things i would write about if i felt like writing

have gone on a few trips since last writing about vienna. i should write about them right now but i'm not moved by the idea. let's just say that every new italian city i see i declare is my favorite, but i guess that can't be true. except milan, i don't like milan.

catania (that's in sicily.)
torino (olympics. curling match.)
venice (carnevale. new boots. spent way too much money.)
bologna (oldest university in the world, a sweet tower.)

stupid exchange rates in europe trick you into thinking you are spending about 80% of what you really spend.

i decided, for the eighteenth time, what master's program i want to do. this time it's an international relations MA (this doesn't change that often) with johns hopkins. they have a center in bologna, and i absolutely love bologna, and if i study a lot for the GRE i might be able to get in. my GPA is high enough for sure but my economics experience is weak. i totally want to live in bologna for a year. i don't really like italian education and this program is american-style. yes! the problem is that johns hopkins is one of the best IR schools in the world and getting in would be tough, but i have promises from two professors for the kind of recommendation letters that would get me into a school like that.

tonight if i can get a ride from my argintine family or if i can take the bus i am going to milan for a fireside and games with the church kids. we'll see. if not it appears i will be staying here with the drunk boys. ooooooh fun...