Dear Readers

I'm still alive, in case you were wondering.  It's finals week, but in 36 hours I will be a free woman, and in 4-ish days I'll be home!  There is already a post in the work for my Amalfi Coast trip, and I'll update you on my exciting finals adventures.  If that doesn't keep you checking back every day for the new posts, I don't know what will.

Short story: Today I wore my ND sweatshirt to school, and as I was walking down the street outside the university, a man walked past me and started singing, "Cheer, cheer for old Notre Dame...".  Of course, being completely oblivious, I didn't realize it until he had passed me by, at which point I whipped around to see if he was still addressing me, which of course he wasn't.  I don't know if he was American, Italian, or whatever - that complete stranger blended back into the tiny streets of Rome, but he left me with a huge smile.  It made my day, and reminded me how much I love Notre Dame.  I'll be back on my beautiful campus in 9 days!

I was riding the bus home at twilight today after one of my finals and I was so struck (again) by just how beautiful Rome is.  There's so many little nooks and crannies I'll never get to see - it's huge and every little part of it has so much history.  Rome just celebrated her 2761st birthday - incredible!  There's just not really a comparison in the US.  I've been so lucky to call this place my home for four months.  And to my real home: get ready, here I come!