rinaldos was packed for the inauguration- 

this is jenn and i in front of the cool stage- and joeline, me and jenn waiting excitedly

vatican fountain and Pope Benedict-


my new scarf- this is jenn and courtney- jenns new necklace

oops- time got away from me... its been such a busy week although i wouldnt say ive been completely tied down by classes.....

Monday after class we had a party with the italian kids who come here for English classes.   it was really fun- there was wine and snacks as always and we met some really cool kids- a lot of them are in high school- one even friended me on facebook! then we watched Roman Holiday but i was so tired i didnt catch the end.  Tuesday my only class of the day was cancelled because it starts at 5 which is when the induction of Obama was aired over here- well the speech was at 6 but as you can see from the picture, the place was packed by five- it was really cool- a very moving moment- all the faculty was there to celebrate with us too.  Wednesday we went to the Vatican BRIGHT and early- i woke up at 615 i think so we could leave by 7 but we got awesome seats- and could really see teh Pope which was once in a lifetime ! he looked so frail- and i guess he wasnt feeling well so he didnt come all the way down the aisle afterwards- but i did get blessed and i bought a little wooden cross necklace for myself and rosary there which also were blessed by the Pope i thought the Cote's would think it was neat. Thursday i actually had class but it was in the Roman Forum- that professor is SO knowledgeable i wouldnt have missed that class for the world although it meant an early morning again because i had to leave by 8

Dad- when we went we only saw Palatine Hill- The Forum is that lower part taht we exited through- i cant wait to be able to tell you guys all i learned- he asked us not to take pictures during the class cuz it slows him down but i snuck a few anyways-  then we went out thursday and explored Piazza Cavour Friday and today- Father Al- the priest of our little chapel here at jfrc took about 20 of us around to 3 churches ( Basilicas) First we saw the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore (of St. mary Major) then we went into Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano- (St John Lateran), and finished in Basilica di San Paolo (St. Paul)the pictures are awesome- but im exhausted those will go up later this week- tomorrow we're hopefully going to the flea market- im wishing i brought a watch because i never know what time it is- so i might get one there- then i guess ill do homework- i mean i am at school.   anyways- staying crazy busy miss you all- hope home is wonderful- oh mom- i talked to oliver and he's in austria and invited us to come visit how fun would that be- he asked about the sja crowd it was cute.  anyways- lov eyou- gayle if you check this- you are studying way too much or something because i NEVER hear from you- miss you!

sorry if there's typos!