25th Birthday

Not too long after arriving in Italy I had my 25th birthday. I wasn't really sure what to expect and I was a litle depressed leading up to the day. I wanted it to be fun and to have people celebrate with me but we did not have too many friends after just 2 weeks. But to my delight a favorite staff friend, Nicole, came up from Florence to celebrate the day with me and my roommate. We have a great time picnic-ing at the tower and playing around Pisa before stuffing ourselves with some of Pisa's best pizza at La Scuderia. Yummy. Later in the night Amanda planned a little surprise get together of all our friend fromm the cafe across the street. They came over after work around eleven and celebrated with me. We ate some yummy chocolate cake that Amanda made. Here in Italy it is custom for you to make your own birthday cake and throw yourself a party and cook dinner for the guests. I am not really a fan of this tradition. I prefer the American way of birthday parties. Looking around the room made me smile as there were 5 Italians, 2 Albanians and a girl from Czech there to celebrate. They even bought me a birthday gift with a card that read welcome to pisa and welcome in our hearts form the bar roma team. I am excited at hte days ahead as we get to know them better and they become more and more like family away from home for us.

Last Hoorah

Just a little pic from my last weekend in the states. I had a great time visiting with all my coollege friends that I never get to see. It was like a great reunion. My cousin married one of my best friends from college. I had the fun of setting them up. Congrats Josh and Amanda.