21 in Italy

I’ve now passed the essential American milestone. On Thursday I turned 21. I think this birthday ranks probably the best in several years. Spoiled by parents who always threw me perfectly themed parties, my last couple birthdays in college haven’t been that fantastic. My tonsil infection last year didn’t help. As a friend noted late last night, I really milked this one. On Thursday, my new friends threw me a surprise lunch party at school. They broke out spumante and certainly the best store bought cake I’ve ever had (you can get them like that here). As I’ve already a little bashfully told my parents, champagne during school is made even more interesting when you drink out of a coffee mug.

Friday was the last day of the language intensive, so all of us had a test to see how much Italian the professors have been able to cram into our brains with long days of grammar, Pictionary, singing, and endless games. In light of that, I postponed the true 21st celebration until Friday night. On Thursday night, Carla asked me to invite one of my friends from school over for a mini feste. I requested caprese, my favorite Italian dish that I had yet to have. Carla made an amazing cake with coffee, chocolate, crème, and apricot slices--mmm. Over dinner my friend Chelsea and I attempted to explain to Carla the ingredients of an American gourmet salad with chevre, walnuts, apples, and balsamic. Now she makes it every other night.

The girls going out in Siena for my first barhopping bday
Carla's mini feste

Last night was the main affair (officially my 3rd birthday celebration in 2 days). All of us girls from the program, save one who was on a trip, began the evening at an Irish pub. We moved onto another and then a Cuban bar, my favorite nightlife spot in Siena. It’s called the Bella Vista Social Club (I was seriously surprised that so few of the girls had heard of its namesake, the Buena Vista). We ended the evening in a fun discotheque in the city, much less “suuperrr sketchy” than our night at Vanigla a couple weeks ago.

I sit here in my Italian apartment, doing what I’d probably be doing in the states on Valentine’s. I’m watching Italian MTVs Top 50 love songs. I’m not sure how number 4 is George Michael’s “ Careless Whisper.” OK so Whitney’s “I Will Always Love You” is fair for number one. Man I forget how much I love 80s-early 90s music videos and the movie “Bodyguard.” What I wouldn't give for a Saturday of TNT movies in English. I'll settle for Carmen Electra's top 50 love songs if I can watch after running in the tuscan rolling hills.