Wednesday, January 7th, 2009
3mile run on the track to start with.
Boringgg…. I kept track of my laps by moving one lane to the left after every lap (started on lane 6), and then back out again. So technically I ran more than 3 miles, wow.
Travel day.
Long plane delay …… almost a 3 hour wait due to a snow storm in Milan.
But I went home and slept instead of waiting there. And ate some more home-food, because I knew it would be a while until my next mommy-cooked meal =(
My sister is so much fun… how on earth are we not going to hang out now …
Did I mention she broke her cast 2 weeks before it was due? I am trying to get her to avoid her compensation pattern limp and speed up her healing process, but I think the doctors have convinced her that this will take at least 6 weeks.
Uncomfortable plane ride, my stomach has been a mess the past few days. I have been ignoring it, only today was too sharp.
Met some nice people on this flight (all Greek). A pharmacy-student, another something-student, a third political science student, and a Man (don’t know the Man’s name).
But the Man was funny.
The luggage took about an hour to arrive. I learned during the wait though that if I were to take a taxi, to tell the taxi driver in advance that I know how much the ride would cost, otherwise he would rip me off badly. But no thank you anyway, the shuttle bus saved me 80 euros, and avoidance of negative energy creation =)
There’s freakin much snow in Milan! It snowed 45cm today. When I was in Athens, one of the days was a short-sleeve weather day.
[i]After the luggage arrived, I looked for the shuttle, which cost 7 euros.
Then the Man showed up, and he asked me if I knew the price.
I said 7 euros.
Then he himself asks the driver what the price is. The driver asks “how many people are you?”
Man turns to me, half smiling, half pissed, and says “how one earth does he charge, by the kilo?”
Man tells the driver “we’re more than one”. (just to see what answer he gets).
Driver says “5 euro”.
I ask the Man laughing “hey, why don’t I join your group”.
Man tells me our bus was illegal cause the driver handed no tickets.
Driver also refused to give change, and if he had to, he got all upset and yelled. I don’t understand what he is going to do with all those five-euro bills now. But they formed a thick thick pack…
Another guy with OCD… ha.
Funny ride =)[/i]
[i]At the Central Station a man tried to steal my bags. I karate chopped him and left him unconscious.
Ok no, the above was a joke… [/i]
I went to my temporary hotel, and then I got scared. Nothing wrong with the hotel … I just felt homesick. So to familiarize myself in my new environment, I started doing isometrics, 35minutes of them. It didn’t really help.
Good thing there’s a large mirror in the room, I stared into it and wondered why I’m wasting minutes of my life being frightened. I found my powers into the reflective image of my face and also thanked God for a precious friend who made me feel heaps better =). Although I constantly strive for situations of unfamiliarity (or life finds them for me – all the time……), I still appreciate some kind and caring words…
Of course I talked with my mom as well, but I try not to worry her with my own worries, although she miraculously read my un-comfort and had my favorite psych-sister call me again later. And then again.
I wish I had internet. :mad:
So let me summarize the rest of training:
35min isometrics
Thursday, January 8th
[i]
No training today, just a lot of walking around, doing tons of bureaucratic things, that I highly despise, but did not let them bring m down > I turned myself into an apathetic mode with a flavor of confidence, and things worked out.
The most interesting part was talking with the secretary of my department who knew nothing but Italian.
I am really not in the mood and state to learn a new language, but apparently it is inevitable (I know they’re not working on their English anyway =).
My short term memory is really messed up since last year, so I cannot remember that easily new words that I hear…!!! I don’t have Alzheimer’s and I’m not that old, I swear!
Things are very unsettling at the moment, and I am more homesick. But I am growing.
(The last phrase I just threw in there to make me feel better). [/i]
Friday, January 9th
[i]More paper work. I don’t even remember what I did today. I just remember that there is more paper work to be done on Monday… Ahhh… Codice fiscale, then a tax form, then open a bank account, then at the Uni to fill another form. Are there people to hire for this kind of stuff??
I met a Brazilian guy today, his tip of the day was: “Stop everyone on the street and talk to them. Someone will help you”.
Actually that was funny, because today people were stopping ME to help me… One guy saw me reading my map while trying to find a street, and he asked me if I needed any help. So nice![/i]
A little later, another helping man… I was again reading my map, a smiling man stopped me and started talking so fast, I had no idea what he was saying… He knew some Greek words too. And English. He explained he was trying to be funny before. I never found out the joke!!
He wanted my phone number to call me later, good thing he asked in Italian, so I just pretended I didn’t understand =D
I went to the Small Collosseum arena for some training. The whoooollllle track was covered with snow, except for the outer lane. Neat =)
5 laps jogging
10x10m @50%
10x10m @75%
10x10m@100%
(all good =))
4x60m@90-95%
4x60m@<90%(trying to find some better form)
(I couldn’t feel my fingers by the end of this, but that’s ok… )
p.s. Don’t ask about my training plans just yet…
Classes start if not next Friday, the following week.
I am still homesick. But that’s ok…
I should start drawing again soon.
Track saves… 
(some of you followed bits and pieces of this story when it started early in 2009), - technically I now have four more siblings (!!) visited tons of new cities, in Italy, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Turkey, France - some for conferences (got awarded the best paper internationally in one), most for fun. I studied a LOT, read a LOT and wrote a LOT, made projects… Completed 44 paintings (I just counted them!),. My oldest sister got married… she is now pregnant and I will be an aunt in December =) My middle sister opened a new english school - I made all the graphic design for their notebooks/folders/school sign/school doors/business cards/advertising pamphlets/envelopes… My parents finished building their new home in the suburbs so now we have an “extra” place to go to and rest in nature and close to the sea. I’ve participated in my first mountain races (three times) and have run as long as 15km :o , and completed my longest time-span run of 1 hour and 25min.