Wednesday, January 7th, 2009
3mile run on the track to start with.
Boringggā¦. 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 ā¦ā¦ 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 funā¦ how on earth are we not going to hang out now ā¦
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 (donāt know the Manās 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 =)
Thereās 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 āhow many people are you?ā
Man turns to me, half smiling, half pissed, and says āhow one earth does he charge, by the kilo?ā
Man tells the driver āweāre more than oneā. (just to see what answer he gets).
Driver says ā5 euroā.
I ask the Man laughing āhey, why donāt I join your groupā.
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 donāt understand what he is going to do with all those five-euro bills now. But they formed a thick thick packā¦
Another guy with OCDā¦ 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 jokeā¦ [/i]
I went to my temporary hotel, and then I got scared. Nothing wrong with the hotel ā¦ I just felt homesick. So to familiarize myself in my new environment, I started doing isometrics, 35minutes of them. It didnāt really help.
Good thing thereās a large mirror in the room, I stared into it and wondered why Iām 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 ā all the timeā¦ā¦), I still appreciate some kind and caring wordsā¦
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 theyāre 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 hearā¦!!! I donāt have Alzheimerās and Iām 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 donāt even remember what I did today. I just remember that there is more paper work to be done on Mondayā¦ Ahhhā¦ 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: āStop everyone on the street and talk to them. Someone will help youā.
Actually that was funny, because today people were stopping ME to help meā¦ 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 manā¦ I was again reading my map, a smiling man stopped me and started talking so fast, I had no idea what he was sayingā¦ 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 didnāt 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 couldnāt feel my fingers by the end of this, but thatās okā¦ )
p.s. Donāt ask about my training plans just yetā¦
Classes start if not next Friday, the following week.
I am still homesick. But thatās okā¦
I should start drawing again soon.
Track savesā¦ 
(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 projectsā¦ Completed 44 paintings (I just counted them!),. My oldest sister got marriedā¦ 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/envelopesā¦ My parents finished building their new home in the suburbs so now we have an āextraā place to go to and rest in nature and close to the sea. Iāve 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.
I have a link, not because Iām inviting you (itās an expensive entrance fee and it should make me more nervous, but I really am taking it very lightly), heckā¦ if youāre in the area, sneak in and weāll meet!! ( 
Darnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn !!!
