Ouch! My foot...

Jenny and I both are in pain! My foot began hurting earlier today as we traveled more and more but I just ignored it as "just another pain" to add to my soreness list.

But it worsened. Now, my left foot feels like a small-hoofed animal stepped on the top of it and bruised it. We have walked so much in the past few days that I'm afraid I have put too much stress on it and caused a stress fracture. It feels like it is bruised, but isn't swollen or red. It just HURTS to put any pressure on that spot. When I put on my shoes and they push up against it, it hurts as I bend my foot...and as I walk, it progressively worsens, to the point where I can't walk on it anymore.

Someone left the elevator door open on the 6th floor, so we had to walk all the way up to 6 from floor 0...it took us about 5 times longer than normal because we "granny-walked" it step by step.

This is really kind of depressing, because we were going to go to St. Peter's Basilica in the morning and I honestly can't walk if my foot hurts like it does now. Jenny says her feet are hurting badly too. I really hope we haven't hurt our feet badly, but we will see in the morning and go from there.

Ciao,

Briana

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#4 - That "well-rounded" education could pay off

Students everywhere have designated the I-will-never-ever-use-anything-I-learn-in-this-class-again title to a foreign language class. They just know they will never need it. Well, I am SO glad I took Spanish!

I've learned quickly that Italian is very similar to Spanish...and I love Spanish! It has been helpful in understanding a few things people say and quite a few signs! Numbers are almost exactly the same! Now I wish I knew more Spanish...

While in the airport, the signs were all translated into English...

...which was horrible preparation for what would happen when I stepped outside the doors...no English!

Jeremy took Logan, my traveling buddy, away from me because we didn't have room in the taxi...but thankfully, I had two new friends to experience this culture shift with me - Amanda and Jen. (See lesson #5 - Make friends.)

Our taxi driver didn't know where to take us...and for the first time on this trip, the thought occurred to me, "You don't speak English, do you?" I looked to the left and right of me at travelers in cars as we zoomed past them (speedy cab driver) and thought, "and neither do you...or you...or you..." I was surrounded. I was surrounded by people I didn't understand. A little frightening, maybe. Okay, yes, very. But, wait...it gets better...

After we arrived at our destination (by handing him a piece of paper with the address on it), I asked "How much does it cost?" (in Italian!) and I understood him when he told me 40 euros (in Italian!)! It was so exciting!...if you can't tell from all of the !!!!s. =)











Of course it is harder to speak Italian than it is to read it, but I'm just excited that I can understand some things!

It's definitely better to know some Italian phrases - so far I've used "excuse me," "thank you," "you're welcome," "goodbye," and "how much does it cost?" I need to learn words like "here" and "sorry" (because obviously I need to apologize for not knowing what people are saying, like this RUDE lady at the market). I also need to learn the word "this" so I can point at things I can't pronounce or don't know.






Off to learn a few more things in Italian...Never stop learning! Hey, maybe by the time I'm ready to come home, my blog will be "Life Lessons Learned in a Country Where I Didn't Understand Anyone but Now I Do."

Ciao!

Briana

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"This money is so PRETTY!" - Me

#3 - Don't get distracted and miss important things

Are you afraid of missing important moments during your flying experience?

The following are lists of things I may or may not have done, but I have compiled them for your entertainment using photos taken with my Blackberry's camera phone along my trip to Rome.

Don't miss your flight. While you are waiting to board, do NOT:

continuously take pictures of other people boarding flights (while missing the chance to board yourself)

call others over to look at the old MS-DOS-like ATM interface

walk around making smart-alack comments about the names of shops and restaurants in the airport - ex: Tailwind

ride the moving sidewalk, sit on the moving sidewalk, or surf on the moving sidewalk

dine in a restaurant with great food when you obviously do not have time to spare

make a game out of "How long can I wait to get on the metro before the doors close?"

wait until the last minute to exchange currency

attempt quickly to learn another language strictly by reading signs along the airport hallways

Don't miss the important instructions once aboard the aircraft. 

While the announcements are being made, do NOT:

compare illustrations on the safety brochure to illustrations on the 90s show "The Magic School Bus"

take pictures of scenery out the aircraft window

read/shop the SkyMiles magazine

listen to the cries of an extremely bothered infant

Don't miss your luggage at the baggage claim. 

While the baggage is being released onto the conveyor belt, do NOT:

attempt to read names on other people's baggage to see who they are or where they have flown

watch one bag revolve around until someone picks it up

count how many people are wearing blue

Briana

--

It's-a Roma!

Since I can't get photos off of my phone right now to post (and I have 5 blogs written that need pictures), I thought I would let you know that:
Yes, I did make it to Rome!
And yes, it is beautiful!
And yes, I have already managed to hurt myself!

Okay, the last one is not as exciting as the first two, however, my foot will HOPEFULLY be better soon. I have somehow managed to pull a muscle or something in the top of my foot. I wore sandals yesterday...bad idea. Now, I can't hardly walk...and yes, I am serious.

Our wireless internet does not like us, so it will not let me connect my Blackberry, and most of the time, it will not even let me get internet on my laptop.

Here's a picture of Amber and I at Piazza Navona on Monday night (14th) after dinner!

I took that one with my point-and-shoot camera and now I am using my dSLR. I will post as much as I can on my blog once I figure out the best way to transfer pictures from my phone. Don't forget to post some "doits" (random things for me to do that will not get me arrested), comment on my blog, and follow me on Twitter at @lifeofbriana.

Arrivaderci! Love you all!

Briana

#2 - Fill your days with things that matter

12 hours...12 hours and I will be at the airport boarding the plane with Logan. It is so unreal...I can't believe it! I feel like I'm trying to squeeze everything I can into this last day before I leave. I still have lots of pictures to edit before I go...and emails to send...and things to pack...but everything seems to have taken a backseat to things that have to do with other people. And really, I don't mind that at all. I have had a great last two days here!

Yesterday, I...
- Said goodbye to everyone at work. It will feel so weird not going to work for three weeks and I will miss it!
- Said goodbye to my little sister (BBBS), Nyla, who turns 8 on Monday. I brought chocolate sundaes for her birthday, but I forgot to bring spoons, so as you can imagine, it was an interesting experience! Haha!
- Went to my Granny's to tell her Happy Mother's Day!
- Went to school to finalize things for class...woohoo!
- Took pictures for my cousin's middle school prom...yes, prom...in middle school!
- Went to my Granny Wanda's house to visit her and tell her Happy Mother's Day!
- Watched "Monster In Law" with my mom and fell asleep on the couch...and didn't wake up until this morning!

Today, I...
- Worked at the gallery downtown and my best friend Amy brought me lunch. I restocked my pictures...about 20 new photos are in! I met some other people who had traveled to Italy and one lady who is going in July, who has some great travel photos on display at the library.
- Went to church, where I hit people with a blow-up guitar and talked about relationships. Sounds fun, right? It definitely was. What a great place to end your day with.
- Went to visit my aunt and tell her Happy Mother's Day.
- Drank a milkshake my dad made...YUMMM.

Amy visited me at the gallery and brought me lunch!

I feel like I've accomplished a lot, except one thing...I might need to finish packing! Haha! It's kind of important.

*Tooooooomorrow, tomorrow, I'm leaving, tomorrow...it's only a day awayyyy!*
- BriAnnie. Lol, get it? Like Annie?...

AAAAH, it's so close! 

Love you all! Buonanotte!

Briana

--

"The most important things in life aren't things." - Unknown

#1 - Change is inevitable

Yes, I have the things I need for my trip. Have I opened my suitcase to pack them? Nope.

Today, as I walked downtown, as I ate my lunch, and as I sat on the couch this afternoon, I kind of "took everything in." As I spent time with the band, Jeff, Mark, and Jordan at church, and even as I drove home tonight with my windows down, I thought about how different things would be for the next three weeks. I'm so blessed to live here; I'm really going to miss this place while I'm gone.

I've never been away from home for three weeks, and I've never been out of the country for more than nine days. I'm sure it will go by so quickly, but it will definitely be different than what I am used to. It's funny how change is so hard for us as humans, because we should be used to it by now...life is full of change!

I'm not gonna lie, I'm pretty nervous about the whole airport situation, just getting to the right places at the right times and not missing flights and not getting mugged and not losing my baggage and what-not. But, I am super excited to travel, to take pictures, to see the sky from above - it's breath-taking - and to experience another culture.

I want and need to do so much before I leave so I better get some sleep!

And you, be thinking of some doits - random things for me to do on my trip - because I will start them on Sunday as I leave.

Love you guys! Buonanotte! - Briana

--

"Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all they have." - Jackson Brown

Intro to "Doit."

My Rome trip - it's in 3 days, considering it's past midnight already! I can't believe it's so close! I can't even express how excited, nervous...and unprepared I am!

I am readily awaiting the flights and sights - and the cheesiness that I will impart on you with sayings like flights and sights - throughout the duration of this trip.

I will be blogging about my travels from the US to Italy (and back) and the things I experience and learn along the way. I will include pictures or videos from my trip and hopefully be able to tell some entertaining stories - I'm sure I will have some stories...!

Each post will be a "life lesson," some serious and some silly and comical - because we all know that laughter is vital to a well-lived life.

Here's your part: I want you to give me something interesting, fun, or random to do each day!
We can call it "Doit." You must include "doit" in your comment.

Here's an example of what you can post on this blog:
"Take a picture with a stranger at the airport. Doit."

Yes, that says "Doit." Initially, this started out as "Do it." but I left out the space. I was about to erase it, but then I pronounced it...and I liked "doit" quite a lot. When you comment, you must - in your mind (or out loud...it's more fun) - say "doit."

I can't wait to see what my challenges are...I will choose one each day! I have to admit, I'm a little scared. But, you know, life is - for me - one giant collection of awkward moments. You are helping me build my collection, and I must learn to embrace that. ;-)

And here I go...

Getting ready to publish...

Love you guys! Buonanotte! - Briana

--

"Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all they have." - Jackson Brown