CALIFORNIA

Friends, Romans, Countrymen. . .

As I conclude this 3+ month journey, I am overwhelmed thinking back. Dublin seems FOREVER ago... and it's so strange to think how much has happened since the last time I was with each of you. I've been lucky enough to keep in contact with most of you and know (thanks to your wonderful emails) that each of your lives have had their own fair share of change and excitement. I am eager to catch up with you all!!

For now, I've tried to be reflective and think of how I've changed. (I wanna be prepared for the questions when they come.) I know people will ask, "Where was your favorite city?" "What's changed about you?" "How was Europe?!" And all those questions are welcomed and great... but, how do i answer them? Favorite city??... Uh... Paris, London, Vienna, Zurich, Florence, Budapest..... Why? oh man... Or... How was Europe?.. Uh, good. - I mean, seriously, where do I begin? What do i say to those questions? How do I sum up everything into an answer worthy of its question that people will actually want to hear? Still pondering that one . . .

As far as how I've changed, it's hard to say. Some answers are hard to come by because they require me to be objective, which I cannot be as I am still inside of the whole experience. I'm guessing it will take some time to process everything after I get home.

I prayed a prayer in the beginning of this trip that God would reveal to me my weaknesses and bring them to the surface so that I could change them. Ya, scary prayer. Well... He answered it, and Im humbled more and more as I surrender myself for His refining. I feel my faith has matured and know my awareness of things I need to work on is better. I have a long way to go, but I'm blessed to have grown over the course of these travels.

Before I left, I had anticipated returning and worried that I might not appreciate California the same because of the places I had been. I was afraid that having visited other places in the world that have more history or what not, would make me almost proud upon my return. Thankfully, I have found the exact opposite to be true. California really is my home. My family is there, my friends are there, my heart is there. I love the beach, the sunshine, my sandals.. and all my memories there. I barely know any history about it... um, Gold Mines, Indians, war with mexico... that's about the extent of my knowledge on its history... but that's not why i love it. I love it because it's home to me. Yes, the world is full of amazing, beautiful, eye-opening things outside of California, and I encourage traveling and experiencing them, but I also am a die-hard fan of my homeland!

One of my biggest fears on this trip... (this may sound stupid, but it's the truth) was that my two front teeth would break while I was here. *knock on wood - one day left* As most of you know, they are fake, and I have had many traumatic experiences of having them chip, break, or fall to pieces in my hand in the middle of El Torito while sitting next to my best friend *ahem Melissa* who wouldnt stop laughing. (But she also cried with me too, so she's not all bad!) :) Thank you GOD for keeping them in one piece. I guarantee I would have been on the first plane home if anything happened. Eating, drinking, talking, even breathing with my mouth open - are all a sick joke if those babies arent in place... so THANK YOU Lord.

For now, the best word to describe me is thankful. I am so incredibly thankful to have been here. I have learned and grown (not vertically unfortunately) and seen so much. My memories will stay with me forever. Thank you mom and dad and grandma Lorraine and everyone else for your support and prayers that made it possible for me to be here.

Im excited to get back to life at home... Ive decided I dont want to be the girl who comes back from Europe and always has a story to tell that starts with, "So, this one time in Europe...." So if ever, God forbid, I turn into her.. please slap me upside the head. :) Home home home... Im so excited. Friends and family... i cannot WAIT to see you!! Those 16 hours of travel are going to be well worth it! The traditional Turkey Bowl on Thanksgiving morning at Balboa park to watch the guys play football - john, gonzi, daniel, oj, issa.... or Thanksgiving for that matter... or jacuzzi nights with my best friend Jen...or finally seeing my married best friend Melissa... man, i cant even begin to write the things Im looking forward to.

Tonight, marks our last night here. Our group is having its final group dinner at the Hard Rock Cafè (after 5 weeks, we're all Italianed out)... and then we're coming back to the hostel to sit and talk and laugh and probably cry. We've become like a big gigantic family. We've seen sides to our professors that most never get to see (and some that most would never want to - haha) and we've each grown so close to one another. God had His hand on our group as the relationships have all been incredibly blessed. My night will conclude staying up with 4 other girls in the Hotel room i mentioned in the last post (yes!) and I will wake up tomorrow morning and board my plane home.

So if you're bored at around, oh say, 6:22pm on Monday, November 22, 2004... and feel like dropping by LAX... Say, British Airways flight #269... I'll be there - accepting flowers, jewelry, money, candy, lavish gifts... you know. :) Ok fine, just kidding... I'm gonna be putting my lovely family to work as I will need extra hands to help me carry all the crap I'm returning with. So Wilson family, be ready for some hard labor with no room for complaining (as I've dragged my life all over western europe for the last 3 and half months.) haha. I'm SO EXCITED TO SEE YOU ALL!!!!!

In conclusion.... Joni Mitchell sums up my thoughts best. So I'm gonna let her classic lyrics work their magic... listen to the song if you get a chance - the melody makes them that much more beautiful (typical of a melody...haha.. kidding.. remember, I'm now Lalodia, so it shouldnt stick out when I use my former name) :)

................California...................

Sitting in a park in paris, france
Reading the news and it sure looks bad
They won’t give peace a chance
That was just a dream some of us had
Still a lot of lands to see
But I wouldn’t want to stay here
It’s too old and cold and settled in it’s ways here
Oh, but california
California I’m coming home
I’m going to see the folks I dig
I’ll even kiss a sunset pig
California I’m coming home

I met a redneck on a grecian isle
Who did the goat dance very well
He gave me back my smile
But he kept my camera to sell
Oh the rogue, the red red rogue
He cooked good omelettes and stews
And I might have stayed on with him there
But my heart cried out for you, california
Oh california I’m coming home
Oh make me feel good rock’n roll band
I’m your biggest fan
California, I’m coming home

Oh it gets so lonely
When you’re walking
And the streets are full of strangers
All the news of home you read
Just gives you the blues
Just gives you the blues

So I bought me a ticket
I caught a plane to spain
Went to a party down a red dirt road
There were lots of pretty people there
Reading rolling stone, reading vogue
They said, how long can you hang around?
I said a week, maybe two,
Just until my skin turns brown
Then I’m going home to california
California I’m coming home
Oh will you take me as I am
Strung out on another man
California I’m coming home

Oh it gets so lonely
When you’re walking
And the streets are full of strangers
All the news of home you read
More about the war
And the bloody changes
Oh will you take me as l am?
Will you take me as l am?
Will you?


Love, Love, Love,
Melody

2nd to LAST. . .

A quick sum up of missing details, cities, and last minute adventures:

Cinque Terre is a place on the Italian Riviera comprised of 5 (cinque) towns (terre) all walking (at times hiking) distance from one another. It's far from tourists and big city lights, and it's on the coast of the Mediterranean. Wow, this hidden paradise is beautiful! We worked up a sweat hiking between the cities, ate pizza at a café on the water, and even suffered a temporary lapse of sanity when we went swimming in the Mediterranean (the locals even made their way to the sea wall to watch the madness..) haha. It was a beautiful day and I wish I could have spent more time there... aww, someday. :)

The Leaning Tower of Pisa was the only thing we spent time seeing there. We took a train to Pisa, walked a good mile or two to the tower, took a bunch of typical tourist pictures in front of it... you know - the ones of us leaning to the side, or positioning the camera so it looked like we were balancing the tower up with our hands.... ya, real clever - and then we got back on the train and went home. There was a beautiful Duomo - church... but we didnt go inside. I think we were all ready to be home (aka, hostel) that day... but we got the pictures we came for.

My first impression of Venice was no bueno. It was FLOODED! Literally, flooded... However, for the first time on the trip, my sandals proved to be the brightest idea!! Everyone else had to fork over €20 for rain boots or suffer through the "squish squash" of their wet, cold shoes all day long. But not me! ... I rolled up my jeans, took off my sandals, crossed my fingers, and prayed I wouldnt contract a water-born disease as I trampled through 12" of water. Saint Marco's square, the one with all the pigeons - or the place on that diamond commercial of the husband and wife where he's screaming "I love this woman!" - was an easy foot and a half deep. Planks were set up to walk on - and others bought the flashy plastic rainboots that went all the way up their legs as they treaded water. Christina and I were sad it wasn't at all how we pictured our first trip to Venice and retired to a little pizzeria where we sat and talked for a long while. But alas, when we emerged from lunch... it was dry! The tide had gone back down! HALLELUJAH! So we rushed back to Saint Marco's Square and fed the pigeons. :) We took some great pictures and footage of them climbing all over us... I know it must be time to cut my hair as the birds couldnt stay out of it - it seriously looked like a birds nest when they were done.... sick sick sick. Finally we took a water bus back to the train station... What an excellent day it turned out to be! I saved a Gondola ride for a more romantic visit when im not too cheap to cough up the €65 they wanted for it. Seriously, if you guys have never been or want to go back.. I advise making arrangements in the NEAR future as this place may not be around for long. The flooding gets worse and worse. They're doing what they can... but there's no guarantee they can preserve it. So sad.

Napoli was a scary city.... not too clean. But it's known for being the first place to serve pizza... so we found an old pizzeria, the 2nd one in Naples, and ate some delicious pizza. Which, by the way, pizza here is nothing like pizza in the states. Concept is the same, but the bread is super thin here and it tastes much different - still good, but different. I think Italians must die a thousand deaths when they order Dominoes in the US.

MTV European Music Awards 2004:ROMA - Oh ya, that's right.... Hoobastank, The Cure, and lots of other strange bands performed on stage, in front of the COLOSSEUM on Thursday night!!! I hope the footage gets played in the US. I, along with tens of thousands of other fans, gathered in the streets and joined in the insanity as we cheered them on. The Cure especially was Awesome! Except, I never realized how creepy looking the lead singer is... anyway..

Hostel via Roma: FREEZING! Let's just say it used to be used as military barracks... it's cold, cold, cold. Cold showers, cold rooms, and long, dark, cold hallways... my bed is sounding better and better. I was alone in the gigantic bathroom, when I had an epiphany. (Please keep reading... it's not as bad as it sounds.) I realized I had been balancing myself against the sink behind me, running my feet under luke warm water in the sink in front of me... for a good 10 MINUTES.....and it hit me, I was loving it! I started to worry about myself, so i turned off the water and went to bed... but I realize I've adapted to odd and unusual levels of cleanliness, hygeine, and natural highs... Scary.

When I get back - Jacuzzi, here I come!

On that note... I have to go finish packing my bags to leave for a HOTEL tonight.. where some of my closest friends on this trip plan to spend our last night - warm, happy, and extremely emotional - all together.

I have one more post coming....

Love, love, love,

Melody

WHEN IN ROME. . .

... DO AS THE ROMANS DO.

Well, here I am in Rome... the center of the greatest empire in the history of the world. As they say, all the roads lead to Rome - and I now understand why. Once upon a time, this place really was the center of the universe. Today, the city seems to function pretty normally, with the exception of a 2000 year old Colosseum in the background. Although there's nothing extremely groundbreaking about Rome during this present day and age, its profound history makes it incredible to be here today.

There is much to see here, and I'm only about half way done making my rounds, but thus far, here's what's stood out to me...

A couple days into our stay here, I was coming around a corner, and I saw from afar, the Colosseum. As I grew closer, its grandeur was more and more apparant. Only about a 1/3 of it actually remains today; the rest has been lost in earthquakes and what not... but this thing has been around since 72AD. While I walked around the inside, book in hand, reading about it and trying to imagine the events that took place, I had lots of conflicting emotions. In some ways, it deserves awe and respect for it's architectural genius and 2000 year old history(It once held 50,000 screaming fans, or 100,000 thumbs).... yet at the same time, it's weird celebrating a place that was primarily used for the entertainment of the Romans by way of horrendous bloodsheds... The fights pitted men against men, men against beasts, and beasts against beasts. The gladiators were usually slaves, criminals or poor people who got their chance for freedom (or at least fame) while in the areana. Animals were brought in from all over the world for the fights - such as, Lions, tigers, bears (oh my), crocodiles, elephants and hippos - just to name a few. When the stadium first opened, they had a 100-day festival in which 2,000 men and 9,000 animals were killed! The Colosseum employees had to squirt perfumes around the stadium just to mask the stench of blood. (Disgusting, huh?) It's even speculated that Christians were murdered here... Christians were undoubtedly persecuted during certain Roman times - they were thrown to lions, made to fight gladiators, crucified and even burned alive... but it's not certain whether that actually took place in the Colosseum or not. It was an incredible/bazaar experience to stand inside and imagine what used to take place here. I recommend seeing Gladiator for a realistic idea of what it was like if you've never seen it, or you could wait till I get home as I plan on watching it again (along with another 2189573 movies that this trip has made me want to re-watch.) :)

The day after Kayli arrived, she - along with Michelle, Jeanette, Christina and I went to Saint Peter's Basilica.... where we saw the POPE! He was barely 15' away from us - we were 2nd ROW! I turned around in my seat and took a good little self-portrait picture with him in the background. haha He came down the aisle in an electric wheel chair as the church chanted and cheered upon his entrance. When he spoke, it was nearly impossible to understand him - but the church sat still to listen. He said a blessing over us all. At one point he coughed.. it startled everyone and due to his age and condition, I think the whole congregation (including myself) put our hands over our hearts worried we were witnessing his final breath. Thankfully, he resumed his message.... and the congregation let out a big sigh of relief.

Another highlight was seeing the Vatican. We waited in a forever long line to get inside... I felt like I was at Disneyland - but it was worth it. The Vatican is actually it's own country - meaning, if you buy stamps inside the walls, you better mail them before you leave (a lesson I have finally learned - 12 countries later.) The two best things inside were... Raphael's "School of Athens" painting... which we're all in the process of writing a paper on, and the second, of course, being the Sistine Chapel. Ok, so I've seen A LOT of art on this trip... LOTS, LOTS, and LOTS... at times it's a little (dare I say) redundant... yes, i appreciate it... yes, it's amazing, beautiful, brilliant, history changing, timeless, blah blah blah... but some days, you just feel like, "youve seen one - youve seen 'em all." ( I know, what an awful thing to say... but it's an honest admission... thankfully, not too familiar a feeling.) Well, anyway... the point of all that was to say that in all the time Ive spent looking at art, never have i felt more appreciation and awe for it than i did inside the Sistine Chapel. The ceiling is insane... Michelangelo spent 4 years hanging from the ceiling, on his back, as paint dripped in his eyes and the fumes filled his lungs, until he completed it... it truly is brilliant. It's said to be the greatest piece of art by one artist... To that i say, Amen. There are 9 scenes from Genesis down the center of the ceiling, the central and most famous being "The Creation of Adam" with the hand of God reaching out to give life to Adams hand. And then, the wall along the alter side of the chapel has the Last Judgment Day painted on it.. another incredible portrayal of what Michelangelo envisioned that day looking like. There's a book titled, The Agony and The Ecstasy , that is all about the life of Michelangelo. I'm in the middle of it right now, and I highly highly recommend it.

Anyways, my friends are waiting on me... so it's time I bundle up and be on my way. Ill have to write about the rest later. Daniel Acuna, I haven't forgotten you. (I couldnt think of anything clever - hope that was okay.) :)

Tonight I depart for Naples, Pompeii and the island of Capri where I plan to rent myself a vespa and zip along the island tomorrow... making the most of these final few days!

Love, love, love,
Melody

La Vita E Bella

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL

It really is....

First, if you havent seen that movie - please drop everything and go watch it. It's amazing.

Second... Life really is beautiful. The Italian culture embraces that idea so well. Though a little crazy, they're zeal for living life and for living it well is constant. "Well" not necessarily defined as wealthy, rather as being content, joyful, and passionate about each day. Sometimes a little extreme, but at the same time, they're in touch with their emotions and proud of it... there's no shame or embarrassment in their self-expression... no matter how ridiculous by our standards. It's a wonder and an inspiration to experience.

Florence was absolutely sensational. Our central meeting place was the steps of the Duomo.... these steps serve as a thousand year old meeting spot to sit and talk, or to wait, or even for people - such as Michelangelo - to watch the girls walk by. Haha. (Every little place is packed with history.) From here, we branched out into every last crevice of the city.

The Pointe Vecchio bridge, the oldest bridge in Florence, is one of my favorite places - from here, Italy looks just as I imagined it would. Along one side of the Arno river are old beautiful apartments... 6-7 stories high... painted yellow with green shudders, with balcony's where their clothes hang from, and restaurants underneath with decks extending over the river. Lining the other side are tourist shops, the Uffizzi Gallery (which is INCREDIBLE!), street vendors selling fake Louis Vutton, more cafès and busy streets. The bridge itself is infamous for it's jewelry shops, with a break in the middle where one can lookout over the river just in time to see the boys rowing team practicing up and down the river, or if you're lucky enough, (as was I) you might catch sight of the biggest and ugliest river rat known to mankind swimming beneath you (I was fortunate enough to have both experiences and capture them each on camera. Get ready.) :)

Another favorite spot of mine is the beautiful Piazza de Michelangelo which is just beyond the bridge and a little walk up a good sized hill. There's a bronze David replica in the middle, overpriced cafès along the sides, vendors in the middle, a chapel hidden above, and a spectacular view of the city from all around. To say the least, I had some great journal time up there.

I went to the Academià and saw the "David"... Michelangelo's most famous statue. An Italian TV show was there asking people to share their thoughts on the statue and Jeanette and I were interviewed... too bad we didnt have a TV to watch it. The statue really is gorgeous. It's 13'5" tall... and simply the most incredible creation to have come from a big block of stone. It took Michelangelo 4 years to finish. No wonder. Well worth the time.

My friend Jacquie came to visit while we were in Florence.... such a wonderful treat! She just got engaged and waited until she saw us to share her exciting news. Congratulations Jacquie and Mark! She stayed with Emily at her apartment, but 6 of us girls were able to go out to ZaZa's for some Italian cuisine one night and catch up with her. SO much fun!

Unfortunately, we missed Halloween back home... but fear not, we went ALL OUT to make up for it (some of us more than others *ahem - Professor Ed Westbrook.*) We had a costume party in the room we used for class at the villa, and we weren't allowed entry unless we were dressed up. Desiree had the honor of putting it all together, she did a fabulous job - we had candles and candy and prizes and music, and lots of laughing... but before i elaborate further, let me share some foreshadowing a couple of us girls had before the big night... Earlier that day, some of the guys came upstairs to our room and asked if they could borrow some rather interesting possessions belonging to a few of us girls... we werent allowed to ask questions, plus we didnt really want to know the answers, so we simply complied.

To our amazement......

.....Jon, Aaron, and Jason made some of the prettiest girls I have ever seen. My black eyeliner and red lipstick really brought out their eyes and hair... no to mention the clothes have never been worn so well. Ryan, slicked his hair back, wore gold sunglasses, and held a cigarette as he attempted to charge us to take pictures with his women... quite the believable pimp. Again, strange - but then again, what wasnt strange about the night? (By strange, i also mean hilarious.) Our professor, Ed, had warned us of his costume since Prague (without giving it away, of course) and boasted of his plans on taking first place... well, in lieu of our Day Spa experiences (some less modest than others)... Ed came as just that. A man, dressed in a robe, slippers on feet, shower cap on head, and other personal details i wont publish for all mankind to see. (Instead, I'll send a picture through the all campus Vanguard Email. haha) Michelle, Liz, and I couldnt decide what to be, and didnt want to spend a lot of money on a costume that we would only wear once that probably wouldnt even fit in our suitcases home... so alas... We were Nudists. . . on strike that is. I know, i know, original. My attire consisted of shoes, jeans, longsleeve shirt, gloves, tank top over my shirt, bathing suit over my jeans and tank top, scarf covering head, and a sandwich board reading "Nudist on Strike" on one side, and "Vespa is the place for me, Thanks to all it's Modesty" on the other. We had a picket sign in hand with other catchy phrases... and made quite a scene upon entrance. Though nothing compared to the scene we made while passing all the other strangers staying at the villa on our way to the party. In light of the pimp and hos at our party, Ed didnt quite make first place, but he did well for himself nonetheless. :) We ended the night in the underground movie theatre watching Casablanca and eating popcorn. A different halloween experience to say the least, but lots and lots of fun.

As follows are the results from the Poker Tournament I mentioned last time: I beat the one person I cared about beating, (also the one who prides themself in their poker playing ability - might I add.) That's really all I need to say about that... it felt great. :)

Finally, my other favorite memory from Firenze was the Firenze Football (soccer) game we went to. Crazy, insane, unlinke anything in the US, chaotic, FUN, intense.... none of these descriptions do justice to the experience. Let me see if I can at all create an image of what it was like...
First of all, the opponents fans were not even allowed to sit among the Firenze fans because of the intense rivalry... instead, they had to sit in their own section, barricaded in by massive plastic walls, and unable to leave until every single one of the 30,000 other fans had completely evacutated the stadium. Firenze was the underdog, but thanks to our presence (let a girl dream) our team won a shut-out game of 4-0. With each goal, the opposing fans somehow managed to throw a flare over the tops of the walls, landing on the field, lighting the grass on fire. The first time this happened, we somewhat panicked... but were relieved when our questions about why there were fire fighters standing on the sides of the field were answered... though not as quickly as we would have liked. The firemen, took their precious time as they mozied (sp?) on over to the fire (meanwhile we were saying our prayers and figured the place would burn down before we ever made it out alive.) They kept stepping on the fire until it was out and then shuffled their feet back to the sidelines completely unaffected by the enormity of risk at hand. After the 5th time this happened, we too, were accustomed to this typical display of dissatification with our score from the sore losers on the other side (though still a little traumatized.)
Oh ya, i also forgot to mention... although i paid €15 for my seat, I did not sit once during the game, in light of the fact that my entire section remained on its feet - singing, and cheering, and yelling, and lighting purple and gold flares of its own to light up the stadium with team spirit colored smoke.... After the game ended, the smoke cleared, and the cheering ceased, I found out the translation to the Italian cheers I had learned and sung along to with reckless abandon... goodnight! ... To think the songs they teach their children to yell at the opposing team, awww, it warms my heart. This is where I'll need to apologize to my parents and grandparents for the vulgarity and coarseness of the songs i proudly sang. HAHA So, in order to redeem ourselves, we decided to memorize the Italian cheers and bring them back to our Vanguard Basketball games...... they'll never know. (Rivalry has a whole new meaning to me.) Wahahaha. *evil grin*

On that lovely note, I'll end this ever long post. I will write more on my trips to Venice, Cinque Terre, Pisa and now Rome, my current and FINAL location - next time.

With much love, love, love,
Melody

Surprise!

I think it's safe to say, that two nights ago, I had the best surprise of my entire life!

It was just after midnight, and I was lying on the top bunk of my bed journaling, when suddenly, I heard our hostel bedroom door open. Michelle, one of the other few awake, started screaming! Now, there's a massive red locker in front of my bed which blocks my view of the door, so i couldnt see what she was screaming at. I also couldnt tell from her scream if it was a "good scream" or an "Im terrified scream." In somewhat of a panic, I yelled out, "What, what!?!" After no response (just more screaming) and with my heart racing, I jumped to floor worried something wasn't right. To my complete and PERFECT surprise, I saw bright blonde hair, only belonging to KAYLI OBER!! At which point I joined in on the screaming session as I clobbered her and Michelle to the floor.

That little snot told me she wasnt coming!!!

A lie has never been so sweet!

Kayli came with three other friends (we knew about the other three) and they're here for a week!! It has been so fantastic so far. I just feel bad because we just arrived in Rome the day before they got here, so we barely know the city yet, and are having to learn it with them rather than show them around. (They're getting an itty bitty taste of what our semester has consisted of.) Wahahaha :)

Thank you friends for visiting us!!!

Thank you KAYLI for lying to me and surprising me!! It is a breath of wonderful and welcomed fresh air. You're my favorite part of home here with me. We couldnt be more excited.

And I leave with this...

As I said, they're getting an itty bitty taste of what its been like and here's a prime example...

Kayli's first night hanging out with us in the hostel, Michelle and I went with her to the toilets, or "bathroom" as they say back home, and afterwards she turned on the sink to wash her hands. With her hands all wet, she started looking around, and finally asked us where the soap was..... (poor thing)

Michelle and i looked at each other, put our hand over our hearts, and said.... "Awww, honey, you're so cute... they dont have soap here." Aw, the things you take for granted.

Yep, hygeine has gone straight out the window.... a problem for me especially (concerning the whole hands washing thing anyway) being that Iv'e found myself to be OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) about having clean hands... class motto on the trip: suck it up.

Anyways... Im going out with the girls tonight, KAYLI included (wooohoooo) so I must depart. I realize there's lots left to fill in, so I will next time. Promise.

10 days until home!!

Love, love, love,
Melody

Things I Miss About Home. . .

- My friends and family of course are the most obvious.... mom, dad, T, Zachary and Jack.. talking with my Grandma Lorraine, living and laughing with my Grandparents - Go Trojans!, And all my friends!! You guys are missed SOOO much! We've got lots of catching up to do....

And aside from those "givens" ... Here's a few other things i miss that may be a little more out of the ordinary to miss.... but i'm comfortable being out of the ordinary - so here they are. . . :)

- Showering without sandals
- Toilet seat covers (don't get me started)
- Driving - heck, i even miss traffic.... no, no... i take that back. i will NEVER miss traffic.
- The BEACH!!
- "Friends"
- The Universal Music offices... (i hear you guys have moved!)
- My parents jacuzzi... mmmm
- In 'n Out
- Turkey Sandwiches (it's a cruel sick joke here... Europe is apparantly anti-turkey!!)
- MY BED - and not just because of the comfort... no no... it functions as a multi-purpose miss. My bed = clean sheets that i never have to wonder about where they've been and if they're really clean, my blanket - free of strange unwanted smells, my big warm comforer (these hostels are stingy), and of course, my pillow (dont get me started on the stains on some of these pillows)... not to mention my little puppy stuffed animal that misses cuddling with me. That was long... maybe i have attachment issues with my bed. dont judge me.
- PCH
- A kitchen & homecooked meals
- PEDICURES (i know my first stop once im home...it's getting pretty disgusting)
- Renting movies
- The Esnard family that I babysit for and their two children - Erin and Cooper
- Oh, i dunno, Menus in English
- My parents couch
- My straightening iron (though i dont miss it as much as my friends who have to suffer through my hair styles)
- The Outlet aka Junior High at Rock Harbor.. (Megan, Maegan, and Keely -I miss you girls!!)
- Rock Harbor, for that matter
- Free refills... ya, drink it up over there... they´re stingy about it over here
- The radio
- The latest POP culture gossip... ie.. is Britney Spears really married? (How are all you American boys holding up??)
- Ordering water and not having to specify i want "tap, no gas"... at which point they probably fill me up a lukewarm cup from the toilet... (sometimes what you dont know, you just dont wanna know)
- Internet access 24-7.... in my own house!
- A washing/drying machine
- Diet coke (none of this coca-cola light crap)
- People who dont blatanly stare at my feet when i wear sandals ( i will not conform!)
- A closet... hangers, drawers, shelves... never has that sounded so good. Living out of a suitcase for 3 months gets a little old some days
- Not having to begin my interaction with every single stranger, "Do you speak English?" (cause i'm a lame american *ahem* Canadian, who never took the time to learn a 2nd language even though you speak 4 or 5 fluently) **however, i've learned a humble smile goes a long way**

At the moment... any and all of those things sound so good.

Maybe i'll post more thoughts on things i miss later... the list goes on.

For now... a poker tournament awaits me and i'm planning on kicking some serious butt tonight..... so I've gotta go hike up the mountain (driveway, whatever - same thing) to the villa so I can gamble away 50 M&M's.... wish me luck!

love, love, love, Melody