TIAMLFTA the USA: THE LIST

It has been a wonderful, challenging, sometimes maddening three months away from the States.

1. Water
2. Elevators
3. Public Bathrooms
4. Internet in English
5. Lemonade
6. A Closet
7. High heels
8. My family
9. Seeing new movies in theaters
10. Ice
11. English small talk
12. Libraries
13. Target
14. Fried foods
15. My watercolors
16. Strawberries
17. Renting movies
18. My beads
19. Bacon
20. Making smoothies
21. Reading packaging
22. Making phone calls
23. Personal vehicles
24. Mass and Confession in English
25. My books
26. Frosting
27. My pillow top mattress
28. Pancakes
29. My guitar
30. Texting

TIAMLFTA the USA # 23: Personal Vehicles

You want to go to the store? Hop in the car. You want something to eat? Hop in the car. You want to do anything? You hop in the car. Now we can quibble about how bikes are better than cars all day, but the fact of the matter is I would take just about form of personally motivated transportation over the cattle car buses I’ve been bouncing around on for the last two months. Even getting walk places would be an improvement. It is easy enough to walk around Florence itself, but we’re a ways away from the city here in Settigano. Something to look forward to.

I assume that it will be hard to transition back to standard, comfortable life in the USA when my time abroad is over. So, to help me get psyched about the Kansas January and term papers that await me in the spring I am starting a list of things I am looking forward to Stateside. Look for more “Things I am Most Looking Forward to About the USA,” or “TIAMLFTA the USA” (pronounced “tee-am-left-a”) for short, in the weeks and months to come!

TIAMLFTA the USA # 22: Making Phone Calls

My new least favorite pop-up on the Internet is not the “Congratulations! You’re the One Millionth Visitor!” anymore. It is the page on the RailEurope website that says, “Oops! The information for this trip is not available on our website at this time. But our Help Center is at your service! Call…” That’d be a great idea. If I wasn’t ABROAD without a PHONE. Still figuring that one out.

I assume that it will be hard to transition back to standard, comfortable life in the USA when my time abroad is over. So, to help me get psyched about the Kansas January and term papers that await me in the spring I am starting a list of things I am looking forward to Stateside. Look for more “Things I am Most Looking Forward to About the USA,” or “TIAMLFTA the USA” (pronounced “tee-am-left-a”) for short, in the weeks and months to come!

TIAMLFTA the USA # 21: Reading Packaging

There is an interesting looking package right next to the Oreos in the supermarket. You pick it up because you want to see what’s inside…but wait. You can’t read it. Guess your options are to buy it and try it out, translate the packaging word by word with the pocket-sized Italian dictionary in your purse, or forget about it. Based on my historic patience level you can probably guess which one I pick, unless there is visible chocolate involved. Sometimes it’s just nice to have simple “What is this?” questions answered on the spot. Ah, English. How I miss you.

I assume that it will be hard to transition back to standard, comfortable life in the USA when my time abroad is over. So, to help me get psyched about the Kansas January and term papers that await me in the spring I am starting a list of things I am looking forward to Stateside. Look for more “Things I am Most Looking Forward to About the USA,” or “TIAMLFTA the USA” (pronounced “tee-am-left-a”) for short, in the weeks and months to come!

TIAMLFTA the USA # 20: Making Smoothies

We do eat a lot of fruit here, but I miss making smoothies. Besides gelato, there aren’t a lot of cool food options here, and on top of that my mom and I were just perfecting our homemade smoothie recipes, not to mention the fact that smoothies made up about 95% of my breakfast menu while I was living in Ireland. Therefore I was pretty hooked and now I’m having withdrawals. Unfortunately it will be a little cold when I get back… but maybe I can put on my parka and some gloves to maintain homeostasis.

I assume that it will be hard to transition back to standard, comfortable life in the USA when my time abroad is over. So, to help me get psyched about the Kansas January and term papers that await me in the spring I am starting a list of things I am looking forward to Stateside. Look for more “Things I am Most Looking Forward to About the USA,” or “TIAMLFTA the USA” (pronounced “tee-am-left-a”) for short, in the weeks and months to come!

TIAMLFTA the USA # 19: Bacon

There’s ham, and there’s bacon, and yes there is a difference. Pasta carbonara in Europe? Don’t get excited when it says “pasta with a cream sauce and bacon.” It’s going to be ham. They’ll call it bacon, but it’s not.

I’m hoping there’s a pound of ready-to-fry all-American bacon in the freezer when I land.

I assume that it will be hard to transition back to standard, comfortable life in the USA when my time abroad is over. So, to help me get psyched about the Kansas January and term papers that await me in the spring I am starting a list of things I am looking forward to Stateside. Look for more “Things I am Most Looking Forward to About the USA,” or “TIAMLFTA the USA” (pronounced “tee-am-left-a”) for short, in the weeks and months to come!

TIAMLFTA the USA # 18: My Beads

I’m missing the crafty aspect of my life right now. In addition to not having my beads to make jewelry, I also don’t have fabric, thrift stores, or general crafty tools and supplies to try new projects (like the many tissue paper flower designs I’ve been ogling for the last week or so). When I get home, I have an extended date with my craft room. We might just run away together.

I assume that it will be hard to transition back to standard, comfortable life in the USA when my time abroad is over. So, to help me get psyched about the Kansas January and term papers that await me in the spring I am starting a list of things I am looking forward to Stateside. Look for more “Things I am Most Looking Forward to About the USA,” or “TIAMLFTA the USA” (pronounced “tee-am-left-a”) for short, in the weeks and months to come!

TIAMLFTA the USA #17: Renting Movies

Ahh, Family Video. How I have taken advantage of you over the years. Never again will I take for granted a 9pm decision to watch a movie that just came out on DVD. I will be visiting you very shortly after arriving home. And you can expect a postcard any day now.

I assume that it will be hard to transition back to standard, comfortable life in the USA when my time abroad is over. So, to help me get psyched about the Kansas January and term papers that await me in the spring I am starting a list of things I am looking forward to Stateside. Look for more “Things I am Most Looking Forward to About the USA,” or “TIAMLFTA the USA” (pronounced “tee-am-left-a”) for short, in the weeks and months to come!

TIAMLFTA the USA # 16: Strawberries

Okay, so this isn’t entirely true, because they do have strawberries here, they are just expensive and hard to come by, which, in October, is almost exactly the same as in the United States. So I guess I just wanted to express how much I miss strawberries, and how that would be the case no matter where I currently am in the Northern Hemisphere.

I assume that it will be hard to transition back to standard, comfortable life in the USA when my time abroad is over. So, to help me get psyched about the Kansas January and term papers that await me in the spring I am starting a list of things I am looking forward to Stateside. Look for more “Things I am Most Looking Forward to About the USA,” or “TIAMLFTA the USA” (pronounced “tee-am-left-a”) for short, in the weeks and months to come!

TIAMLFTA the USA # 15: My Watercolors

Italy is beautiful, and sometimes it would be nice to have something besides a digital camera with auto-focus to capture it with. I got myself some colored pencils, but they’re really just not scratching the itch. When I get home I am going to watercolor a poster from this picture.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="453" caption="A Settigano Sunset"][/caption]

Get ready, it’s going to rock. I let you know how it goes—but it’ll be December before it actually happens. BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE MY WATERCOLORS.

I assume that it will be hard to transition back to standard, comfortable life in the USA when my time abroad is over. So, to help me get psyched about the Kansas January and term papers that await me in the spring I am starting a list of things I am looking forward to Stateside. Look for more “Things I am Most Looking Forward to About the USA,” or “TIAMLFTA the USA” (pronounced “tee-am-left-a”) for short, in the weeks and months to come!

TIAMLFTA the USA # 14: Fried Foods

I am all about comfort food. My comfort foods cover a range of cuisines and food groups, but the red blooded American in me is a super fan of good old fried onion rings, catfish, cheddar cheese or popcorn chicken. Unhealthy? Yes. Distributors of immense amounts of happiness? Also yes. I’ll eat a salad with dinner, but for now just hand over the fried cheese.

I assume that it will be hard to transition back to standard, comfortable life in the USA when my time abroad is over. So, to help me get psyched about the Kansas January and term papers that await me in the spring I am starting a list of things I am looking forward to Stateside. Look for more “Things I am Most Looking Forward to About the USA,” or “TIAMLFTA the USA” (pronounced “tee-am-left-a”) for short, in the weeks and months to come!

TIAMLFTA the USA # 13: Target

That is Target as in the American superstore giant. Because I miss getting crayons, face cream, and peaches all in one store. If I had a car/ could read Italian (they really would balance each other out) then this might be a different story, but trying to find three different stores for three different things is a little complex for my limited Italian and confusing bus map.

I assume that it will be hard to transition back to standard, comfortable life in the USA when my time abroad is over. So, to help me get psyched about the Kansas January and term papers that await me in the spring I am starting a list of things I am looking forward to Stateside. Look for more “Things I am Most Looking Forward to About the USA,” or “TIAMLFTA the USA” (pronounced “tee-am-left-a”) for short, in the weeks and months to come!

TIAMLFTA the USA # 12: Libraries

There is a library here at Villa Morghen, but that is not saying much. It is primarily an Italian library and that’s the issue I’m really having. There are about 16 books in English here and about 3 that I would actually consider reading under normal circumstances. The situation here is a bit dire, though, so I may be forced into the literary equivalent of Santiago eating raw fish on his boat and read the fifth Harry Potter book completely out of context. Times and hard, ladies and gentlemen, and sometimes hard times call for drastic measures.

I assume that it will be hard to transition back to standard, comfortable life in the USA when my time abroad is over. So, to help me get psyched about the Kansas January and term papers that await me in the spring I am starting a list of things I am looking forward to Stateside. Look for more “Things I am Most Looking Forward to About the USA,” or “TIAMLFTA the USA” (pronounced “tee-am-left-a”) for short, in the weeks and months to come!

TIAMLFTA the USA #11: English Small Talk

It’s the old man that wants to comment on the painting at a flea market. It’s the lady and the grocery store that wants to commiserate with someone about the horrible selection of produce. It’s the little kid who wants to be friends on the bus. They make their move and you look at them with a face of apologetic incomprehension. I probably agree with you, but I have no idea what you just said.

Small talk is a little advanced for my current Italian skills and I miss it. I always took for granted the ability to turn to someone and strike up and conversation, or at least make and comment that makes us both smile. Alas and alack, my small talk skills are on holiday until I hit the Houston airport again.

I assume that it will be hard to transition back to standard, comfortable life in the USA when my time abroad is over. So, to help me get psyched about the Kansas January and term papers that await me in the spring I am starting a list of things I am looking forward to Stateside. Look for more “Things I am Most Looking Forward to About the USA,” or “TIAMLFTA the USA” (pronounced “tee-am-left-a”) for short, in the weeks and months to come!

TIAMLFTA the USA #10: Ice

Along the lemonade lines, (TIAMLFTA the USA #5) I am feeling the warm absence of ice in my life. I have had ice ONCE since being here, but that hasn’t exactly filled the gap. Apparently the nuances of temperature are not such a big deal here, as I have also been served many a lukewarm bowl of pasta or slice of pizza. When I get back I am going to only eat frozen or unbelievably warm things until I’ve gotten my palate back into the swing of things.

I assume that it will be hard to transition back to standard, comfortable life in the USA when my time abroad is over. So, to help me get psyched about the Kansas January and term papers that await me in the spring I am starting a list of things I am looking forward to Stateside. Look for more “Things I am Most Looking Forward to About the USA,” or “TIAMLFTA the USA” (pronounced “tee-am-left-a”) for short, in the weeks and months to come!

TIAMLFTA the USA #9: Seeing New Movies in Theaters

Sadly I did not make it to “The Other Guys” before I left the States, and I’m regretting it. Now I’ll have to wait for it to come out on DVD before I see it, unless I feel like watching it dubbed in Italian first. Same with “Eat, Pray, Love,” “A-Team,” and “Toy Story 3” (I know I’m a little late on that one—give me a break, I was in Ireland.) And don’t even remind me that I’m going to be missing the premieres of “The Social Network,” “Freakomonics,” and “Howl.” So much catching up to do come December.

I assume that it will be hard to transition back to standard, comfortable life in the USA when my time abroad is over. So, to help me get psyched about the Kansas January and term papers that await me in the spring I am starting a list of things I am looking forward to Stateside. Look for more “Things I am Most Looking Forward to About the USA,” or “TIAMLFTA the USA” (pronounced “tee-am-left-a”) for short, in the weeks and months to come!

TIAMLFTA the USA #8: My Family

Sap time.

I miss my family. A lot.

If you’ve never done it, it’s hard being an ocean away from the people you love. Often it doesn’t seem different than living a city or and state away, but sometimes it really hits you how far away you really are. I am so thankful that I am here with such good and supportive friends who do their fair share to keep the edge off, but there’s still nothing like a hug from Dad, a good conversation with Mom, and a flying tackle from a little brother.

I assume that it will be hard to transition back to standard, comfortable life in the USA when my time abroad is over. So, to help me get psyched about the Kansas January and term papers that await me in the spring I am starting a list of things I am looking forward to Stateside. Look for more “Things I am Most Looking Forward to About the USA,” or “TIAMLFTA the USA” (pronounced “tee-am-left-a”) for short, in the weeks and months to come!

TIAMLFTA the USA #7: High Heels

I miss my high heels. I miss the ones with sheer red lace uppers, the boot ones that lace up the back, the green ones that are so ridiculously high and unusually colored that I have yet to find a reason to wear them. They are all beautiful, unique, and not currently residing somewhere that I can wear them. So when I hit the States again, despite snow and peril, I will be wearing my high heels, even if it’s just while I’m doing laundry in my pajamas.

I assume that it will be hard to transition back to standard, comfortable life in the USA when my time abroad is over. So, to help me get psyched about the Kansas January and term papers that await me in the spring I am starting a list of things I am looking forward to Stateside. Look for more “Things I am Most Looking Forward to About the USA,” or “TIAMLFTA the USA” (pronounced “tee-am-left-a”) for short, in the weeks and months to come!

TIAMLFTA the USA #6: A Closet

TIAMLFTA the USA #6: A Closet

Living out of a suitcase gets old. Really fast. REALLY fast. From the moment I lugged my bags from the flat in London to the Eurostar, I knew that I had found the number one downside of traveling: lugging all my junk around. And now that I’m finally at my destination in Italy, I realize how very few clothing options I really have. I already can’t wait to get back to my full size closet with all its impractical high heels, plaid shirts, cocktail dresses and teal corduroys (yes, I do have more than one pair). But in the mean time: shopping, anyone?

I assume that it will be hard to transition back to standard, comfortable life in the USA when my time abroad is over. So, to help me get psyched about the Kansas January and term papers that await me in the spring I am starting a list of things I am looking forward to Stateside. Look for more “Things I am Most Looking Forward to About the USA,” or “TIAMLFTA the USA” (pronounced “tee-am-left-a”) for short, in the weeks and months to come!

TIAMLFTA the USA #5: Lemonade

TIAMLFTA the USA #5: Lemonade

There must be some close guarded American secret about making lemonade, because they have yet to figure it out—in Ireland, England, France or Italy at least. Lemonade is one of my favorite ways to beat the heat and a glass sounds mighty good right now.

I assume that it will be hard to transition back to standard, comfortable life in the USA when my time abroad is over. So, to help me get psyched about the Kansas January and term papers that await me in the spring I am starting a list of things I am looking forward to Stateside. Look for more “Things I am Most Looking Forward to About the USA,” or “TIAMLFTA the USA” (pronounced “tee-am-left-a”) for short, in the weeks and months to come!