Benvenuti a Bologna!

Buongiorno a tutti,

Niraj and I have decided to blog our adventures, day to day life, and anything else that presents itself not only to keep in touch with those we left behind in the States but also as a reminder to us of everything we did here! So, welcome to our life...

I have been here just over two weeks now, and Niraj has been here a month longer than that. Niraj has successfully completed his pre-term courses with flying colors, and this week has marked the beginning of the fall semester. He's been busy getting back into "school-mode" and figuring out how to survive the hundreds of pages of "suggested" reading! The people in his program are definitely very diverse and are from all parts of the world with all sorts of backgrounds. The majority of them seem very friendly and anxious to meet people which is encouraging. Since being here we have also both ventured to Munich for Oktoberfest and had a blast out there!

Day to day life has definitely been a big adjustment, but we're both starting to feel like we're getting settled. The apartment we are living in is fantastic and is beginning to feel like a home away from home. There is a balcony which looks into a small courtyard and all the neighbors apartments (and once I learn Italian I can understand what they are saying!). We are in a fantastic location and within walking distance to most things, and overall the apartment seems very large for European housing. It definitely has its quirks though! For example, turning on the washing machine (which is in the kitchen of course), using a computer, and turning on any lights will most definitely blow the power out. To enter the apartment it is necessary to turn the key around four times and then push on the door with the key still in the lock. Hanging the clothes on the line outside to dry and forgetting to bring them in when it starts to rain is never a good idea. The rock band that rehearses next door practices the same song for weeks and appears to love American Classic Rock. And finally, no matter how you sit on the couch it is inevitable that you will roll off taking the sofa cover and cushion(s) with you.

Bologna seems to be a nice place to live, and we are slowly learning the way of the land. The apartment is on a quiet dead-end side street, and the nearby major cross streets have everything including a pharmacy, a bakery (which I have yet to go to when they are actually open...), a butcher, a mini-market, and a post office. Between home and the John's Hopkins building we pass many produce stands, gelaterias, restaurants, and cafes. Within 10-15 minutes walking you can either be at school or in the city center which is fantastic.

The food here is fantastic, and I am looking forward to learning exactly how to cook it all. I'm hoping to enroll in some cooking classes and my goal is to make Pasta Bolognese (Ragu) from scratch. So definitely check back for updates on that! The grocery stores are filled with fresh breads, handmade refrigerated pastas, sauces, thin cured meats, cheeses (the Parmesan is INCREDIBLE out here!!), unique fruits and vegetables, and lots of cheap, cheap wine. There are also tons of cafes that offer aperitivo's where you pay for one drink (typically 3-5 euros for a glass of wine) and get unlimited trips to their appetizer/small-plate buffet. It's a fantastic happy hour type of deal! Of course there are also great pizza places nearby, and we found a small calzone joint yesterday that was quite delicious. Oh, and don't even get me started on the gelato! Yum! Apparently there's even a geletaria here that offers tastings and parings with sweet wines!

All in all it has been a great start. We definitely miss everybody back home and there are still lots of things to figure out, but we already creating a mile-long list of places to go, clubs to join, and things to do. We are doing a city tour tomorrow, so after that I will be able to describe more of what Bologna has to offer! So until next time...

Ciao!

Danielle