Calcio!

So this week has been a bit uneventful. On Tuesday, as usual, I went with Jordan to volunteering. Once we got down to the school we realized that the gates were both closed, so there was no way of getting into the school. I think it was closed for Easter or something. We just decided to walk back up instead of taking the bus. It was a nice time to catch up with Jordan and get a bit of exercise in. The rest of the week I mainly worked on one of my three papers that I have to write. Luckily, I finished one of them on Friday night. On Friday, I was determined to write most of my paper. I got some coffee and a pastry and then went on a short walk. The rest of the day, I was stuck in front of my computer writing away. I hated it. I just wanted to be sitting outside writing the paper. Now, I know for sure that I definitely couldn't have a job where I sit in a cubicle or office all day. I need to walk around or just have something different to look at. I was going to go to a classical concert on Friday night, but I decided to finish up my paper instead. Part of me wishes I had gone because they played a Beethoven symphony, a Brahms symphony and another one that I didn't know. It would have been so cool to listen to pieces by two musicians that I learned about and played on the piano. But, I am really glad that I was able to finish my paper and not have to worry about it now. Saturday I just did some more homework, mainly my Italian, and didn't do much else. Saturday night I went out with some people from the program because it was Alana's 21st birthday today. I woke up this morning to find out that the soccer game we were all going to go to had been cancelled. There was an AC Siena (the professional soccer team in Siena) home game today and we were all super excited to go. Unfortunately it got postponed because a player from Livorno had died yesterday during a game. He was 25 years old and died due to a heart attack. The article I read was really sad because it said that he was orphaned at a young age and had recently lost his brother, so he didn't have any immediate family left. So, all the professional soccer games were cancelled for today in respect of what had happened. It seemed a bit weird to me to cancel all the games, including the ones from different leagues, but I guess, as my dad put it, "it's solidarity." It just shows that everyone in the soccer world is thinking about this player and keeping him in their thoughts. They are showing support for someone that they may not have known. After thinking about it that way, I understand more of why they did it and it's a really nice gesture. So, instead of going to watch soccer, we decided that we could just play some pick up. About 7 of us went and it was tons of fun! We bought a soccer ball nearby and had found a field that I wouldn't have ever found on my own. It was a nice field and it was just great to kick a soccer ball. I don't realize how much I take for granted that I can just grab a soccer ball, go outside, and juggle it or kick it around. This entire time that I've been here, I have missed soccer so much. All I've wanted to do is play or at least kick a ball once. We got to the field and I immediately shot the ball into the net. It felt amazing! I couldn't stop smiling the entire time we were playing. I never thought I would get so excited over soccer. But, now I've realized how much I truly love the game and I know that it will always be a big part of my life. I can't wait to get back to playing soccer in the fall! We eventually got kicked off the field because it was for private use. We had gotten a decent hour of play in, so we were all very happy. After we all went home to shower and chill out. Then, I went out to dinner for Alana's birthday and it was really nice. It was relaxing and I didn't have to think about cooking something for myself. I got home and skyped my parents. We caught up on everything that was happening at home and here. I can't believe they will be here in 3 short weeks! I can't wait to show them around and show them what I do regularly and all the amazing views there are to see. I think they are really going to love it here :)

Happy 20th birthday E-man! I would have eaten some poptarts for you if they sold them here in Italy. Always a part of me :-) <3