Fun & Games

February 17, 2025

I’ve been back in Italy for over a month now, which is crazy because I’ve accomplished nothing. I’ve barely made a dent in my thesis, I haven’t taken a single exam, and I haven’t found a job for when I graduate… but I have had a whole lot of fun.

A few friends and I have picked up climbing as a hobby. I’m so bad at it! I’ve never been known for having any arm strength. One of the days we went, Teresa, Sam and I thought we’d have the whole gym to ourselves to boulder (the easiest runs) as we pleased. We got our shoes and got changed only to find there was an entire sixth grade class there for a lesson that day. Kids are like monkeys! They made it look so easy! It was equal parts hilarious and mortifying trying to climb next to them. I could not stop laughing.

Tuesday night, I baked a cake then carried it across town to my friend’s house in a salad spinner (innovative cake holder, I know) while rain was pouring down. Teresa and I surprised Liana with a cake/game night/prosecco party to ring in her birthday at midnight and it was so much fun. I am usually a game hater, but lately I’ve been enjoying Bingo and Dutch Blitz. It brings out a whole new side of my friends. I’m getting a glimpse at their competitive nature and they are getting a glimpse of my older-sibling tendencies as I try to explain the rules of Dutch Blitz to them. Games are a great way to bring out the good, the bad, and the ugly in people… but thankfully our competitive streaks just last as long as each game. All of us girls went to our favorite bar the next night to celebrate Liana’s birthday for real, and the owners brought out plate after plate of Italian snacks and food. Thursday, a few girls and I had a poke bowl night, and we stayed up watching the best YouTube videos from childhood. Friday, Marte made us meatballs at home then we had a small Galentine’s game night, which ended with us going to a speakeasy across the street where we met the mayor of Piacenza, sang ABBA, and played foosball. Wild times!!

On Saturday Ruby, Marte and I caught a morning train out of town and headed to Parma. Marte’s boyfriend has a family vineyard near there, and they were putting on a Wine and Jazz event. It felt so nice getting out of the city and into the country. When we arrived in the morning, the nearby hills were dusted in snow, but it all melted by the afternoon because it was such a beautiful day! We wined and dined, and I yodeled into a megaphone, which was a bucket list item I didn’t know I needed to check off. Truly one of my favorite days I’ve had since moving here.

Classes start today, and while I’ve enjoyed all the fun and games, I’m ready to start working again! It’s my real last-first-day of school! Eeep! I’m excited to see what this last semester holds.