever these boxes are finished moving. Anytime." Italians do not care about time. It means nothing to them.

They take religious and nutella seriously over here. While living in Milan last year, a friend of mine was at the dinner table with the Italian family she was currently working for. You know how sometimes if someone asks you a question with an obvious answer, you reply with a sarcastic question back? For example, Zack asks Katie, "Did you buy the new Harry Potter book?" Well, duh, because Katie is a huge Harry Potter fan. So Katie can respond by saying, "Is the sky blue? Do fish swim? Does James Brown get down?" Well, the Italians asked my friend an obvious question to which she responded, "Is the Pope Catholic?" Jaws hit the floor, because in Italy, you never joke about the Pope! It just isn't something you do. And nutella is a serious business. 

Almost everyone loves to smoke cigarettes. Its a very European thing, and you will even notice the waiters smoking outside while still doing their job. I've been singed a couple times by Italians limply holding their cigarettes in the hand as I walk by in a pair of shorts. In North America we have vending machines where you can conveniently buy a drink or a snack. In Italy, they have cigarette machines. 

You definitely want to consider what time of year you plan on visiting. Christmas and Easter is the craziest time to come to Rome because of all the tourists. There are many nuns, priests and monks who travel all over to world just to come to Rome at this time to hangout at the Vatican. Between January and February is quite rainy. March and April offer warmth and sunshine. In April and May, the Spanish Steps are blooming with flowers, so its a very beautiful time to visit. September and October are the ideal times to visit because its hot, but tolerable. June to August is the absolute worst time to travel in Rome because there are literally millions of tourists every day who crowd the streets. Its hot, sticky, and super uncomfortable, which is why most Romans actually flee the city. You are guaranteed to sweat buckets and stand in line to get in anywhere for hours on end.
My final paragraph will be on random little tips. If you're a North American visiting Italy who is thinking about hopping over to a nearby country, check out Ryan Air. Ryan Air is a British airline company that flies all over Europe for as cheap as 9 Euros per flight. Amazing. Another thing I want to mention is that when you go to a bistro or pizzeria, they sometimes charge you extra if you stay there to eat. Its common for them to charge you an extra Euro for using their utensils, table cloth, etc.

Some Favorite Things

Some awesome things I love: 

1. Having the pizza box on your lap when driving home.

2. Getting that acceptance letter to your dream school.
3. Finding out you made the honour roll (even if it wasn't a surprise).
4. Long, cozy scarves.
5. Mr. Nori's jokes (my old geography teacher, a true gem).
6. Waking up and realizing you still have time to sleep in.
7. The first snow fall of the year.
8. New FML posts. Your life is immediately not so bad.
9. Decorating the Christmas tree.

10. That wonderful time of year when Tim Hortons sells all things pumpkin flavoured (tea, muffins, donuts, etc. Need I say more?)
11. Liking your school year photo.
12. Finding a great dress on sale.
13. Getting a perfect bear hug.
14. Wine from Tuscany. 
15. Your first e-mail account (puppy_luv_14@hotmail.com)
16. Chunky knit sweaters.
17. The sound of autumn leaves being crunched.
18. When your favourite store has a sale.

19. Spending time with my papa.
20. Juicy red apples.
21. Putting your iPod on shuffle when a really awesome song you forgot about comes on.
22. Drinking tea first thing in the morning.
23. Leaving an interview knowing you rocked it.
24. Finding leftover money in an old wallet.
25. That fuzzy feeling when a good story actually comes on the news.
26. Wearing a pearl necklace. Instant elegance.
27. That moment when you see your food coming in a restaurant.
28. Dogs in sweaters. What's not to love?!
29. When your sub at Subway is exactly how you wanted it.

30. When you get that short little head massage at the hairdresser's.
31. Getting the new Cosmopolitan magazine in the mail.
32. Winning the lottery (even if you only get $10).
33. Eating cookie dough instead of the actual cookies.

34. Licking the bowl clean after baking.
35. Falling asleep by the fireplace.
36. When you find out it was actually the neighbor's cat who got hit by a car, not yours (although I bet my neighbor Jack next door disagrees...)
37. Sleeping in your own bed after a long trip.
38. Hot showers in the middle of winter.
39. When your mom fills your tank of gas up in the car for you.
40. Short check out lines.

41. Not getting caught after skipping a class.
42. Bra shopping.
43. Having the whole movie theatre to yourself and your friends.
44. The way your grandparents eyes light up when you visit them.
45. That gentle breeze in April.
46. Hugging someone that smells really, really good.
47. Open bars.
48. Getting off work early.
49. Coming home with dinner already made.
50. The smell of clean laundry.
51. Grocery shopping.
52. When you go to buy something at the cashier and it comes up cheaper than you thought.

53. Popping bubble wrap.
54. Looking fabulous and running into your ex.
55. The smell of pine trees after it rains.
56. Nice letters
57. That time of year when its the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show
58. "Has anyone ever told you that you look just like __________ (enter name of favourite celebrity here)?"
59. Finding out the person you like like's you back.
60. Fuzzy socks.
61. Having a hot teacher.
62. Having the kind of parents who didn't force you to go to church as a child.
65. Scented candles.
66. Spending Saturday night's inside with your sister eating popcorn, watching The Office, and wearing cozy PJ's.
67. That little black dress.
68. Winning something on Tim Hortons Roll Up The Rim.
69. Feeling energized in the morning

70. Finding the perfect shopping companion. 
71. Sunsets.
72. First kisses.
73. When Juan is on the nights episode of 1 girl 5 gays (love him).
74. Reading quotes from Chelsea Handler.
75. Falling asleep while listening to Coldplay.
76. Boys who know how to dress well.
77. Getting gift certificates to Chapters.
78. Snow days!

79. Visiting my aunt in Mallorytown.
80. Hearing wolves/coyotes howling at night.
81. Writing your name in the sand.
82. People with manners.
83. Free stuff.
84. Warm memories.
85. Being asked for advice.
86. Flinstone vitamins.
87. When the Jehovah's witness walks right past your house. 
88. Having freshly shaved legs.
89. Surprise beach days.
90. When the girl you were rooting for on America's Next Top Model wins.

91. Old Disney movies (my personal favourite is Peter Pan).
92. When mom puts the 'spring' flag up after a cold winter.
93. Actually getting something in the mail.
94. Birthday's.
95. Owning a trampoline.
96. Sleeping on the cold side of the pillow.
97. Ghost stories around the campfire.
98. Memorizing all the lyrics to the new City and Colour album.
99. Chugging a glass of ice cold water after a rough night of drinking.
101. Taking your bra off at the end of the day.
102. Having freshly painted nails.
103. Having a dog.
104. Rubbing your eyes after taking your make up off.
105. Getting Chinese food because nobody at home is in the mood to cook.
106. GETTING YOUR PHOTO PRINTED IN A MAGAZINE.
107. Having a best friend who is always there for you. No matter how late it is.
108. Getting a good horoscope.
109. Having a good fortune from a fortune cookie.
110. That feeling you get when taking off in an airplane.

Where To Go

Here I am, wondering where the heck I'm going to be next year. The truth is that I don't know, and I won't until May when final acceptances come in. I have a pretty good resume - I studied at a French school in France. I was captain of the cheerleading team, was one of the founding members of the Fair Trade Club, had above the standard amount of community service hours under my belt, was on the honour roll, an active member of the school's Yearbook Committee, played tennis for the city's Tennis Club, and also found time to have a part time job. 
I recently got a facebook message from a boy in my grade who congratulated me on what I'm doing. He wrote, "I had no idea you were so insightful and that you kicked your ass so much. I wish I knew how talented you are and how your mind works because I would've really liked to spend time with you." That made my day.
I love what I'm doing right now - traveling around Europe and helping people improve their English skills while crafting my writing skill with this blog. I am so fulfilled by teaching, and at the same time, learning so much about myself, about history, about different life styles, about learning a new language... Wouldn't it be great if I could do this forever? Well... Why not? 
The longer I am sitting here in my Italian bedroom thinking about what I want to do with my life, the easier it becomes. I want to go home to Canada this June (basically I have to, because my 9 month tourist visa expires at that time) and go to University in Ontario in the fall. I'm thinking Ottawa.

Because really, what better place to study than my nation's capital?! I love politics, I love history, I can very easily practice my French there, and it is just so beautiful. My only downfall about Ottawa is that it's freezing. The cold is where I am the most un-Canadian. Many Canadians like to enjoy the winters by playing hockey, skating, having snow ball fights, building snow forts, sledding, skiing, snow boarding... Basically, embracing the snow. I avoid going outside in the winter much like a cat avoids water. When I do have to go outside, I spend about ten minutes finding my heaviest pair of snow pants, and layering myself with as much clothing as possible. The worst part is when my eyelashes freeze, causing me to shiver every time I blink. 

So I guess this means that between November and March, I will be spending my time drinking hot chocolate by a roaring fire in my apartment in Ottawa. We'll see what happens. But after completing my education in Canada, I plan on flying right back over to Europe. I seriously want to settle down here so badly, but first, I must skip my merry way back to school next fall. But for now I am going shopping in hopes of finding some cute new things to wear for the next time I go out. On my way home I'll stop at my favourite pizza shop and then take Giulia to her viola lesson, and maybe get some more pizza after that...

Words of Wisdom

Gene Siskel asked Oprah Winfrey a question that forever changed her way of thinking. What do you know for sure? I decided to ask myself this very question. It happened when I was sitting on the city bus this morning, where I do my best 'accidental thinking'. What I mean by this is that every time I take the bus, I let my mind wander because I'm not concentrating on anything until I arrive at my stop. My accidental bus thinking has gotten so strong, that I now carry a little pad and pen with me in my purse. I thought it would be a good idea to share what I know for sure. In a world of complete uncertainty, its comforting to have some words of wisdom shelved inside your brain. I collected a list of some of my favourite quotes and things that I know for sure for when some of those uncertain times strike.

1. When people show you their true colours the first time, believe them.
2. You have to accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.

3. If you let the fear of rejection keep you from doing something, you will never get what you want.

4. Having the right to be angry and having the right to be cruel are two totally different things.

5. Ordinary people can do extraordinary things (one of my favourite things on the list).

6. The best things in life really are free.

7. Maturity has nothing to do with the amount of birthday candles on your cake.

8. Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you decide to react to it.

9. No matter what happens in your life, the world will not end because of it. The sun will still rise tomorrow.

10. Where you come from and how you were raised contributes to the person you are, but you are ultimately responsible for you.

11. Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

12. Laughter is by far the best medicine.

13. Your life can change in minutes based on a stranger.

14. The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything - they just make the most of everything they have.

15. The greatest riches in life have nothing to do with your bank statement.

16. Worrying is not time well spent - doing something about whatever worries you is more proactive.

17. When one door closes, another one opens (in my case, a big, Italian door).

18. The world will not end if someone disagrees with you - stand up for what's right, even if you stand alone.

19. Trust your gut. Intuition is important.

20. Let you profession also be your passion.

21. There is no storm that can't be weathered.

22. Be careful of who you step on the ladder - you may meet them again on your way down.

23. "The world is a book, and those who do not travel only read one page."

24. Sometimes, slow and steady really does win the race.

25. You must be patient with yourself when learning something new.

26. There is no greater friend in life than yourself.

27. Karma is real.

28. Love without friendship for its base is like a mansion built upon sinking sand.

29. You can tell a lot about a person by how they deal with lost luggage, a rainy day, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

30. Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.

31. You can't go through life wearing a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw some things back.

32. People may forget exactly what you did and what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.

33. If you are unsure about what you want, think about what you don't want and the answer will come easily.

34. Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, its about learning how to dance in the rain.

35. You're here for a good time, not a long time. So have a good time - the sun can't shine every day.

36. Sometimes, the people who you would expect to kick you when you're down are actually the first to help you up.

37. A house is not a home without a dog.

38. Embrace loneliness. It gives you the opportunity to learn about yourself.

39. There is no such thing as impossible if you work hard.

40. Leave loved ones with kind words. It may be the last time you speak to them.
41. When you move away from home, you'll be surprised at what you miss. You'll also be surprised at what you don't.
42. Some people aren't meant to be in your life forever. Sometimes they're there to teach you a lesson and move on so you can learn from other people.
43. Family doesn't have to mean blood relatives. 
44. Reading books can open your eyes to a world way beyond anything you could ever imagine.
45. No matter how physically, emotionally or mentally exhausted you are, when someone you love calls for help, you will find the strength to do it.

New Beginning's

After the Christmas holiday, the mom wants the girl I au pair for, Giulia, to have a 'break period' from an au pair to see how responsible she has become. However, we're going to work out a day where I can visit the house each week and tutor Giulia in English. Earlier in my stay I mentioned that my sister would be in Rome from May 3rd to June 20th to hopefully work as an au pair. They would like to have another au pair in the spring, and have agreed to hire my sister (who I know would absolutely fit into this family much like I did). In a couple of weeks, I'm leaving the quiet suburbs of Rome to the bustling neighborhood of Campo dei Fiori. 

I will never have to take the bus again, because all of the hot spots in Rome (the Colosseum, Pantheon, Piazza Venezia, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, etc.) are all in simple walking distance. In Italian, Campo de Fiori means 'field of flowers'. Don't let the name fool you, though. The name originated from the Middle Ages when the area was a meadow and used by the Romans for public executions. The great philosopher Giordana Bruno was burnt alive here because his theories (such as heliocentrism) were deemed dangerous. A statue of him now stands on the exact spot of his death, directly in the centre of the square. Today it offers one of the best open markets in Rome where fruits, vegetables, handmade accessories, clothes, and anything else you could possibly want are sold each morning. There are tons of outdoor restaurants and cafés in the area that turn into bars at night. So whether you go in the morning for some fresh food or the night to meet up with a group of friends for drinks, Campo de Fiori is the ultimate location. 

The new family is actually the same one that my friend Shayna worked for last year, so I'm going into this family knowing the ups and downs, and feel prepared for what's about to come my way. The father works as an oil broker and the mother is a professor for the history of architecture in one of the local universities. They have four children - yes, four. However, I'm only responsible for the two little ones. Clemintina, the eldest, is 14 years old and an artist. When I met her she dressed beautifully in Ralph Lauren and showed me her artwork in her loft. Manfredi is 12 and very shy, but the mom assured me that he's very independent and spends most of his time outside of the house doing sports. Lodovica (Lodo) is 8 and is super talkative. When I went over to the house, she asked me ten thousand questions and gave me a tour of their mind-blowing home. Desideria (Daisy) is turning 6 in December.

The kids all go to the super exclusive private French school in the middle of the most famous park in Rome, Villa Borghese. The street they live on is how you would picture a typical Italian street - narrow, cobble stone, rich oranges and yellows, with a huge arch you have to pass under to get into the house. They live in a four-story yellow townhouse with a courtyard, and the house is filled with expensive art and every toy imaginable. There's tons of interesting antique shops nearby and in order to enter the neighborhood, you have to pass one of the best bakeries in Rome. So whenever you walk by, you take in the smell of melting sugar and Italian pastries. 

Two minutes from my house is Piazza Farnese. There is a palace in the centre that was designed by Michelangelo and is one of the most important Renaissance Palaces in all of Italy. It's run by the French Embassy which of course means it isn't open to the public for most of the year. It's an area only for the aristocratic, so the prices are sky high, the wine is rich, and the fashion is beyond anything you can imagine. In about fifteen minutes from the house you reach the Tiber River, and right across from it is the most ancient neighborhood in Rome called Trastevere which literally translates to "over the Tiber River". The people that live here call themselves the real Romans and is full of winding streets, cool bars, and laundry hanging from the windows. In celebration of my new situation, I'm going to Campo de Fiori for a huge, delicious pastry while I continue to explore the area.

Good Times & Cheap Wine

Last night Jeanny, Anna and I met downtown where we ate dinner at this amazing little place called "Auto Grill." It doesn't sound appetizing, but this place had delicious pizza and stands upon stands of pastries, gelato (with some interesting flavours I haven't tried yet like watermelon - yum!). I was really excited once we got to Scholar's because a few other au pair girls were there. I met Ronja from Sweden, Jenna from Australia, and another girl from Holland who was really nice! I ran into my Irish friend Stephen again and since it was karaoke night at Scholar's, we agreed to go up on stage together.
I am dreading writing about this one guy we met that we couldn't shake. He asked me what my name was, and because I hoped not to see him again, I came up with the fake name of Claire. He asked me if I wanted a drink and I told him no thanks. He asked, "why?" And I said I don't take drinks from strangers. Then he told me his name (which I forget) and that "now we aren't strangers anymore."

Clearly, this guy could not get a hint. As if to win me over, he went on stage and said very boldly into the microphone, "This is for Claire." He then proceeded to sing a depressing love song and the au pairs and I couldn't stop laughing even though we felt bad.

Benedictus XVI & I

If you read my last blog post, you'll have known that I was supposed to spend the weekend in Tuscany with my host family. I woke up yesterday morning with sore muscles and an even more sore throat than the previous day before, and so when I started asking the mom what she wanted me to do before we headed off to Capalbio, she said, "Would you feel better if you just stayed home for the weekend instead?" I was like, you know what, that's the best idea I've ever heard of. So everyone has gone away while I have three whole days to spend by myself in this huge Italian palace. I spent all day Saturday doing "me" things like giving

myself a mani/pedi, had a deep conditioning wash for my hair, and had a perfect bubble bath with soap roses and candles while drinking a generous glass of red wine. Ahhh... Was that all I needed to feel better? I guess so!
This morning, I was feeling as good as new, so I decided to go to the Vatican. It was incredible to see and hear the reactions of the people around me when the Pope stepped onto the balcony and appeared in front of thousands upon thousands of people in the crowd. I didn't understand anything he said, but that's ok. I really enjoyed being there, and now it's one more thing to cross off my "European Bucket List". Before I left for Italy, I made a list of all the things I want to accomplish while I'm here, but I'm always adding new things to the list. I'm going to post it at the bottom, and cross off the things I've already done. For example... Seeing the pope with the naked eye! That's one thing to cross off now!
After the Vatican, I walked to the centre so I could check out Rome's International Film Festival. It's the sixth annual festival and is held at the Auditorium Parco Della Musica, which is a world famous art complex. During the festival, the 1,300 sqm walkway is lead to the Cavea outside the Auditorium and transformed into one of the biggest red carpets in the entire world. Its used for international celebrities, but also for festival goers. 

It's getting late now and so I need to pick out an outfit to wear tonight, because I'm meeting up with some of my girlfriends so that we go to Scholar's for karaoke night. I don't know if I'll be singing tonight but it's always packed on Sunday's. Sometimes, it can be really hard to choose what I'm going to wear because the weather is really unpredictable for me. I don't mean that it has surprise rain showers every day, I just mean that I kind of follow what the rest of the people in the house wear and then follow suit. For example, on Saturday, I saw the mom wearing a pair of jeans and a thick jacket. So, I put on a pair of jeans as well and wore a chunky knit sweater which was a BIG mistake. I wore a T-shirt under that and thank GOD I did, because I took my sweater off. I would've died on the sidewalk in my cream coloured H&M knittie. Anyway, this amazes me, that it's November on Tuesday and I can still get away with wearing a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. I'll cross things off the list as they happen.
1. Meet someone special (or someones special)
2. Ride on a gondola in Venice
3. Make a wish at the Trevi Fountain
4. Go clubbing
5. See a live soccer game
6. Spend Christmas with Magda and travel though Germany, Austria and Czech Republic
7. Go to a museum
8. Tour the Vatican
9. Go to a semi-nude beach
10. Celebrate 'Friendsgiving'
11. Sing at a karaoke bar
12. See the Pope
13. Spend the night at a convent
14. Sit on the Spanish Steps
15. See the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam
16. Go to a live concert
17. Be visited by family
18. Ride on the back of a vespa
19. Have a photo of me published in Glamour magazine
20. Take a trip to London, England
21. Drink beer in Germany
22. Tour the Colosseum
23. See Michelangelo's 'David' in Florence
24. Go hiking through mountains
25. Go to the Pantheon during a rain storm
26. Swim in the Mediterranean Sea
27. Learn Italian
28. Learn how to play the harmonica
29. Take a trip to Greece
30. Get into the best shape of my life