Still in America...

For those of you who aren't aware, a very famous Italian author by the name of Beppe Severgnini once wrote a very funny book about the experiences of an Italian in a crazy country called America. The book poked fun at Americans and Italians both, and if you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend it. Anyway, a few years ago I went to Italy for a summer language program through the University of Missouri-Columbia. It was such an eye-opening experience for me that on the plane trip back to the States, I vowed to myself that I would find a way back (preferably paid for). Indeed years later I did just that, with the help of the Rotary Foundation (thanks guys!) and I am due to leave the US in approximately one month. I intend to keep this blog as a record of my experiences abroad. That said, I should mention that simply preparing to go has been one of the most frustrating experiences of my life (I'm sure this is just training for future dealings with the bureaucracy in Italy). Italian bureaucracy always leaves one feeling rather like a second class citizen, as though you could speed up the process if only you knew the right person. I am sorry to say that if you go to the Consulate's office in Chicago, the people there (whom I have never met) know me by name and I assure you that is no compliment to me. If you go to either of the Secretary of States offices in either Missouri or Illinois, they know me as well (in MO: hi Julie, Wilma, and Jackie; in IL: hi Vanessa). As it is, I have no set date yet for the Masters program I am supposed to start in 2 months. And certainly, then, no end date. In fact, I'm supposed to go to Florence for language training the month before classes begin, but since I'm not sure when they begin, I have a slight problem. Have you ever tried to buy a plane ticket with that kind of information at your disposal?:
Laura: "I'd like to purhase a plane ticket please."
Agent: "I'd be happy to help you. Where are you going?"
Laura: "Italy."
Agent: "That's lovely. Where in Italy would you like to go?"
Laura: "Well, first I need to go to Florence."
Agent: "And when would you like to leave for Florence?"
Laura: "Well, I'm not sure. I guess I could leave on January 7th."
Agent: "Umm, sure. I can book a flight for January 7th. How long will you be staying?"
Laura: "Well, I'm not sure. I need to leave Florence and fly to Genova at some point, but I guess I could fly back on the 1st of February Then at some point I'll need to come back to St. Louis."
Agent: "Ok, so departing St. Louis for Genova on the 7th of January, and then flying to Genova on the 1st of February?"
Laura: "Sounds good."
Agent: "When would you like to return to St. Louis?"
Laura: "I don't know. I guess the program probably shouldn't take more than 9 months. Anytime in October I guess."
Agent: "So when exactly?"
Laura: "I don't know. Just pick something."

You can imagine the look I would get for that. If I have learned anything about Italians in this process, it's that they have this extraordinary capacity to truly believe that things will just work themselves out. They believe so hard that then it happens. No set date for an masters program set to begin in less than 2 months? No worries! Things will be ok! No visa and you're supposed to leave in 2 weeks? No problem! La vita bella, here I come!