Summer 2011

New Tumblr Blog

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:02:15 -0500

http://thugcommandments.tumblr.com/

This will be my new blog… instead of my summer travels blog as before. =)

loveandfluff: banksy

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:27:20 -0500

loveandfluff:

banksy

peligrosapop: “The people who truly deface our neighborhoods...

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:25:54 -0500

peligrosapop:

“The people who truly deface our neighborhoods are the companies that scrawl giant slogans across buildings and buses trying to make us feel inadequate unless we buy their stuff….” - Bansky

Photo

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:07:51 -0500

iamtheonethatgotaway: THAT SHIT CRAY.

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 15:00:45 -0400

iamtheonethatgotaway:

THAT SHIT CRAY.

Genius. offbeats: You will never leave the house drunk again.

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 23:18:14 -0400

Genius.

offbeats:

You will never leave the house drunk again.

It's a wrap

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 18:26:47 -0400

I haven’t done an update in a while. I guess I have just been too busy getting last minute things such as stupid final papers completed. Now, that I am back in the U.S. however, I have all the time in the world. Look back, I am not sure how I feel about everything. I loved Italy. Rome was by far my favorite city- it reminded me of Lisbon, that super urban feeling intermixed with centuries of history and culture. If I were to visit, Rome would probably one of the my first destinations. Followed by Sardegna, one of the coolest areas in Italy which I unfortunately did not get to see. Yet if I have learned anything from this trip, it is that I love America. Portugal will always hold a soft in my heart, but home, is the United States.

“‘There is no place like home,’ chiefly because here we can best forget” (Djuna Barnes).

This is one of my favorite quotes even though I tend to question it. At Yale, I don’t miss home that often. But all it took was for me to be 3,000 miles away in order to truly realize how much I missed my home. Every single tiny problem seemed to pick my brain day and night while I was in Italy. As soon as I came back though, they all sort of melted away. The truth is, home isn’t necessarily a place, just an environment in which we feel comfortable. Where friends make you smile, where family makes you laugh, and where being a fragile human is okay. Italy, was not that for me. And so, as much as I loved visiting it, living there was far more than I could handle. Far too new of an environment and too short of a time for me to get accustomed to it. Nonetheless, it was a positive experience and I have zero regrets… except for maybe the fact that I didn’t ride on the back of a vespa (though let’s be real, Italian men are beyond sketch). =) Arrivederci, Italia!

Milano

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 13:24:00 -0400

I never knew there was such a thing as being too early. But I found out on Saturday, as I tried to catch my train to Milano, that if you go to the right platform about 20 minutes early you may get on the train to Venice instead and then have to exit at the next stop, and pay for another train that goes from that stop to Milano. Thankfully, my euro pass saved me a lot of money. 3 hours later, I finally made it to Milano, to find Ashley awaiting me at the platform. We walked out of the train station it wasn’t before too long that in good old Italian fashion crazy/ weird/ funny and of course scary things began to happen. It is only fair that I list the highlights.

African lady approached us in English and although I made the first attempt at speaking with her, she ignores me and directs her question to Ashley (Jamaican): “Excuse me, where is the African store?” I step in once again, “Sorry, we’re not from here.”
After a quick subway ride we finally made it to the neighborhood of our hostel. Outside, there was an open-air market. People kept trying to get our attention so we would buy things. Though I personally did not hear this, Ashley said one guy shouted out, “bianca e nera!!” White and black.
Our hostel was hard to find given there was no sign. As it turned out, it used to be a psychiatric hospital and each building was turned into different things: a hostel, a restaurant, a clinic, a sanitation company… The bathroom was in the hallway and it was very icky looking. I decided the best option given I was only staying for one night was to do a baby wipe shower. So. Classy.
Waiting in line for the Duomo, we realized we had bare shoulders and needed to buy a scarf in order to get in. A tiny Chinese lady approached us selling them so we took them and just as we were about to pay her, she gets tackled by a cop. She attempts to make a run for it, but he is able to keep her on a hold. She keeps trying to fight though, as he tells her to relax, to the point that he sort of needs to have her somewhat pinned on the floor. We were dumbfounded and unsure if we were in trouble. We just kept walking and the next day left the scarves in the hostel; couldn’t deal with staring at them anymore.
Chilling at a park bench, a Moroccan walks by blasting his music on his cell. Ashley probably made eye contact with him and thus he felt the need to stop. He first asks us what time it is, and I answer, not realizing he was holding a cell. He then proceeds to ask us where we are from to which I answer don’t worry about it and it doesn’t matter. He chuckles and turns to Ashley, asking her where she is from. Thinking he was slick, he says in Italian: “You’re from my country, right? You’re from Africa?”… “uh no…” “Where are you from then? Cuba?”
Coming back to the hotel at night, we had to enter through a gated area. This nice little lady let us in and she was talking to this 43 yr. stereotypical Italian who started to make small talk with us. Not sure how this happened, but I spent 30 minutes arguing with his chauvinistic ass because he kept saying the problem with women today is that they are too independent, want to make more money then guys, and refuse to be subservient.

All of this took place in the span of 9 hours.

Political Correctness

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 11:47:30 -0400

It feels like far too many people casually slip into say Chinese instead of Asian, it isn’t just a Portuguese or even Italian thing.

Also, apparently in Italian, when referring to being fanned with huge palm tree leaves by someone, you refer to that someone as a “darkie” (rough translation). I think my host family noticed how my jaw dropped and felt slightly awkward with how offensive the term can be.

Uh...

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 10:27:59 -0400

Me (pulling out iPhone): Okay, we need to figure out where we are. Do you see any street signs?
Emily (Sarcastically, looking at 2 sketchy guys): Nope. But we ended up in a wonderful part of town...
Me (oblivious, still looking at iPhone): We need to find Via degli Artisti.
Emily: Let's keep walking..
Me: It might be better for us to figure out where we are first...
Emily: Yeah but let's do it across the street... I was trying to get you away from those two guys who are about to fight.
Me (turns back to stare): Oh my God- he has a gun! What do we do? What's the number for the police?!
Emily: Oh Jesus, and there is blood on the floor!
Me: Is it 112? But I don't know where we are!
Thankfully, there were Italians around and we were able to tell them to call and 3 cops came half running/half walking. Can we talk about the fact that I have lived in Bridgeport AND New Haven, yet have never been in such a situation... Also, DON'T tell my mother.

This weekend's destination

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 17:10:00 -0400

This weekend's destination :

Trieste, Italy

Randoms

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 08:25:00 -0400

How do you pay strippers in Europe? $1 bills don’t exist and I doubt the performances here are worth so much more that you would want to be throwing 5 euro bills at them. Plus, let’s not forget 5euros= 7.5 dollars. Maybe you just pay once and get a longer performance?
The cellphone I bought here does not even have an application for internet access. Pretty sure even the cellphone I had in middle school had internet. HOWEVER, it does have an application to make fake phone calls (set the time for the call, record some talking..). My iPhone 4 doesn’t have this. Priorities?
Beer is not found in a refrigerated area of the supermarket, even though no one drinks it at room temperature.
2 and 1 euro coins are annoying- you never know how much money you truly have.
2 cent coins are useless. If you got the 1 cent and the 5 cent, why do you need the 2 cent?
My host mother cooks food for her dog (meaning pasta, rice, chicken, vegetables…) everyday, twice a day. She adds some good old parmesan so that the dog will eat everything, and she also gives the dog bits of old bread as snacks. Now THAT- is dedication
Italian men are sketchy as hell. But really. Bridgeport and New Haven townies don’t even begin to compare.
If there is something italians live by, it is “the costumer is never right”

Walking around Padova, you see a lot of graffiti. Some are just...

Sun, 03 Jul 2011 10:00:00 -0400

Walking around Padova, you see a lot of graffiti. Some are just tags, others are cool drawings. You can even find some digs at politics & calls for strikes, which is interesting because it shows they care. Yet, a big portion is also just guys saying how much they love their girls. Especially around where I live, it is all about “___, ti voglio bene!” That’s cool and all, but something about it bothers me. What is going to happen when ya’ll break up? That shit is permanent, you know. Sorry sweetie, but you gon’ look like an idiot if she leaves your ass.

7/4 update: somebody crossed the ti amo part. Case. And point.

Spotted: Italian Patrick Swayze circa Dirty Dancing. I thought I...

Sat, 02 Jul 2011 12:32:00 -0400

Spotted: Italian Patrick Swayze circa Dirty Dancing. I thought I was being slick by taking these photos with my iPhone… only later did I realize it has a pretty noticeable flash. Oopsie.

The flyer for a party that a hair salon in the neighborhood is...

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:52:38 -0400

The flyer for a party that a hair salon in the neighborhood is having tonight. “Literary Erections in Eden.” ”Poetry. Prose. Action.”

Pun intended? I think sooo.

It didn’t stand a chance…

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 08:18:19 -0400

It didn’t stand a chance…

Venezia!

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 08:15:38 -0400

Venezia!

Ciao, Bella!

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 13:00:06 -0400

Italy. I’m hereeee. And homesick. =/ I would have NEVER guessed this would happen to me, but I am missing home. I haven’t been in the U.S. for a month and it is starting to hit me. I know I will have a good time here though, so it is just a matter of adjustment.

When I first got to the Venice Airport, I was surprised to see signs in Italian. I know, I’m in Italy and that is obviously expected, but I don’t think I understood the reality of going to a foreign country for 6 weeks until I landed. Portugal isn’t foreign to me because I know the language so well, but Italian- well that’s a whole different thing. I was surprised, however, by the fact that no one checked my passport once I got to Italy. I literally walked out of the plane, got my luggage, and walked out. I know I’m European but damn. I could be a terrorist too, you know. Not to mention, I reaally wanted an Italian stamp on my passport. I guess no one will ever know I went to Portugal or Italy this summer just by looking at my passport.

Once everyone was at the airport, we got on a bus to head to Padua. A short 40 minute ride, and we were there, our host families patiently waiting for us. Mine is a lady in her 50s (maybe late 40s). Her name is Serenella and she is not married but has a partner that often spends the night. He is pretty cool, and seems younger than her- not cougar status though. I get a room to myself with a little veranda. As much as I want to take advantage of the balcony, however, it is too damn humid to be outside for the most part. It isn’t a hot city, just super humid.

I have only been here for 2 days so I have only been settling in, but last night we went out for a drink at the piazza (super casual) and on my walk there I saw a woman with a skimpy and uber sparkly top be asked “how much.” Idk what she answered, but the guy was very persistent and kept saying, “QUANTO?!!” Poor girl. Did I mention I walked by myself there and back? Kind of scary, since the streets are deserted. I know I go to school in New Haven which is much sketchier but it still didn’t feel like the greatest idea. Oh well, a taxi will do next time.

Portugal

Sat, 18 Jun 2011 10:00:00 -0400

Random tidbits:

You know you are in a Portuguese airport when even the roads for the buses that bring passengers to the airplanes have roundabouts. Too. Many. Roundabouts.
14 year old kids smoking cigarettes. #tomorrow’sgeneration #greatdecisions
14 year old girls out at night, in the same bars and cafes as 40 year old men
Overall, a much more attractive society
“What do you mean you are going to shower now, you just ate!”
Black vodka with apple juice. #yum
The pace of life is MUCH slower
You cannot walk in an unfamiliar cafe without having every single head in the place turn towards you and stare
Cheap but GREAT food
According to most Portuguese people, all Asians are Chinese, Americans live off of fattening food & Cristiano Ronaldo is God (kind of agree with the last.)
Don’t even think about walking out the house with slightly wrinkly clothes, it’s a disgrace!
Even older women wear harem pants #morefashionablethanme
Super Bock- best beer you will ever drink
“The Strauss-Kahn case is a conspiracy!”
Currently, there is a reality show where celebrities are brought to tribes in a few countries in Africa to live for a few months. The cover for a magazine read, “Life in Africa.” ‘Cause you know, Africa is not a very big continent and it is ALL tribal.
During the last elections, 49% of the country did NOT vote. In a population of 10 million, there were also 75 thousand blank votes.
And finally, regardless if the country is fucked, soccer still lives on

It ain't so itsy bitsy

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 16:33:00 -0400

Last shower in Portugal before I headed to Italy. My flight was at 8am so at 4:10am I got up to get ready. As I turn on the water and wait for it to warm up, I notice something moving in the shower curtain- it was a big ass spider. Immediately, I wanted to scream, point the shower head at it and drown the bitch. A moment of clarity, however, made me realize that everyone was still asleep and the spider was too big to fall off the curtain that easily. I could just imagine it jumping off and attacking me. Plus, I was likely to wet the entire bathroom before succeeding. What was supposed to be a pleasant, relaxing shower turned into a nightmare where I kept staring at the spider and moving up and down the tub depending on the direction that it moved towards. The time that it took me to pour some shampoo into my hand was also enough to make me lose sight of this useless creepy crawler, throwing me into an even bigger panic. Thankfully, it was merely on the other side of the curtain and I could see its shadow and track it. When I was done showering, I quickly opened the curtain from the side furthest from the spider and jumped out of the tub. I know, I am 19 years old and scared of a damn spider, but let me tell you, this one wasn’t your regular tiny spider. It was 1-2 inches. ONE TO TWO INCHES. Plus, I was running on three hours sleep. Not cool, brah.