Ode to the Smart Car

I have found that the SmartCar (those little tiny cars that look like toys on the highway) is one of the best inventions ever created. They are everywhere here. They are energy efficient, big enough for two people (and some groceries in the trunk but not much more), and with parking being all parallel and such a nightmare in general here, you can actually back it into a small spot. It's ridiculous. They are the cutest things. They fit in the smallest little spaces. I am officially obsessed with the SmartCar.

So let's see....classes have begun and I have already gotten a feel for how things go around here. Numerous classes cancelled on the first (and second!) days, 10-15 min late profs, lovely little courtyards in which to eat lunch from little cafés, mild weather all the time - it's beautiful here today. Very laid back overall. I like most of my classes but they have a wide range in difficulty and also ability to keep me engaged.

Today is the inauguration!!!!! I wore red,white, and blue today being the nerd that I am. I don't know if anyone has made the connection yet. As we are 6 hrs ahead of DC, the festivities begin here at 5:30 pm and they are hosting a little inauguration party at the school with food and speakers. Although JCU isn't that big (800 students) they invited any and all to come themselves as well as bring friends and are expecting everyone to fit into one 150 person capacity room with a projector. I am determined to see this Live!

We experimented with the buses and determined that while they worked well for us today, they are for the most part going to be unpredictable. So we figure we like the walking while the weather is so nice...maybe not so much when it is raining.

Last night we went to the "free" ND party at Miscellanea (aka Mickey's) which was fun, but maybe not 10 euro worth of fun. The city was silent as we walked home a little after midnight. Kind of makes you forget that Rome is actually a city of 4 million people.