Day Twenty-Three.

Today was pretty good.

We woke up late (around 10) and went to the Mensa around 12:15 and then headed to the Campus Center to study for our Italian quiz. We actually made use of the study rooms upstairs! The test was pretty reasonable and I made a bunch of really stupid, small mistakes but I definitely got the main part that was being tested correct (i.e. the verb tenses, etc.). Plus, I'm taking the class Pass/Fail. All I really want is to learn to speak the language. Not that this will help...I can write and read it, but not really speak it. We do absolutely NO speaking practice.

After our quiz we walked with Dan to a side of town we had never seen before to meet up with a group of Italian girls who play soccer. Some people in our group are interested in playing with them and then some of us just wanted to meet people. Due to a mix-up, we didn't actually get to talk to the girls but maybe next week. On the way back we went into an electronics store and Erin bought new headphones (she broke both pairs she brought here!). Then we headed down Via Maestra and got gelato at our favorite place and cereal for the next week. Special K, yay!

Then we chilled in the apartment until 7 when Jordan, Erin, Kiki and Laura went to La Duchessa and I waited behind for Kate to get out of the shower. We were going to go to La Duchessa as well but I mentioned that earlier today Dan pointed out where the sole Chinese restaurant in Alba was and we decided to go there. It was a good walk but it was nice to walk. On the way there we stopped in a different electronics store and found a webcam for Kate (hers was crapping out). We eventually found the Chinese place and it was cheap and cute. The food was very clearly an Italian interpretation of Chinese food. Smaller portions and something healthier about it. It didn't really satisfy our craving but it was good enough for now.

After dinner we walked to Akash and I used a voucher for pineapple and Kate used one for lemon cake. The change from our vouchers more than covered our dinner at the Chinese restaurant (17 euro)! We were excited. This means we can eat other places (granted, cheap ones) and still have our meal plan pay for it. Yay.

Tomorrow we don't have class (Friday!) so I'm going out on a mission to find gym clothes. I want to start going to the gym with Kate and Kiki and Laura so I asked Mom to mail me my shoes and gym clothes (I didn't anticipate going to the gym while I was here) but it would cost $100 to get the box here so Mom told me to just buy gym clothes here... Well, anyway, tomorrow's mission is to find said clothes. I asked Dan and he suggested going to the Chinese market by the train station because there are a lot of cheap things there. I'll start my mission by going to the Chinese market in the morning and then the sports stores I've seen around town after lunch. I at least need shorts and shoes by Monday if I want to go to the gym. Shirts and socks can be bought at the market next week (we'll be away this Saturday in Genoa!) if need be.

I'll let you know how it goes! Wish me luck.