VENEZIA!
Before I write to you about my fantastic trip, I have a grudge to settle. Phrase books are the single worst expense that one can waste their money on when travelling for the basic reason that no matter how hard you try, the damn idiots you are speaking with will not respond to you in the language you have just spoken with them in. All the time I tried my Italian, which I admit is not particular fluent nor beautiful, yet nevertheless it is like they tried to be pushy morons with me. Probably my favorite example of a week of being treated like a child was when I went into a store and the following conversation took place: Me: "Scusi, lei ha francobolli?" Dumb ass clerk behind the counter: "Uh yes, we have stamps." Me: "Do you also have a shotgun that I could use to rearrange the store with?" Same idiot with horrible English accent: "Uh, I will check."

Anyway, here is a picture of me from Venice, and despite the communcation annoyance, a fantastic time. I just got back last night after a very long week. I had little time to rest since we were so busy the whole time doing excursions, lectures, interviews, surveys, research and just walking everywhere. We had a couple of important interviews with UNESCO in Venice and the local government people, which were great. Unfortunately, my inept teacher that is about as competent as an earthworm to teach showed up on Monday for three days. She skipped the morning visit on Tuesday and attended NOTHING on Wednesday and was off again to go be a moron somewhere else. We had a meeting Monday night as a group to understand why we were there, and what the end goal was (seriously). I was so frustrated with what she was saying that I felt like quiting the whole thing, but luckily several of us had a meeting with the architecture teacher in charge of everything the next day for two hours, and then everything was sorted out. So, what was I doing then besides working on my tan, you might ask? This was my first trip some where new when I wasn't a tourist, as we went into super work mode after this great meeting and started to do everything. We as a group really began to take this project seriously, and talked non-stop about basically just our project till the end. So, our project is basically highlighting the problems and opportunities with Venice, a big job indeed, I can tell you. My focus, besides being the official ice cream taster, is to anaylize the renovation and reutilization of buildings in Venice specifically to benefit residents. Fun stuff, eh?

This week back will certainly be a pain though, as I have another study project to worry about, a final on Wednesday of which the contents are still a mystery, a weekend seminar with a presentation that I am equally unprepared for and a host of other crappy activities. Wish me luck, as I would love to have a comment or two!!!