Hello Again!

So lots of you have promised to come visit me :) And I promised you I would post my academic schedule so you can know where i'll be when, and start choosing dates you want to come!

When you have a really solid feeling of when you want to come, let's get an email conversation going. Tickets should be purchased way in advance if you want good deals. There are also super cheap flights out there if you know how to find them. I don't. but some people must. Good luck!

btw, so far i have no definite plans of when I will be back in the US. So in the summer, for example, when i have 2 months free, I will likely be back in the US for a portion of it, but i haven't decided when and your visit could help me make my own travel plans. so let me know!

THE TIMELINE:

Fall 2011: Arezzo (Tuscany, Italy)

September 5 - Classes begin

October 15 – October 23 - Fall break

December 9 - Classes end

Winter 2011: Torino (Northern Italy)

December 10 - 16

Winter Break 2011:

December 17 - January 22

Spring 2012: Arezzo

January 23 - Classes begin

March 3 – March 11 Spring break

April 28 - Classes end

Summer 2012: Torino

May 7 - June 10

Summer Break 2012:

June 11 - September 2

Fall 2012: Arezzo

September 3 - Classes Begin

TBA - Fall Break

December 7 - Classes End

Spring 2013: Arezzo

January 21 - Classes Begin

TBA - Spring Break

April 27 - Classes End

Summer 2013: Berlin

May 6 - Classes Begin

June 13 – June 15 - Performances

June 16 - Classes end

Fall 2013: Milano

August 19 - Classes begin

September 26 – 28 - Performances

September 29 - Begin possible Performance Tour

Interesting things and Another Sunset

Huzzah! Another post!

This one is a combination of a few random things. First, three photos of the sunset a few days ago. It was honestly one of the most breath taking sunsets I have seen.

Yup. That's from my backyard.

As it got later it got crazy fiery red:

Sigh. This is my life.

OK! bragging aside, here are a few more photos of interesting things around Arezzo. To add to the collection of clever sign additions in an earlier post:

The first weekend of every month Arezzo has a HUGE antique fair. Lots of cool old stuff. I really wanted to buy this time-turner cane:

What antique fair would be complete without a kickass old motorcycle/sidecar combo??

And finally, this guy. Definitely the most elaborate one-man-band I've ever seen:

Notice the cable attached to his ankle in the photo above. each ankle was attached to a drum of some kind so his rhythmic steps played some drums.

Here's a closer look. Somewhere in there is a microphone hooked up to his little amp, so he could sing too:

Aaaand a front view. Check out the peace sigh hologram glasses. crucial.

Coming soon: My academic schedule! So all you folks who want to come visit me can start choosing dates! Till next time!

So about my hair...

I cut it all off! Well, almost all of it.

Alright folks. Don't get angry. It was time. My hair had gotten too long, was way too hot for the Italian heat and humidity, and was only going to be an annoyance as classes (and 12 hour days of physical activity) began. So off it went!

Here's the before photo (with some apprehension, of course...):

After Francesca did the honors of cutting most of it off in chunks, I did the first round of clipping...

While Francesca (who was in charge of the camera) took artistic photos. This one included for her. There's an ant in there...somewhere:

She also took started taking emo/artsy "in progress" shots, so I decided to take one and do my OWN version of Hipstamatic:

Pretty sweet teamwork, huh?

Rob, who is a hair-clipper veteran, took over to even things out.

And do some detail work:

It's all gone!!!

Cutting hair outside means you don't have to clean up! The grass does it for you!

The aftermath...

The final product! I have not regretted it for an instant. it is so nice to not have to deal with it!

Thoughts?

So They Joust Here. Pretty Cool.

How cool is this? The first weekend we're here the entire city is celebrating the Giosta del Saracino (Joust of the Saracins). The past few days there have been street parties, feasts, and small parades leading up to one big parade and the Joust this afternoon. Unfortunately, my camera battery died halfway through the day so I didn't get to photograph the actual joust. However, I did get some sweet photos of the parade and pre-parade activities.

We got wind that the different groups in the parade would be gathering at the Piazza san Dominico, a small square at the north end of town, before marching in one big procession to the Duomo for a blessing. Fewer crowds, so lots more photo opportunities! There are a lot, but stick it out till the end if you've got time :)

The city is divided into quarters and each one has a team of knights that will compete in the joust. Here is one of the flag bearers of the green and white team, leading the way as the green team arrives at the square.

Yellow team! It kind of looks like the knight is riding a centaur. However the kid on the left is actually in the foreground and he is carrying the knight's helmet. Yes, that's a helmet.

Woah. 10 points for wardrobe...

We ended up in the cheering section for the "GialloRossoGialloRosso!" (Yellow and Red) team. Too bad they did pretty poorly. I heard later that we should have been rooting for the Red & Green team because the Accademia is actually in that quarter. Plus they won. Clearly a good sign.

I decided that the one costume i want is this guy's. Helment, tunic, sleeves, scepter.

Plus he has some badass boots.

So serious while marching.

The musicians and the flag carriers arrive...

And play a little tune...

Then everyone takes a little break before lining up for the full parade. Just some spears and shields, no big deal.

HORSE!

As my cohort Jared put it, "BAMBINI ON A HORSE!" Just so you know, there are many many Italian children that fall in the same adorableness category as the kid in Life is Beautiful. And they all have the exact same tiny Italian voice.

Time to get all of the different groups together to start the full parade. Keep 'em in line, Drummer! Raise that lance, Knight!

Archer!

"Royalty!"

This is a big clan of flag presenters. They did a sweet performance at the Joust that involved spinning and tossing flags, doing acrobatics/flips/etc between flags, and some other cool stuff. Definitely the italian (and masculine) version of Color Guard.

The Royals enter!

Here are the Knights!

After Parading, they all line up on the steps of the Duomo for the Blessing of the Horses. You can't see the whole group but you can get an idea for how massive this was.

(not sure why this is underlined...)

If I can get a hold of some joust photos from my cohorts, I'll post them later. For now, here are a few to make you smile:

And once the parade has passed, the police just get to chill like it's nothing.
Hey, everyone needs a break some time.

Likewise, even squires need some water.

Even queens need some wardrobe assistance...

and even kids have trouble with tights.

Arezzo is Amusing

Spent the day in town today checking out the city, eating pizza and gelato, and walking up and down a LOT of hills. Here are some fun photos of things I found interesting :)

First, an adorable puppy that stared at us (through the one eye we could see) for a while.

Next, signs.

Those clever italians...

I GUESS I should include an actual "touristy" photo of a cool building or something. Here is the Duomo d'Arezzo I mentioned in my last post, since you could see it in the skyline. Don't know who the guy in front is.

Aaaaand of course, Gelato. 2nd place i've tried here and damn. it. was. SO. good. Blew Capogiro out of the water. awesome. Please observe the enthusiasm Francesca and Robbie (my other roommate) are displaying.

We stopped in a bookstore and hung out in the kids section for a bit. Thought about buying some kids books to help study Italian. i was amused at the italian names for characters:

Snow white is Biancaneve and the Smurfs are i Puffi! Fran got tired...

Finally, two important things you should know about Arezzo:

They have increased revenue by leasing living space to mice with fancy doorways.

annnnd....

(I don't remember either)