i left from chicago on a boeing 767.

This was from yesterday, but apparently it never posted.....

I am finally here. Well, actually I have already been here for about 2 days. The plane ride over was pretty fantastic. I didn't manage to sleep much (maybe 2-3 hours) so my entire sleep schedule is completely thrown off. The guy next to me on the plane fell asleep with his wine glass in his hand while watching Star Trek. I couldn't help but giggle. Oh, the British.

I successfully mangaged to make it from the airport to where I am staying. I ended up just taking a taxi and while it was kind of expensive, there was no way I was going to be able to haul two 50+ lbs bags all over the place. I am just not that skilled. I wish I was but the that is just not in the immediate stars for me. Oh, and one of the first advertisements I saw in the airport? The Jonas Brothers. Rock on, Milano. Rock on.

I got to meet my roommate as well. Her name is Liz and she is from New Jersey. I couldn't help but immediately think of The Real Housewives of New Jersey. I didn't have the heart to say that. I felt my vices will come out soon enough. There is no need to rush things. Anyways, she goes to school at the University of Richmond. We get along pretty well so far. I don't predict any huge qualms in the future either. There are around 8 other girls from her school here and she pretty much hangs out with them. I got a chance to meet them and there are all pretty nice as well. However, the whole situation totally reminds me of freshman year of college. Mainly, it is because I come over knowing no one and it seems like everyone else has latched on to the friends they already knew.

The first night, Liz invited me to this bar where some Bocconi guy was guest bartending. After we all got there, we realized we had forgotten to eat dinner and made our way back to this pizza place. I got to experience my first straight up Italian pizza. It was delicious. Since I couldn't really read the menu, I ended up getting plain cheese. Finally, we went back to the bar where I got some free drinks (success!) and met a bunch of random people living at the same place as me. A lot of them were from California. (One kid asked me if Nebraska was by the lakes. I politely told him where it was and vowed to disregard the fact that I am originally from Nebraska. I am now refering to myself as an Illinois girl whether Illinois will take me or not._ We also met some people from a variety of other countries. I was getting tired so one of the girls and I went back home (which I was pretty thankful for since I had no idea where I was or where I was going). Once I got home, I proceeded to pass out from lack of sleep. I was awakened the next morning to banging in our across the hall neighbors room. He was getting his hot water fixed. I thanked him later for the wakeup call.

Then, I made my first attempt at roaming Milan by myself. First thing you should know is that I am really good at getting lost. Second thing you should know is that I can be spacey sometimes.

During my roaming time, I decided I should probably check-in at Bocconi to get all the necessary things before my language class started the next day. I asked my roommate how to get there because she (and all my other "new friends") had gone the day before. I thought I had it down and with all my other information I was ready to go. Later, I realized I had completely forgotten a map. (Dumb, Laura. Dumb.) Well, I get off at the right tram station and looked around. Apparently, it was supposed to be "right there". Guess what? It totally wasn't. After wandering around the nearby streets for around 45 minutes, I manged to find it. After going to 3 different Bocconi buildings I finally found the right one.

Then I decided I needed to get my cell phone. I found one and so now I have a cell phone. I got the cheapest one and it totally reminds me of one of my first cell phones I've ever had. Remember those ones from like 6 years ago? Yeah, that is my current phone. Don't be too jealous.

By this point, I knew it was time for me to go to the supermarket and get some food as well as some other necessities for my room. I got back on the tram to go home and somehow got distracted by a shiny object and completely missed my stop. I ended up staying till the end of the line until it went back in the direction I had just come from. I got off on one that I thought was right but nothing looked familiar. I decided to ask an old man where the street I was looking for was and he in turn decided to point me in completely the wrong direction. I was tricked by an old man! So then I just got back on the tram to see if maybe the next stop was right. It was and I finally found my destination. I got into my room and made the decision that I was not venturing out there by myself for awhile. I just can't be trusted. Instead of going to the store, I fell asleep.

Moral of this story: Always bring a map and a friend.

By the way, I promise these posts won't always be this long...