Gab's Dubai shot

hello loved ones,

it has been a while, I have to get better at updating because I forget everything I have done. But I will do my best.

I moved down a class for uni, because I was too scared to talk in the higher grade, and I'm much happier in my new class. Motivation is a little bit of an issue for us, they haven't quite caught on to the whole idea of airconditioning and the temperature in classrooms is perfect for a nap. I have about 24 hours of class a week, which is a shock to the system of a precious arts student. The classes are pretty well taught, and the people are really lovely, we have a mix of Japanese, Korean, Russian, Sri LAnkan, Indian, Russian, and Americans in our group.

Perugia is still great. They just finished a week long JAzz festival here, which was huge and insane and means the piazza is packed every night until about 5am for a week. Aleisha Keys, James Brown and B.B King were here among others but I went to the free stuff in the piazza, because its free!  There is nothing better than watching a gospel/soul music concert with Italians, they are so excitable and enthusiastic. I also went to a concert of another dance festival which was traditional gypsy like music from Puglia and everyone ended up dancing which was crazy but a lot of fun...

Last weekend I went on a trip with the uni to Napoli, Pompei and the Isle of Capri.  It was good, but I think there were rpobably too many people on the tour, at times there was a bit too much waiting and queueing. Napoli was really interesting, my favourite was the streets of the old spanish quarter. Pompei was obviously also pretty mindblowing, incredibly hot and busy though. So it was a relief to get to Capri the next day and lie on the big grey stones of the beach, and watch all the beautiful people go past.

Perugia is going through a heat wave at the moment, i think it's about 36 today. Yesterday my friend and I went to the pool, which was so refreshing. It's very cute too, everyone has to wear swimming caps so you feel slightly silly, but when everyone else is doing it, its ok. That is definitely the hardest thing about being here, not being close to any large bodies of water gets a little claustrophobic, and a lot of the aussies here are freaking out a little.  Somehow we survive though, as hard as life is here....

we said goodbye to Rhi and Greg who we spent the week in Rome with today, they've been here for 2 weeks on and off so it will be sad but maybe we'll do a bit more studying....

anyway I'm late to meet people...love to everyone, and by the way, my mobile has not been working he last couple of days - I'm trying to sort it out.

love from gab

 

a little hilly

hi fans (borrowed your line soph)

How's it goin'? Things here are still going very well. I now have a complete set of housemates, including 4 Serbians, a Finnish girl, a Swede and and Irish girl. I spent the first few days with them giggling a lot, because I think I've stumbled upon The House of Stereotypes. Two of the Serbs are called Maria, and one of them is this big, jolly girl who always cooks and is constantly trying to get me to eat. The Finnish girl, Rikka, is a 6 foot tall smiley blonde who is very sweet and speaks amazing Italian. The Irish girl, Anna, has red hair, wears a lot of green, and could talk the hind leg off a donkey. Someone suggested that I may be the stereotypical Australian, but I told them they were a few stubbies short of a sixer.

What else? I'm definitely starting to love the town. It's possible that I will one day die on its ridiculously hilly streets, however it is extremely breathtaking and there's hardly an ugly scene to be seen (does that make sense? I don't know, i'm delirious from climbing hills). I have spent a lot of time just sitting in the piazza, a national past-time, which as it involves doing absolutely nothing, suits me down to the ground. Plus everyone's tired from walking up hills.

I have only had one class, but somehow I may have ended up in a grade a little above my ability, which is a bit bloody scary. i'm going to give it a week to see how it goes, I don't know whether to accept the challenge or just slide on down to Comforts-ville, population Gabby. Hehehe. Aah, too many hills.

My speaking is slowly coming along, luckily my housemates don't speak much english, and I've met a few Italians, which is great. This weekend some friends of Anita's that we were with in Rome have also been visiting, so its been un sacco di fun.

ok its best that I go. love and miss yas. I love getting emails and messages, it makes me look very popular and fabulous, so keep it up.

lots of love,

G-Ha