uh-huh uh-huh

The Princess is back on these happy green shores once again, prematurely but not unhappily, and with so much to report. Naturally, I will try to condense it, fail at that and go completely off topic for four paragraphs before scraping together a conclusional sentence in an attempt to recover some sense of order amid the semi-colon chaos.

So, it's like this. I had a fantastic (!) time in Italy and had one of the best learning experiences of my life, just being on my own and meeting so many people for three weeks. It really forces you/forced me to come out of myself and look at what is important to me. It also sent me partially mad, but we learn from these things. As for pictures, I will do my best to post some later on today, but suffice to say I saw some pretty cool sights. And with free rein on my own time, I did a lot of shopping. Pictures of purchases also to follow.

Lists.

Discoveries:
1. Sugar Free Red Bull
2. Too much cheese
3. A dubious low-carbohydrate bar attempt
4. A perfect 5 Euro yellow sweater
5. My future Oscars dress

I missed:
1. My Rhianna album
2. Half-fat cheese
3. Chicken...sorry, poor chickens :(
4. Blogging!
5. Having clean feet
6. Of course, My Boy!

In a few days I go back to the Old Country, for a few days, and this makes me nervous. But more on that later.

Summary:
Week one was spent seeing all the major sights with my friend from home, and sunbathing, tanning and generally eating a lot. When my companion departed, the weekend was spent eating still, dancing on tables (first time in sobriety!) and sleeping late.

My two new room mates were lovely, the third was lovely too, and I had a couple of days of relaxation - despite a panic attack and visual disturbance - during which I met T and S, my companions for the next 5 days. T and S introducted me to J and J who fed me breakfast and dinner for two days, free of charge, and accommodated my quirky dietry preferences with smiles and no questions.

T and S and I spent a few days in the city, seeing more sights, eating more food that made me nervous and I spent those three days off my face on coffee.

When T and S departed, S to return on my last day, I hooked up with A and C who were vising from Switzerland, originally also from the states (yes, everyone I met was American...). C and I watched A get drunk for a few days, and talked books and what each had and hadn't read until we each had a huge 'to buy' list for when we got home. Siddartha by Hermann Hesse is top of mine.

Afer A and C left, then T and S made their departure, I had a few days on my own. These were challenging, and although I hung out with E in Rome (who lives there) a few times, I did have a lot of time to do some writing. And a lot of thinking.

Top thoughts:
1. I know that a healthy mind is the key to physical health, and starving isn't a positive step toward maintaining serenity.
2. I love my Mum so much
3. My head can and will get me, my stabilising companions are valuable to me.
4. Apparently, it is immediately obvious from looking at me that i am a Lit graduate (this seems to be the case, after 2 people - one in the airport, one on the plane - asked out of the blue whether I did Lit at uni)
5. I love the smell of home.
6. Failure is not an option.

Okay, so pictures and more detail to follow. For now, at this hour of 0710, I am off for a run.

Loves xxx

ELLA-ELLA-ELLA