Milano with Mom

This weekend was just what I needed to get away from the cold and depressing Scandinavian weather. As soon as Mom and I arrived in Milan, I looked up at the sun, spread my arms, and prepared myself for a sunburned face. It was wonderful! The weather was beautiful, everyone walking around had these big beautiful dogs. I can't wait to get one! I'm thinking maybe a Great Dane named after my Danish friend Thorsten! The people here are so affectionate with each other too. They definitely aren't shy about their PDA. But I really loved the romantic side to the city. The language is beautiful also... so beautiful that it swayed me to take an Italian class next semester. I will definitely be traveling to Italy a couple more times in my lifetime. The first day we walked around Sforzesco Castle. It was where I fell in love with the Italian atmosphere, music, oh! and I also have a new boyfriend from Senegal (Africa). Ha, well apparently that's what my new bracelet means. They have a lot of peddlers from all sorts of places selling stuff from India, bracelets, and one even attacked Mom with pigeons, then had the nerve to ask for money. Poor mom. I'm taking a picture of the Duomo. I turn around and a guy is trying to take Mom's camera away from her while pigeons are sitting on her head. It was crazy... but so amusing!
Mom and I got really good at navigating the subway. We were also able to use our city sightseeing tour bus as transportation throughout the weekend. While it was expensive, it was way worth it. We learned so much from the bus tour. Apparently, the Milanese re-name all of their statues. Most of the time it is a rather ugly name too. We were also introduced to Happy hours. I loved them. It's where you pay 8 euros or so and it includes a drink of choice and an all you can eat buffet. It is so cheap compared to Oslo. We also tried the pizza which is paper thin crust. Seriously, we had to fold it to eat, because even when we tried with a fork and knife it was just too thin. But I really enjoyed it, and I'm wondering if that means it was healthier for us...
Coffee over here is a totally new experience also. It was so small of a mug. I guess you could compare it to a mug in the form of a shot glass. It tasted like coffee grounds. I don't see how they do it. Mom didn't expect it either, and you could tell it from here face.
While waiting on happy hour to start, of course Mom has to go into all the toy shops looking for things for Coop and Finn. (Ok maybe I'm still a tad jealous, but I'm improving!) But we got to meet this really cool artist. He draws these ant cartoons, and he was there in the shop signing autographs. So he asks, what's your name and what do you like to do. So, I said well recently, I've been traveling quite a bit while studying abroad. He drew a really cool picture of me with a suitcase and map running by the Duomo. Fabio Vettori It was really cool though because Mom told him she was a nurse and teacher. He drew her delivering babies without her even telling him that she was a labor and delivery nurse. Crazy!
Anyways! Now that we are back, it's on to production mode. Mom has been spoiling Christina and I. We came home yesterday and she had a Mexican chicken casserole prepared along with delicious pastries she'd saved us for dessert. Not only did she cook, but she did what all moms do and cleaned. I didn't recognize our bathroom. It's so nice to have my mom around, even if it is only for a week. I'm really glad she got to come. She still has 2 days left in Denmark. I think we may try and find something to do together tomorrow in the city. I'm planning on skipping school and trusting Kiesha and Christina with the final touches of our assignment. We finished our rough draft tonight!

Oh... the strippers you meet in Oslo

Could Norway Strip Clubs be Banned? from Lauren Smith on Vimeo.

Registered for Fall '11

I have so many great photos from Italy that I've decided when I don't have a picture to fit my blog I'll throw in another from Italy where pizzas are made with heart!

I admit, I was nervous about using the new UTK banner system for the first time while in Europe, but it worked so fast! I don't know if it's because I am a senior or if it is because it is a better system, but it was by far the easiest time I've had registering for classes.

The schedule for next semester is only 12 hrs. I had to really try to come up with classes to take. It will be even harder for the spring semester, but I just don't want to graduate early!

I'll be taking an Italian class Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11:15-12:05. Wednesday nights I'll have my one hard class, Journalism Law, from 5:45-8:35. Tuesdays and Thursdays I'm taking Social Dance and Stress Management. I'm really excited about those two classes. Especially the stress management one... no one ever taught me how to deal with my stress appropriately. Hopefully, I'll be able to quit this nail biting habit. I did for a while in Denmark, but it's finally warm enough that I don't wear gloves now. For some reason I don't bite my pinkies. So, I guess that's 2 out of 10 for now.

I'll also be taking a practicum over the semester at a production company, and maybe working as a peer mentor for students studying abroad.
Get excited for pictures from Barcelona next week!! Katie, Christina, and I are so excited for Spain's warm weather. Christina is actually in Marseilles, France with her friend from Saturday - Wednesday. I am so lonely! This weekend I was such a hermit crab. But it was nice to have time for myself also. I dyed my hair blonder, worked out, put some sunin in and laid out (yes, I laid out in 40 degree weather). Scandinavian weather has made me crazy. I was telling Maria during our last Skype date that I literally throw myself into the window anytime I see the sun when I'm inside. Either that or I run outside just to feel it. My poor freckles had almost vanished by the time February was ending.

It's been nice lately, minus the fierce winds. But I swear if it turns around and starts snowing I'm coming home! Or maybe shacking up in Spain.

Clips from Milan

Ok this isn't the best video, but here is a montage of some of the videos I took with my Flip. Enjoy!

Bragging Rights

Couldn't help but post one more picture! This is the Navigli, a beautiful area full of character, shops, and restaurants. I would have loved to do a canal tour, but it won't have water in it until April. Oh well!

Time for a victory lap, because Cecile, Robin and I just found out we scored an A- on our spermy 2nd assignment!! I'm so proud of our group, and I can't wait to start on my 4th assignment after I get back from Barcelona!!

Lauren Katie Christina Barcelona!

Ok Barcelona made me realize how much I really don't like Denmark. Don't get me wrong. I love my program and the people in it. I love the international experience I've been able to have, but this constant cold, dreary weather is just depressing. I thought it'd be better when we got back. It is April now, but nope... 40 degrees and windy mist...lovely.

Back to Barcelona. We arrived in Barcelona at 1 am on Friday night/Saturday morning. I admit I had a bad feeling walking to our hostel. You could just tell people were getting pick pocketed left and right. Fortunately, we made it out of Barcelona with nothing lost or stolen.

Saturday, we woke up and walked to the beach. The Mediterranean is beautiful, and the beach itself was actually quite rocky, instead of sea shelly. Then, we went on a Gaudi walking tour to see some of his work around the city. I've never been around this many Americans since I've been in Europe! I even met a small group from UT that was studying in Seville, Spain, further south. The tour was great, but I did not wear the right shoes and paid for it the rest of the trip. Poor blistered feet.

We spent the evening people watching on Las Ramblas street with 2 massive pitchers of Sangria. We are convinced they spike their Sangria in Spain. Once we tasted coconut rum in it, and the other time it was definitely vodka. But that didn't stop us from conquering Park Guell the next day. This was a massive place filled with beautiful landscape at the top of a mountain. We walked all over that place. It was the strangest thing too. They have escalators on the side of the mountain to get to it.

This picture may look familiar to those who watch America's Next Top Model. They filmed a runway show on the season with Melrose and CariDee. So, of course when we got there we strutted our own runway walks. We ended the day with dinner on the beach. It was such a good meal, but sooo big. We did it because there was a special. 15 Euro for bread, appetizer, main dish, dessert and wine. After all that walking at Park Guell we'd worked up enough of an appetite.

Later, we picked up a cheap jug of Sangria and went to hang out at the hostel with our new friends from Virginia, Pennsylvania, France, Ireland, Sardinia, and Albania... and one crazy obnoxious drunk opera singing gay guy that we've all determined is insane. This guy was from Jersey in all of its stereotypical glory. He'd been mugged earlier and was having to get his passport expedited, but he dealt with his sadness by drinking. He had to have been drinking all day. Turns out he was in the room next to us because he was shouting out things to himself all night long. It was so strange. Minus this guy, the last night was really fun. The guy from Sardinia even offered to be a guide as well as offered up his couch if we were ever planning on making a trip out there. If I don't run out of money, we may go! Or at least we have his email for the future.

Now it is time to start planning for my Easter break trip with Katie and Nicole to the Greek Isles. I think we will be going to Kos, Rhodes, Santorini, and maybe Crete. Less than 2 weeks away!!

Barcelona videos uploaded!