Grazie, Torino!

I love the Olympics. I followed this year's Winter Olympics in Turin quite avidly, studying in front of the broadcasts pretty much every night and even recording some of it. My favorite winter sport is figure skating, but I watch that even on non-Olympic years, so my favorite part about the Olympics is watching athletes I would never get to see otherwise. I always have a few favorites...and the results are in.

Favorite number one:

Chad Hedrick. His newcomer status, Texas accent, and charming demeanor...plus the gold, silver, and bronze he earned at the Games...make him irresistible. Not to mention those dazzlingly white teeth.

Favorite number two:


Root, root, root for the home team...Enrico Fabris became the first Italian speed skater to ever win an Olympic medal. My brother accused me of having shifted my loyalties when he found me dressed in my own Italia jacket yelling "Go Enrico! Avanti!" (No, really, I didn't actually say "Avanti." I should have though.) But what can I say? He's Italian, he was in his home country, and he made history. What's not to like?

And honorable mention goes to:

Apolo Anton Ohno. He won his gold medal on the next-to-last day of competition, and unlike last Olympics, this one was completely devoid of controversy. But still exciting. I mean, it's short track. Apolo is a favorite of mine because he is so fun to watch, he's got a great story, and unlike many athletes, he is very articulate. I am glad to see him successful.

So that pretty much sums it up. Kudos also go out to our silver medal figure skaters, Sasha Cohen and dance team Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto. Boo to Bode Miller, who, even if he had lived up to his hype, was pretty much just annoying. Yay for Bob Costas, 'cause he's just cool.

I'm out.

Classics Conversations

Classics majors and Classics master's students are the best people in the world to hang out with. I just came back from having dinner with the Classics Society, and I had a wonderful time. Classics majors are an interesting and unique breed. It takes a very motivated and scholastic person to pursue a degree that revolves around the study of Latin and Greek; but it also takes a very laid back person who has a fine disdain for anything so practical as making a living. The result is an interesting crew that is relaxed, witty, extremely intelligent, and the opposite of the type-A rat racers you might find in some other departments. We all do what we do because we love it, and we generally refuse to stress out over the future. Carpe diem is definitely the overall motto of a Classics major, almost to a fault in some. But we sure know how to eat good food and have a good time. I'm having a little indigestion now...but it was worth it...

Just Kidding...

Haha, I was lying about the whole Florence thing. You guys got all excited for nothing.

No, really, I wasn't lying about going to Italy, I just ended up deciding to go to Rome instead. My advisor at the Office of International Affairs informed me that Florence is incredibly crowded in the summer, and so small that it really can't handle all the people who come as tourists. Rome, on the other hand, doesn't seem particularly crowded in the summer because it's so huge, it can handle all those crazy tourists. (She's part Italian and is very familiar with all its cities.) Since the whole point of going to Florence was to be somewhere quieter and smaller, this was enough incentive for me to change my mind. Rome was the main point anyway.


And I've already rambled on and on about why I must go to Rome. So...the decision is now final, the applications are filled out, I have all the signatures I need from various university personnel, and now I am just working on getting my passport and visa finalized. Yay!

And yes, I am giving up Pompeii...but the class I'm taking in Rome is even better. It's the perfect mix of my academic interests: ancient Rome and English literature. It's called "Roman Influence on English Literature," and basically we read the work of a Roman author and then the work of English authors who were obviously inspired by him. So, for instance, we'll study Ovid and then compare him to Chaucer, and we'll study Juvenal and compare him to Samuel Johnson. Pretty sweet, eh? I am so excited.

In other news, yesterday I went to Office Depot and ended up selling my soul for a couple of ink cartridges. Seriously, it's highway robbery. Then after extensive bargaining to get my soul back, my head was eaten by my books when I got home. I'm starting to imagine that they all behave like Harry's "Monster Book of Monsters," but so far stroking the spines hasn't helped.

It's the Little Things...

Tonight, when I came rather unexpectedly into our living room, I found my brother moonwalking to TobyMac.

The sheepish look on his face when he saw me was priceless...

...almost as priceless as knowing that I'm not the only one.

:)

Roman Holiday...or maybe Florentine???

So here are some of those details I promised about my trip this summer. I am definitely going to Italy (and so excited, I might add), but I still haven't decided for sure whether I am going to Rome or to Florence. I have to decide in the next few days, really. I am leaning toward Florence:

Florence is prettier, cleaner, and smaller than Rome, so I think I would enjoy staying there for a month better than being in the heart of Rome the whole time. I am definitely taking a trip to Rome, though, sometime during the program. How could I come so close to the seat of Western civilization's greatest empire without going to see the Roman Forum? Just the thought makes my heart beat faster. Here in the States, we don't really have the opportunity to see the buildings and remains of an advanced culture that thrived over two thousand years ago. I mean, South America has the remains of the Incas and Maya and such, but heck, the oldest buildings on our continent were probably built by the Puritans or something. The Roman Republic was a Mediterranean powerhouse by about 509 BC. That's a stinkin' long time ago. To be able to go and see the Forum, and see the Coliseum, see the places where these people actually lived...wow, I am so pumped.

Ahem, yes, but anyway, Florence is probably where I'll be for the majority of the time. It is a very exciting historical city as well, since it was the seat of the Italian Renaissance. The Renaissance is way too modern to be in my area of expertise, but I'm still interested in it. (If you want to talk to an expert, Ellen's your girl.) Florence is full of really cool buildings and cathedrals and such, with all kinds of great Renaissance art. I am excited about it. Also, if I go to Florence I will be taking a class on Pompeii. That makes me excited, too. :)

So anyway, that's the story. I'm sure I'll be posting more about it as the time draws nearer, and of course while I'm there this will be the place to hear all about my adventures. I can't wait!