The End of an Era...or just the semester...whatever

So I've reached the end of yet another semester. It ended just the way it began only 15 weeks ago, a few friends and I walked to school (as we did the first night) and had pizza at the school (as we did the first night). There were a few differences this time as compared to last. Most notably, Italy has verily rubbed off on us. The first evening when the pizza was placed on the table, we formed nice, orderly, American lines waiting in turns for one after the other to take what they wanted--of course only one piece so all could have some. The last evening when the pizza came into the room (before being placed on the table) we all sort of herded ourselves toward the table to wait and moan about why it wasn't there yet and then crowded around (not stepping away from the good places at the table) to eat until we couldn't anymore in a big blob of people rather than the nice orderly line.

And now, I face the break alone. Everyone has to move out of the Residence by 4pm tomorrow afternoon. I'm staying in the Residence but no one else is. There are both good sides and bad sides to this. The good things? This will be a blessed Christmas for the "Poor College Kid Foundation." The area under my Christmas tree (well, really a twig in a pot with some lights on it) is overflowing with donations: shampoo, laundry detergent, toothpaste, pasta, potatoes, onions, Nutella, books, notebooks (used and unused), misc. office supplies. There are still donations coming in (and will be until everyone leaves). Other than having to move them all to my new room, I am more than happy and pleased to accept their donations.

Now, before you think I am entirely selfish: they are getting something out of this as well: I am holding two people's bags over break because they don't want to put their bags in storage at the school since they are returning early.

Anywho, since this semester is now over, and the rest of it will be spent in solitude or with my 'rents, I'm not sure how often I will have to update this. I'll be back for certain shortly before the semester begins (January 8).

Until then,
Buon Natale!
e
Buona Fortuna in the Prossimo Anno!

Merry Christmas!
and
Good Luck in the Next Year!

Se Amo! (I Love y'all)
RomanTraveller

Weekending in Paris...

So how did I spend my weekend? I spent it traveling through Paris.

A few notes to all of you who see yourself traveling to Paris anytime soon:

(1) I thought Roman drivers were bad...and then I got into cab in Paris.
(2) Spend more than two days: the first day e got in about 12, checked in about 1, lunched, and then ran to Notre Dame, and then taxied to the Eiffel Tower.
(2a) Note: you usually have to pay for Notre Dame, but if you go during Mass, it's free. And as much I hate being one of those people who gawks during the Mass, I'm also a student on a budget...besides, the music was good.
(3) You DEFINITELY need more than one day in the Louvre...if for no other reason than we ran from one end to the other looking at what we really wanted to see (because with only one day, you really have to prioritize), and it was ALL so overwhelming.
(3a) Now more than ever I am totally puzzled by the Mona Lisa, not in that good, artsy, she's so enigmtic and intriguing way...but more the, why do so many people line up to see her when she's really not that amazing, why were half the museum's signs devoted to pointing the way to the Mona Lisa (and not, say, to the Venus de Milo; the Winged Victory of Samothrace; the Turkish Bath; or any of the some three hundred other masterpieces which I happen to like as much if not better than the Mona Lisa)?

But it was lovely, and I have the ultimate addition to my ever-growing collection of collection guides!

Ciao,
RomanTraveller