This was our first full day in Italia. My cellphone had the wrong time set so I woke up to our assistant, Jon, ringing at our door, but I was ready in five minutes and we even had time for cappucini! Il mio primo cappucino in Italia! (If you know me, you know I "don't like coffee", but, as I was told, it is delicious in Italia.). Our assistant Jon made me feel much better and the cappucino was exactly what I needed to begin the day.

Then we were off to meet my photographer with Elisabetta e Lara (the director of A Door To Italy - the school we study Italian at). Andrea, my photographer seems fantastic. We headed first to the cafe for coffee only l'acqua minerale for me) then to his studio to see it and to talk. I am excited for tris work. He is a socially conscious photographer and he has talked of many occasions already when he plans to go out and shoot and where I will also be able to shoot! He's gong to take me on a tour tomorrow to show me where and where not to photograph, for my safety. I am quite appreciative. Also, he has two photographs in an exhibit at a museum in the city. The opening is tomorrow and a bunch of us are gong to go! I'm quite excited!

He has a studio across from the oldest cathedral in Genova. The wall of the cathedral is white and when the sun is high in the sky it hits the cathedral and reflects through his beautiful window. He said he couldn't think for a second of passing that light up. I'll show you a picture soon.

Today we also had a reception at scuola and the oral part of our evaluation to see which level of Italian we will be in for the following six weeks. I was nervous, but Gianluca, a professor, made me laugh. He also reccomended Italian punk and reggae.

They moved myself and Alex, who both just finished beginning Italian III, into the most advanced class with two students that just finished Intermediate III. This is unbelievably satisfying. This is what I hoped for.

We walked all over the city today. I attempated to eat my first Italian calzone. It was as long as my torso and as wide as my head! I swear! Also, I tried my first gelato! Oh my Lord! Delicioso!

Then we walked down to the port before we headed home. The lights are gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous. My roommates and I hung out tonight and laughed. We alzo watch Final Destination II, dubbed in Italian, of course. They are great.

I'm realy thankful for the way our group has come together. We are all very different people, but we are gtting along great and have the plans in store for dinner and drinks this friday and the beach this week-end! It will be great.

More pictures tomorrow! Hopefully of the apartment. I keep forgetting and having no time.

Oh! and tomorrow we take our language pledge, so no more inglese. I'm not sure how this will effect the blogging, but we'll see. The improvement of my language skill is most important, so maybe I'll just write less. I talk too much anyway =)

Amore dall'Italia!