Salve! Should I be worried that I have never taken a single course in Italian, let alone ever traveled to the country that I will be spending the next four months in? I must admit, that I envy my friends who are studying in the country they already have some formal language training in. Nevertheless, it will be an adventure in its own trying to communicate in a completely foreign tongue (at least, if I chose Spain instead of Italy I would have had some previous conversation experience!)...not to mention, everyone in Europe speaks English anyway. Funny how that is.

When traveling or just visiting a new place do you ever feel annoyed with yourself that you are quite obviously a tourist? It even bothers me when I am in Manhattan and I need to consult a map. Sometimes, I just desperately want to be considered a 'local' - like, ''I know what I'm doing and where I want to be!'' This is the only thing that will trouble me when I am getting aquainted with Milan. I so badly want to 'fit in' with the cool, savvy Milanese people.

Some words learned due to the help of a BEGINNER ITALIAN cd my sister's Italian teacher lent me:
good- buono (a)
morning- il mattino
day- il giorno
afternoon- il pomeriggio
evening- la sera
night- la notte
much/a lot- molto
until- a
domani- tomorrow
later- piu tarde
sir/ma'am- signore/signora
fine/well- bene
bad-male
please- per favore
thank you- grazie


A domani! Ciao!

brazilian beats.

My current infatuation (always present yet, until now, a bit dormant), is the music of Brazil. Why I never fostered this interest in Brazilian sounds after hearing them repeatedly in my home, I cannot explain. So romantic, so endearing, so tantalizing, the melodies make you want to dim the lights, have a glass of wine, and enjoy la vida! (Cheesy, I know, but true.)

On my playlist: Trio Mocotò and their Samba Rock album.

Also, check out: Quarteto Jobim-Morelenbaum, Da Lata, Paulino Moska, Moreno Veloso, Jairzinho Oliviera, Jussara Silveira, and Eliete Negreiros.

hello there.

Perhaps I should introduce myself a little more. I'm Kasia. I am a 20 year old confused, curious, good-humored, hopeful girl and I am looking for 'the next big step'. A couple years ago that 'next big step' was college and work. Now, its a fall semester abroad.

My destination: Milano, Italia. The capital of the Lombardy region. Home of Leonardo Da Vinci, the Italian fascist movement, two world-famous football (soccer) teams: A.C. Milan and F.C. Internazionale Milano, and lots and lots of pasta. Milan is renowned as one of the world capitals of fashion and design. Fantastico!

photo taken by mr. acp.

new york summer.

I wasn't supposed to end up spending my entire summer '09 in the Bronx, but that's exactly what I did. It was beautiful.

Summer equaled concert going, photo taking, adventure embarking...working,dreaming, loving, living - new places, new people, new perspectives.

The three months in New York were altogether fantastic, emotional, exciting, frustrating, and eye-opening. For the first time, I was basically independent.