Change of address!!!

MY ADDRESS IS CHANGING!  Even if you were just thinking about writing me a letter or sending me something in the mail, please do not do so until JANUARY 7th.  Our office is moving, so I cannot receive mail until they move into the new building on that day.  Here is my new address (new street, new zip code):

Rachel Goodman

c/o Indiana University

Bologna Consortial Studies Program

Via Malcontenti 3

40121 Bologna - Italy

Correspondence will have to continue from here!

In other Bolognese news, I have to say I find myself loving Italy more and more each day.  Actually, that is a blatant lie.  L'amo, l'odio - I love it, I hate it, all at the same time.  But I think there are a lot of people that feel that way here.  It certainly makes the days more emotionally and mentally exciting (or maybe just unstable).  Great example - my walk from my apartment to meet a friend for a coffee generally involves a thought process like this:

Wow.  I have never seen such great Christmas decorations.  They really know how to do it up for the holidays.  I love Italy.  Plus 1.

Oh god.  I just nearly stepped in that huge pile of dog poop.  Why is this city so infested with ugly mean dogs that no one takes the time to neuter and why, someone tell me, WHY does no one pick up their dog poop!?  I hate Italy.  Minus 1.

Oh wait, and now I can't move because I am stuck behind a strike - I think these are the student protesters.  But they could be the communists.  Or probably both.  I actually have no idea.  But it's also probably the reason why my lessons were canceled today.  Rock on Italy.  Plus 1.

That vespa/car/bus pretty much just ran me over.  I think at least the side mirror clipped my shoulder.  For the last time Italian drivers, please stop treating me like part of an obstacle course, or at least stop making me play chicken with you when we are both occupying the same part of the road.  Do you WANT to hit me?  Minus 1.

And so on...so maybe by the time I have reached the caffe, it all evens out and I come out at a total of zero, but at least I can embrace all the crazy, often inefficient, yet always stylish aspects of this place.

Having said that, and although Italy is definitely at the top of its game right now, I cannot wait to eat a huge waffle drowned - I'm talking gallons - in real Michigan maple syrup.